Handouts Have Made Thais Weak And Dependent

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

Handouts have made Thais weak and dependent

By The Nation

The easy option for all political parties is to keep making populist promises, but this will only damage the country's stability in the long term

With just one month to go for the election, all the political parties are trying to lure voters by offering populist policies and free handouts. These promises will affect the country's fiscal position in the future, especially in cases where politicians choose to highlight their handout promises. None of this bodes well for the country's economic sustainability.

Political and economic experts all agree that Thailand is in desperate need of effective social, economic and political reform. Unfortunately, no political party is willing to make any concrete effort or promise to deliver this much-needed reform.

As the rapidly sprouting political billboards and cut-outs show, politicians have chosen to attract voters with short-term handouts, in spite of their earlier pledges to reform the country in a sustainable manner. For instance, one political advertisement promised a certain minimum wage if that party is elected. This is despite the fact that future wage levels very much depend on the inflation trend and overall economic environment.

Aside from handouts, politicians also choose to highlight their promises to begin massive infrastructure projects. Some are even promising to initiate several new routes on local mass transit systems, with cheap and controlled fares. These politicians, again, fail to inform the electorate how much will have to be squandered in public funding to subsidise such controlled prices.

Once again, the majority of election candidates, in spite of their claims to be reformists, resort to the old trick of making voters feel they have to elect them because they can be providers. These politicians have instilled in voters the wrong perception that the government will take care of them in all situations. This perception is undesirable and can only lead to more tension whenever people feel that they have not received what they were promised.

Contrary to all these false promises, the government should concentrate on enabling people to become more self-sufficient. Any country in which the people rely on government handouts will find it impossible to progress. If people don't have the will to improve themselves, and are simply looking for free help from others, a collapse is inevitable.

The demands emanating from strikes and rallies show how protesters perceive themselves. These people see themselves as victims who have to be rescued by the government. Gone is the will to fight and overcome whatever misfortunes they face, or to look at their own weaknesses and try to improve their situation through hard work and effort.

But it would be wrong to blame these people entirely for such a dependent attitude. This country's politicians have failed to reward hard-working people. Instead, they have simply provided handouts to whoever screams the loudest. It is indeed worrisome how these populist policies have played into the long-term psychology of voters.

Thailand's political crisis is the result of our inability to address the right issues, including the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots. Populist policies will not fix this problem because they are short term and wasteful. In the longer run, these policies weaken the people's ability to stand on their own feet because they have bought into the concept that they can always expect the government to come to their rescue - especially during election season.

Irresponsible promises will affect the entire population and the country's economic stability. Taxpayers' money should be spent to promote education and opportunity, not to appease certain voters for the benefit of certain political parties. Amidst the current global economic turbulence and Thailand's eroding competitiveness, we are desperately in need of better platforms that promote reasonable and effective spending and self-sufficiency amidst the possibility of harsh budget cuts in the future.

As things have transpired, all the political parties are now running in the same, yet opposite, direction. A message and warning all to politicians: Not all voters can be lured by these unnecessary handouts; what some people want to see is good politicians whose agenda is to serve the real public interest in the long term, not a Santa Claus who squanders hard-earned tax money.

-- The Nation 2011-06-02

[jaltsc]

"Not all voters can be lured by these unnecessary handouts"

They don't need all the voters to be lured. Only enough to win the election. And, as long as system makes sure that there are more people who have not than people who have, this is not a difficult task.

[metroman]

I don't think that public fund spent to benefit the public is really pandering.

A minimum wage and adequate mass transit are worthwhile goals for any government and

for sure the infrastructure could stand a little upgrading.

[bangkokburning]

Spending on rural roads and infrastructure is damaging to the nation.

Swampy, Airport Link, BTS extentions - not so much.

jaltsc: only need one more than the other guy.

[rreddin]

Spending on rural roads and infrastructure is damaging to the nation.

Swampy, Airport Link, BTS extentions - not so much.

jaltsc: only need one more than the other guy.

As one of those who DO NOT live in Bangkok, I can tell you that the lack of spending on rural roads IS damaging the nation. Thailand is not just Bangkok.

