Pheu Thai Has No Problem With Opposition Shadow Cabinet

[webfact]

Pheu Thai has no problem with opposition shadow cabinet

By The Nation

The Pheu Thai Party will welcome the opposition Democrat Party forming a shadow cabinet, its spokesman Prompong Nopparit said yesterday, conceding the opposition is obligated to monitor government performance.

"A shadow cabinet means the opposition will check the performance of each ministry - this is a good thing," he said.

Prompong said the opposition's checks would keep the government on alert in its work.

The Yingluck Shinawatra government is ready for scrutiny by the opposition, he said, suggesting the opposition allow a three-month "honeymoon" before checking on job performance.

Abac Poll has released a survey on the popularity of potential candidates for ministerial portfolios.

The survey was conducted last week on 2,114 respondents in 17 selected provinces representing a nationwide sample. The margin of error is seven per cent.

For a portfolio in charge of public relations, Prompong has enjoyed the support of 60.8 per cent, a slight drop from 61.7 per cent in the previous survey.

For a Defence portfolio, Pheu Thai MP General Yuthasak Sasiprapha has the support of 57.9 per cent, an increase from 54.8 per cent in the previous survey.

Pheu Thai Party leader Yongyuth Wichaidit is seen as a favourite for the Interior portfolio with support of 57.5 per cent.

Pheu Thai MP Chat Kuldilok has the support of 57.6 percent for the position of Justice minister.

A clear majority of 72.7 per cent voiced disapproval for party financiers getting Cabinet appointments.

About 57 per cent would support the red shirts in the Cabinet provided they got the job because of ability and dedication to serve the country.

About 60 per cent wished to see a hand-over ceremony between outgoing and incoming prime ministers take place in a live broadcast.

In a separate Dusit Poll, almost 48 per cent saw the installation of the country's first female prime minister as an important phase of political history, although 14 per cent cast doubt on whether Yingluck would have real power to govern the country.

Among government priorities, the poll says, are the wage hike (46.8 per cent), crime and drug suppression (17.9 per cent), border security (11.4 per cent), education reform (11 per cent) and reconciliation (7.6 per cent).

About 40 per cent are hopeful the Yingluck government would meet their expectations, followed by 20 per cent who are doubtful but optimistic, 16.9 per cent who are sceptical and 14.6 per cent who are pessimistic.

-- The Nation 2011-08-08

[Ricardo]

Very generous of PTP, to not have a problem with the legitimate democratic-activities of another political-party, indeed it's an example they might care to copy next time they're out-of-power, as it's more constructive than trying-to-remember how to swipe their cards when they 'check-in' to work. ?

[OzMick]

With a margin of error of 7%, changes from the last of poll of around 2% are hardly worth reporting.

47% hanging out for that wage hike. Full speed ahead and dam-n the inflation torpedoes - they won't hit for 6 months or so. Isn't that when everyone is supposed to be rich?

Which lucky minister gets to explain why the price of rice is going through the roof? And pork, and chicken, and eggs, and.......................

[siampolee]

With regards to the , "Shadow Cabinet" that the P.T.P.are happy to accept and take heed of.

Is it based here in Thailand or in Dubai ?

That is the key question that must be asked.

[Pib]

Which lucky minister gets to explain why the price of rice is going through the roof? And pork, and chicken, and eggs, and.......................

Never fear...the Ministry of Pork, Chicken, and Eggs is working the food inflation problem. Heck, all kind of options to fix this such as a subsidy or price control. Never fear.

[hammered]

With a margin of error of 7%, changes from the last of poll of around 2% are hardly worth reporting.

47% hanging out for that wage hike. Full speed ahead and dam-n the inflation torpedoes - they won't hit for 6 months or so. Isn't that when everyone is supposed to be rich?

Which lucky minister gets to explain why the price of rice is going through the roof? And pork, and chicken, and eggs, and.......................

In case you hadnt noticed over the past year the cost of pork, oil, rice and eggs has gone through the roof, which is why everyone wants a pay raise. Their take home is only buying a fraction of what it did a year ago

[animatic]

With a margin of error of 7%, changes from the last of poll of around 2% are hardly worth reporting.

47% hanging out for that wage hike. Full speed ahead and dam-n the inflation torpedoes - they won't hit for 6 months or so. Isn't that when everyone is supposed to be rich?

Which lucky minister gets to explain why the price of rice is going through the roof? And pork, and chicken, and eggs, and.......................

In case you hadnt noticed over the past year the cost of pork, oil, rice and eggs has gone through the roof, which is why everyone wants a pay raise. Their take home is only buying a fraction of what it did a year ago

Oil significantly went up internationally and that effects the transport of ALL commodities in the foodchain. No surprise here.

And no government can control that, because subsidies just mean the money comes from somewhere else in the national economy, it still gets paid regardless of whether an 'extra layer of costly bureaucracy' is added to it, to give the appearance of governmental action. It would be cheaper to just pay at the pump, but then the poor must pay the actual cost of oil products and that has sociological ripple effects.