[Pib]

But handouts and subsidies taste and feel so g...o.....o.....d. Thai's love them! Unfortunately, many Thai's consider getting handouts/subsidies as their little piece of the govt money pie...as the Little Noodles they might as well get a piece of the govt money pie versus letting the Big Noodles get it all...I know I got too many in-laws (Little Noodles) that think that way.

[Pib]

Spending on rural roads and infrastructure is damaging to the nation.

Swampy, Airport Link, BTS extentions - not so much.

jaltsc: only need one more than the other guy.

As one of those who DO NOT live in Bangkok, I can tell you that the lack of spending on rural roads IS damaging the nation. Thailand is not just Bangkok.

Big 10-4!!! The capital city metro area gets way too much of the govt money pie; more needs to be spent on the great majority of Thailand which is the rural and small city areas where the great majority of the population live. But in so many cases, 3rd world nations like Thailand tend to lavish their capital city with mega projects and truckloads of money. Almost like using a bunch of expensive makeup to make the face look good while the larger body is left to struggle.

[trogers]

Handouts is the other side of the same coin as corruption. Those pandering for handouts do not care about corruption, as long as they get their "little noodles".

[kevc]

Spending on rural roads and infrastructure is damaging to the nation.

Swampy, Airport Link, BTS extentions - not so much.

jaltsc: only need one more than the other guy.

Spending on rural roads is a must where do you think the rice and veggies you eat come from Klong Toey!. As others have said theres more to Thailand than Bangkok. Imagine if in the Uk they said they were concentrating 80 percent of their efforts on improving the London underground and roads how many votes do you think that would pull in for them.

We live in a rural village outside of town because of the state of the roads it takes us 30 minutes to navigate the potholes (sorry craters) instead of 15 minutes, we have to buy pick ups with a high wheel base as a normal cars are too low to the ground. How do you think that effects the farmers who have to ferry their produce and and fertilisers back and forth. Most of the people around this area have only seen Bangkok on television.

[Lannatyne]

An "Oh, so true" statement from The Nation.

This dependency filters right down to many of us who have Thai in-laws.

My father-in-laws life-plan was to take "early retirement". Similar to mine, actually, but I factored in the need to have sufficient money for my early retirement!

So, he starts to sit around doing nothing all day. Then, I meet and end up marrying his daughter. Wow, his plan is coming to fruition, he thinks. Being dependent on a farang to fund his early retirement - the plan is working.

A bit more sitting around, and the 'farang golden tit' doesn't quite meet his expectations. So, he ended up finally realising that he was really dependent upon HIMSELF, and at the age of 66 has had to start work again.

This place needs "the school of life" and the "university of hard knocks" to waken the population up.

[Macx]

First handouts are to the politicians.

[jdinasia]

As one of those who DO NOT live in Bangkok, I can tell you that the lack of spending on rural roads IS damaging the nation. Thailand is not just Bangkok.

Big 10-4!!! The capital city metro area gets way too much of the govt money pie; more needs to be spent on the great majority of Thailand which is the rural and small city areas where the great majority of the population live. But in so many cases, 3rd world nations like Thailand tend to lavish their capital city with mega projects and truckloads of money. Almost like using a bunch of expensive makeup to make the face look good while the larger body is left to struggle.

The issue in government spending is fairly simple and thus vastly complex. Population density quite often reflects where the tax-base is.

You spend money where the tax-base is or to increase the tax-base. That means that some areas seem to get a disproportionate amount of government spending, but not when you look at where government funding is coming from.

I agree that more needs to be done "up-country" --- and that does not mean just in Isaan and the North. Improved roads, hospitals and schools AND at the same time improving the rail system for cargo would eventually increase the tax-base upcountry ....

The issue brought up in the OP remains valid --- giving out handouts, particularly in the form of loans and credit, without actually increasing the tax-base upcountry at the same time creates weakness and dependency ... it is a primary reason that there is support for TRT3 --- create the dependency (patronage system) and those people NEED to get the same people re-elected to forgive the loans/debt that were created in the last cycle of handouts. It is a vicious cycle.

Some of this may be hard for many Western Europeans to grasp ..... your tax-base is already developed AND there really are far fewer rural (really rural) areas with poverty. Government spending in those countries still tends to favor the areas that contribute to the tax-base.

If you happened to be Thai and truly middle-class .... and thus a tax-payer would you want to see an ever increasing cycle of taxes to fund areas that do not contribute? Yingluck's new plan to reduce corporate taxes etc is just an extension of the failed "trickle-down" theory ... or the failed Thaksinomics theory --- that tend to show promise when things are good but during times of inflation and recession do a lot of damage.

[caribbeanman]

Spending on rural roads and infrastructure is damaging to the nation.

Swampy, Airport Link, BTS extentions - not so much.

jaltsc: only need one more than the other guy.

As one of those who DO NOT live in Bangkok, I can tell you that the lack of spending on rural roads IS damaging the nation. Thailand is not just Bangkok.

exactly, in the place in which i live the farmers are complainin' all the time about the but state of the roads, Thailand is nnot jst BKK

[OzMick]

Handouts keep one section of the voting population happy, as long as the pollie doesn't have to explain where the funding for his promises will come from. Reforms, on the other hand, anger one section while pleasing another - not a formula for election winning.

And why should the tax-payers of Bangkok be given any of the tax pie? It should all be spent on rice subsidies and rural roads, schools and hospitals.

The red-shirt homeland might not contribute much in the way of tax, but there's plenty of them, they get a vote, and will sell it to the best offer.

[OzMick]

Spending on rural roads and infrastructure is damaging to the nation.

Swampy, Airport Link, BTS extentions - not so much.

jaltsc: only need one more than the other guy.

As one of those who DO NOT live in Bangkok, I can tell you that the lack of spending on rural roads IS damaging the nation. Thailand is not just Bangkok.

exactly, in the place in which i live the farmers are complainin' all the time about the but state of the roads, Thailand is nnot jst BKK

Next time you hear one whining, ask him how much tax he pays.

[ginjag]

Handouts keep one section of the voting population happy, as long as the pollie doesn't have to explain where the funding for his promises will come from. Reforms, on the other hand, anger one section while pleasing another - not a formula for election winning.

And why should the tax-payers of Bangkok be given any of the tax pie? It should all be spent on rice subsidies and rural roads, schools and hospitals.

The red-shirt homeland might not contribute much in the way of tax, but there's plenty of them, they get a vote, and will sell it to the best offer.

Agree,.......Issan is the key...if you unlock it's door you win.............When we are talking about infrastructure, who cares too much in rural areas, the minor roads are a disgrace, side village roads the same. Opp our village leaders home is a massive pot hole, in the dark and you are not aware of it-whoops, your off your m/bike. Does the headman care-NO-do the villagers care-NO. No one will get a barrow and go fill the hole (one of many). too lazy-not my job-is their language. give him some Thai white whiskey, it;s filled. He would have his family killed if no one gave him a hand out, Logic here. GET WHAT YOU CAN-and from anybody.

[KKvampire]

Opposition Election boards promising to give every school child a notebook computer. Its pathetic, of course we know in Thailand politicians will do anything to win. yes ANYTHING.

[jdinasia]

Next time you hear one whining, ask him how much tax he pays.

Not fair. However .... tax spending will to a large extent be spent in areas that increase the tax-base. That means BKK/CNX/HKT the resort islands, and Korat/Eastern Seaboard --- where the industry is. That does not mean that it all should be that way. Improving water supplies on the Korat Plateau is important as are schools, roads and hospitals/clinics upcountry. As well as better rail systems throughout the country.

Improve the water supplies in Isaan and it will improve the tax-base there. Improve rail (to allow for cargo) and roads and you will be able to add industry as well as additional crops in areas where due to the simple shortage of water, farmers only get one cash crop a year.

Throwing money at people will fail ... and create even more of a patronage system --- throwing it at real infrastructure improvement and it helps everyone.