Edited August 8, 2011 by animatic

[Colin Yai]

With a margin of error of 7%, changes from the last of poll of around 2% are hardly worth reporting.

47% hanging out for that wage hike. Full speed ahead and dam-n the inflation torpedoes - they won't hit for 6 months or so. Isn't that when everyone is supposed to be rich?

Which lucky minister gets to explain why the price of rice is going through the roof? And pork, and chicken, and eggs, and.......................

In case you hadnt noticed over the past year the cost of pork, oil, rice and eggs has gone through the roof, which is why everyone wants a pay raise. Their take home is only buying a fraction of what it did a year ago

And as soon as they get a wage increase the cost of basic commodities will rise the same ,just common or garden variety economics ,spiraling wage costs will mean only one thing spiraling price increases ,so it will be back to square one within months .

[hammered]

With a margin of error of 7%, changes from the last of poll of around 2% are hardly worth reporting.

47% hanging out for that wage hike. Full speed ahead and dam-n the inflation torpedoes - they won't hit for 6 months or so. Isn't that when everyone is supposed to be rich?

Which lucky minister gets to explain why the price of rice is going through the roof? And pork, and chicken, and eggs, and.......................

In case you hadnt noticed over the past year the cost of pork, oil, rice and eggs has gone through the roof, which is why everyone wants a pay raise. Their take home is only buying a fraction of what it did a year ago

And as soon as they get a wage increase the cost of basic commodities will rise the same ,just common or garden variety economics ,spiraling wage costs will mean only one thing spiraling price increases ,so it will be back to square one within months .

If you dont give the poor more the social affects will be dangerous. They want, deserve and expect a decent pay raise. The other side may well have to be strictly enforced governmental price controls, and the reality is to fund everything tax will likely have to go up unless growth can hit a high level.

To argue that after prices increase the poor must not have a pay increase as it leads to inflation is to invite social unrest. Redistribution of not only opportunity but also wealth is going to have of be part of Thailand's political future as for too long the poor have just been kept down too low, and their are a lot of poor

[scorecard]

Very generous of PTP, to not have a problem with the legitimate democratic-activities of another political-party, indeed it's an example they might care to copy next time they're out-of-power, as it's more constructive than trying-to-remember how to swipe their cards when they 'check-in' to work. ?

True, the ptp, udd, ptp, pt gave no honeymoon to the dem coalition in fact they instantly went on severe rampages to try to force them out of office (example: the Pattaya incident when they raided a regional conference with severe violence.

But of course the red camp demand no double standards, what a laugh!

[OzMick]

With a margin of error of 7%, changes from the last of poll of around 2% are hardly worth reporting.

47% hanging out for that wage hike. Full speed ahead and dam-n the inflation torpedoes - they won't hit for 6 months or so. Isn't that when everyone is supposed to be rich?

Which lucky minister gets to explain why the price of rice is going through the roof? And pork, and chicken, and eggs, and.......................

In case you hadnt noticed over the past year the cost of pork, oil, rice and eggs has gone through the roof, which is why everyone wants a pay raise. Their take home is only buying a fraction of what it did a year ago

You can't really think that giving everybody a pay rise is a solution; and flow-ons and further price increases will ensure everybody has more baht but less spending power.

[OzMick]

Which lucky minister gets to explain why the price of rice is going through the roof? And pork, and chicken, and eggs, and.......................

Never fear...the Ministry of Pork, Chicken, and Eggs is working the food inflation problem. Heck, all kind of options to fix this such as a subsidy or price control. Never fear.

Good on the ministry, and best of luck to them. Subsidies cost tax dollars which are in rather short supply at the moment, as will be other commodities with price control in an inflationary environment. Would you continue producing eggs if you were running at a loss? Any other brilliant suggestions?

[hammered]

With a margin of error of 7%, changes from the last of poll of around 2% are hardly worth reporting.

47% hanging out for that wage hike. Full speed ahead and dam-n the inflation torpedoes - they won't hit for 6 months or so. Isn't that when everyone is supposed to be rich?

Which lucky minister gets to explain why the price of rice is going through the roof? And pork, and chicken, and eggs, and.......................

In case you hadnt noticed over the past year the cost of pork, oil, rice and eggs has gone through the roof, which is why everyone wants a pay raise. Their take home is only buying a fraction of what it did a year ago

You can't really think that giving everybody a pay rise is a solution; and flow-ons and further price increases will ensure everybody has more baht but less spending power.

There is little choice but to give the poor more unless you fancy seeing massive social chaos. They have been held down for to long. Prices have gone up when they had no pay raise. Now to argue they shouldnt get one because it will force prices up is no going to fly. The government is going to have to find other instruments to control prices and if that means taxing the wealthy and forcing rigid price controls it will have to be done.

By the way Im not saying give everyone a pay raise only the poor daily labour and those at the bottom. There is no need for pay raises for everyone. The middle classes and up and even some other long term employees are doing quite nicely, and if they need to raise capital they can always flog one of their houses or not buy a new car or something. Closing the gap between poor and others is needed

[Crushdepth]

With a margin of error of 7%, changes from the last of poll of around 2% are hardly worth reporting.