[OzMick]

Handouts keep one section of the voting population happy, as long as the pollie doesn't have to explain where the funding for his promises will come from. Reforms, on the other hand, anger one section while pleasing another - not a formula for election winning.

And why should the tax-payers of Bangkok be given any of the tax pie? It should all be spent on rice subsidies and rural roads, schools and hospitals.

The red-shirt homeland might not contribute much in the way of tax, but there's plenty of them, they get a vote, and will sell it to the best offer.

Agree,.......Issan is the key...if you unlock it's door you win.............When we are talking about infrastructure, who cares too much in rural areas, the minor roads are a disgrace, side village roads the same. Opp our village leaders home is a massive pot hole, in the dark and you are not aware of it-whoops, your off your m/bike. Does the headman care-NO-do the villagers care-NO. No one will get a barrow and go fill the hole (one of many). too lazy-not my job-is their language. give him some Thai white whiskey, it;s filled. He would have his family killed if no one gave him a hand out, Logic here. GET WHAT YOU CAN-and from anybody.

Visiting in-laws in Sukhothai area, rice season finished, all the men on the piss, bitching about how bad the road to the highway is. Only people who use this road are to/from this village of maybe 1000 people, not one prepared to do anything about the problem.

[tragickingdom]

If the elite paid decent loans, handouts were not necessary. if government owned businesses like CAT and TOT provided decent internet instead of lining up their pockets by doing business with the CP family less handouts were not necessary, and if Thai people did not have to hand out handouts on every intersection and to each and every judge, prosecutor and government worker Thailand was much stronger too. The owner s and editors of the Nation are examples of weak people. They see the poor as dumb idiots while actually the rich are weak idiots, reporting the real number of deaths in the South, reporting on the corruption in the army and the police should go before pointing fingers to the needy.

[OzMick]

Next time you hear one whining, ask him how much tax he pays.

Not fair. However .... tax spending will to a large extent be spent in areas that increase the tax-base. That means BKK/CNX/HKT the resort islands, and Korat/Eastern Seaboard --- where the industry is. That does not mean that it all should be that way. Improving water supplies on the Korat Plateau is important as are schools, roads and hospitals/clinics upcountry. As well as better rail systems throughout the country.

Improve the water supplies in Isaan and it will improve the tax-base there. Improve rail (to allow for cargo) and roads and you will be able to add industry as well as additional crops in areas where due to the simple shortage of water, farmers only get one cash crop a year.

Throwing money at people will fail ... and create even more of a patronage system --- throwing it at real infrastructure improvement and it helps everyone.

Fair is when the taxpayer gets his taxes back in govt services, with an allocation to poorer areas to help them lift themselves. Fair is when roads with huge traffic volumes (mostly those pay tax from their wages) are repaired before rural roads where the relatively few users pay little tax at all.

But fair is subverted by pols chasing votes. Koh Samui has bloody awful roads, though it is the major tax earner for Surat Thani province, and not one school for higher learning. The money goes to the mainland, because Samui has very few voters - we are all blow-ins. On a larger scale, PTP will buy their voters with promises funded on other people's tax dollar, and like the left cheek of an abo's rr's, it's neither fair nor right.

[arthurwait]

Spending on rural roads and infrastructure is damaging to the nation.

Swampy, Airport Link, BTS extentions - not so much.

jaltsc: only need one more than the other guy.

Spending on rural roads is a must where do you think the rice and veggies you eat come from Klong Toey!. As others have said theres more to Thailand than Bangkok. Imagine if in the Uk they said they were concentrating 80 percent of their efforts on improving the London underground and roads how many votes do you think that would pull in for them.

We live in a rural village outside of town because of the state of the roads it takes us 30 minutes to navigate the potholes (sorry craters) instead of 15 minutes, we have to buy pick ups with a high wheel base as a normal cars are too low to the ground. How do you think that effects the farmers who have to ferry their produce and and fertilisers back and forth. Most of the people around this area have only seen Bangkok on television.

Loads of Chang gets spilt.

[SICHONSTEVE]

Spending on rural roads and infrastructure is damaging to the nation.

Swampy, Airport Link, BTS extentions - not so much.

jaltsc: only need one more than the other guy.

As one of those who DO NOT live in Bangkok, I can tell you that the lack of spending on rural roads IS damaging the nation. Thailand is not just Bangkok.

Well put!!! Yes, other places DO matter as a large majority of the Thai populus live outside of the capital and they deserve their fair share of the spoils. To be realistic it would be difficult to fix all of the sub standard roads that pervade the countryside and small out-of-the-way villages as there are just too many of them and priortising would be a 'proverbial nightmare' of mammoth proportions.

What democratic government in the world DOESN'T offer incentives to garner votes come election time??? If you have one party promising tax cuts and popular giveaway policies whilst another say's 'NO!!!, we can't, as a nation, afford this and you will 'get nothing' from us in order to pay down national debt then which party will be invited by the people to form the next government??? This is a case of proper and responsible governance losing out to naked greed in people wanting to receive something (for nothing) that is essentially unaffordable simply for a temporary and limited pleasurable one-off experience of being able to afford a few luxuries that will ultimately put the nation in a more perilous situation as a consequence. Give me now and we'll try to find a way of paying for it later always wins out in the popularity stakes I'm afraid, as the yanks are finding out now (and those in the UK and the West) as well for that matter!!!

[jdinasia]

Not fair. However .... tax spending will to a large extent be spent in areas that increase the tax-base. That means BKK/CNX/HKT the resort islands, and Korat/Eastern Seaboard --- where the industry is. That does not mean that it all should be that way. Improving water supplies on the Korat Plateau is important as are schools, roads and hospitals/clinics upcountry. As well as better rail systems throughout the country.

Improve the water supplies in Isaan and it will improve the tax-base there. Improve rail (to allow for cargo) and roads and you will be able to add industry as well as additional crops in areas where due to the simple shortage of water, farmers only get one cash crop a year.

Throwing money at people will fail ... and create even more of a patronage system --- throwing it at real infrastructure improvement and it helps everyone.

Fair is when the taxpayer gets his taxes back in govt services, with an allocation to poorer areas to help them lift themselves. Fair is when roads with huge traffic volumes (mostly those pay tax from their wages) are repaired before rural roads where the relatively few users pay little tax at all.

But fair is subverted by pols chasing votes. Koh Samui has bloody awful roads, though it is the major tax earner for Surat Thani province, and not one school for higher learning. The money goes to the mainland, because Samui has very few voters - we are all blow-ins. On a larger scale, PTP will buy their voters with promises funded on other people's tax dollar, and like the left cheek of an abo's rr's, it's neither fair nor right.

Ah ..... you are missing the plot .... (first I am not for tossing around $$ to people) ...

The plot is that rural areas will never produce more unless infrastructure spending is allocated there. That infrastructure spending also creates jobs where it is spent is another excellent incentive for spreading it out some.

Koh Samui doesn't need a Uni does it? (I thought there was a Rachtabat Uni there --- but that may be in Surat town .....) There obviously needs to be higher ed in every province ... but it needs to be where the people that will benefit from it are. On the island doesn't make much sense for that. I have spent some time down there and the roads are not great and not horrid. If you want to see horrid ride to Surat .. then go out of town 20 minutes in any direction ... and THEN turn off the highway ... that is where the bad roads are.

[citizen33]

This seems to me an editorial that is all for the old order, with its flows of resources based on patronage and corruption, while wishing to obscure the reasons why almost all modern capitalist nations (except perhaps the USA) allow quite high levels of public expenditure. Quite simply, modern health care and education systems, infrastructure and even social security safety nets did not emerge because of altruism, but to support the geographical and social mobility necessary for economic growth. Thailand is not a welfare state and has a fair distance to travel before the dependency culture seen in some Western countries becomes a problem. Hierarchy, deference, 'face', and related cultural notions like pi-nong, kreng jai and bhun khun, may be a different matter.

[brianb1944]

"Not all voters can be lured by these unnecessary handouts"

They don't need all the voters to be lured. Only enough to win the election. And, as long as system makes sure that there are more people who have not than people who have, this is not a difficult task.

So tragically true

[OzMick]

Not fair. However .... tax spending will to a large extent be spent in areas that increase the tax-base. That means BKK/CNX/HKT the resort islands, and Korat/Eastern Seaboard --- where the industry is. That does not mean that it all should be that way. Improving water supplies on the Korat Plateau is important as are schools, roads and hospitals/clinics upcountry. As well as better rail systems throughout the country.

Improve the water supplies in Isaan and it will improve the tax-base there. Improve rail (to allow for cargo) and roads and you will be able to add industry as well as additional crops in areas where due to the simple shortage of water, farmers only get one cash crop a year.

Throwing money at people will fail ... and create even more of a patronage system --- throwing it at real infrastructure improvement and it helps everyone.

Fair is when the taxpayer gets his taxes back in govt services, with an allocation to poorer areas to help them lift themselves. Fair is when roads with huge traffic volumes (mostly those pay tax from their wages) are repaired before rural roads where the relatively few users pay little tax at all.

But fair is subverted by pols chasing votes. Koh Samui has bloody awful roads, though it is the major tax earner for Surat Thani province, and not one school for higher learning. The money goes to the mainland, because Samui has very few voters - we are all blow-ins. On a larger scale, PTP will buy their voters with promises funded on other people's tax dollar, and like the left cheek of an abo's rr's, it's neither fair nor right.

Ah ..... you are missing the plot .... (first I am not for tossing around $ to people) ...

The plot is that rural areas will never produce more unless infrastructure spending is allocated there. That infrastructure spending also creates jobs where it is spent is another excellent incentive for spreading it out some.

Koh Samui doesn't need a Uni does it? (I thought there was a Rachtabat Uni there --- but that may be in Surat town .....) There obviously needs to be higher ed in every province ... but it needs to be where the people that will benefit from it are. On the island doesn't make much sense for that. I have spent some time down there and the roads are not great and not horrid. If you want to see horrid ride to Surat .. then go out of town 20 minutes in any direction ... and THEN turn off the highway ... that is where the bad roads are.

No, we don't need a Uni, but it would be nice if the kids could finish high school here. At the moment the last 2 years are as a border in Surat, or back to the family in Nakhon Nowhere, or more usually, drop out. The major roads around Surat (41 and 401) are fine, 4142 the Samui ferry feeder is a great 4-lane highway, and the only others are to small villages - you either run into the National Park or the ocean. But on the island, you take your life in your hands. Their is one hill with about 2km of 3 lane, the rest of the ring road is a crumbling 2-lane goat track that disappears under water every time it rains. The locals are pushing for autonomy just because of the tax in/out imbalance. And it is supposed to be a secret, but Samui is one of the world's road death black spots.

[exbelg]

every politician in any country makes empty promises... at least in thailand you can get some money out of your empty vote

[Siripon]

Spending on rural roads and infrastructure is damaging to the nation.

Swampy, Airport Link, BTS extentions - not so much.

jaltsc: only need one more than the other guy.

As one of those who DO NOT live in Bangkok, I can tell you that the lack of spending on rural roads IS damaging the nation. Thailand is not just Bangkok.

exactly, in the place in which i live the farmers are complainin' all the time about the but state of the roads, Thailand is nnot jst BKK

Apart from the shoddy quality of asphalt used, a big culprit of potholes are the big trucks, especially landfill trucks that gouge out the holes. Time and again the local councils fill in the holes, but the big trucks don't care, they come flying along and soon the damage is done again.

Make them pay,(especially Sanoh Thianthong who owns over 100 trucks).

[jdinasia]

@OzMick

http://www.thaivisa....rsity-on-samui/

I thought there were 5 or 6 schools on the island (public, not private) that went through M6 (I am not saying any of them are good .. I just thought they existed there ...

I don't doubt that lots of people die on the roads on Koh Samui. I watched one of them die (foreigner) during Songkran 2005. His friends and the bar staff tried to take his bike keys but he was having none of it .. he gunned it and ran into a cement power pole about 200 meters from the bar ... not DOA ... DRT (dead right there!)