47% hanging out for that wage hike. Full speed ahead and dam-n the inflation torpedoes - they won't hit for 6 months or so. Isn't that when everyone is supposed to be rich?

Which lucky minister gets to explain why the price of rice is going through the roof? And pork, and chicken, and eggs, and.......................

In case you hadnt noticed over the past year the cost of pork, oil, rice and eggs has gone through the roof, which is why everyone wants a pay raise. Their take home is only buying a fraction of what it did a year ago

And as soon as they get a wage increase the cost of basic commodities will rise the same ,just common or garden variety economics ,spiraling wage costs will mean only one thing spiraling price increases ,so it will be back to square one within months .

If you dont give the poor more the social affects will be dangerous. They want, deserve and expect a decent pay raise. The other side may well have to be strictly enforced governmental price controls, and the reality is to fund everything tax will likely have to go up unless growth can hit a high level.

To argue that after prices increase the poor must not have a pay increase as it leads to inflation is to invite social unrest. Redistribution of not only opportunity but also wealth is going to have of be part of Thailand's political future as for too long the poor have just been kept down too low, and their are a lot of poor

The point is that large-scale wage increases need to have an economic basis. Hand outs and subsidies aren't a solution, productivity has to increase otherwise the aren't sustainable. And there's a whole raft of issues that need to be tackled to make that happen, which will take years or decades to implement. In short the government actually needs to actually *do* something beyond waving a magic wand and declaring it will be so.

[OzMick]

With a margin of error of 7%, changes from the last of poll of around 2% are hardly worth reporting.

47% hanging out for that wage hike. Full speed ahead and dam-n the inflation torpedoes - they won't hit for 6 months or so. Isn't that when everyone is supposed to be rich?

Which lucky minister gets to explain why the price of rice is going through the roof? And pork, and chicken, and eggs, and.......................

In case you hadnt noticed over the past year the cost of pork, oil, rice and eggs has gone through the roof, which is why everyone wants a pay raise. Their take home is only buying a fraction of what it did a year ago

And as soon as they get a wage increase the cost of basic commodities will rise the same ,just common or garden variety economics ,spiraling wage costs will mean only one thing spiraling price increases ,so it will be back to square one within months .

If you dont give the poor more the social affects will be dangerous. They want, deserve and expect a decent pay raise. The other side may well have to be strictly enforced governmental price controls, and the reality is to fund everything tax will likely have to go up unless growth can hit a high level.

To argue that after prices increase the poor must not have a pay increase as it leads to inflation is to invite social unrest. Redistribution of not only opportunity but also wealth is going to have of be part of Thailand's political future as for too long the poor have just been kept down too low, and their are a lot of poor

The working class of Thailand want and expect a decent pay rise because PTP told them that they deserved it, and yes, there may well be social unrest because of that. But k. Thaksin has been agitatiing social unrest since he was removed from office, by using distortions and untruths to inflame feelings of injustice and distrust of the way democracy works.

There will always be inequalities of wealth in Thailand and elsewhere. But if all the wealth in the country was divided equally amongst the population how much better off would even the poorest Thai be; a few thousand baht perhaps?

Can you price control everything? Will you tax the life out of every entrepreneur so that you can give handouts to those working in low productivity industries, who pay no tax at all? And while all these handouts are draining the treasury, how do finance a decent education system that might allow people to lift themselves out of poverty?

PTP have made their promises, now it's time to deliver. Thaksin organised and financed the red-shirt movement, and when everybody doesn't become rich overnight, they may have to reap that harvest. I can see a time when the poor of Thailand call for Thaksin to come back, so he can be publicly hanged.

[hammered]

The working class of Thailand want and expect a decent pay rise because PTP told them that they deserved it, and yes, there may well be social unrest because of that. But k. Thaksin has been agitatiing social unrest since he was removed from office, by using distortions and untruths to inflame feelings of injustice and distrust of the way democracy works.

There will always be inequalities of wealth in Thailand and elsewhere. But if all the wealth in the country was divided equally amongst the population how much better off would even the poorest Thai be; a few thousand baht perhaps?

Can you price control everything? Will you tax the life out of every entrepreneur so that you can give handouts to those working in low productivity industries, who pay no tax at all? And while all these handouts are draining the treasury, how do finance a decent education system that might allow people to lift themselves out of poverty?

PTP have made their promises, now it's time to deliver. Thaksin organised and financed the red-shirt movement, and when everybody doesn't become rich overnight, they may have to reap that harvest. I can see a time when the poor of Thailand call for Thaksin to come back, so he can be publicly hanged.

It is not just about PTP promised it. It is about prices have been rising for ages while they get bunged one baht a day pay increases. Nobody is saying everyone should earn the same, but for too long in Thailand those at the bottom have been given little while those in the middle and at the top have seen it all. If it were a super developed country like the US maybe the inequal wealth distribution wouldnt matter but Thailand isnt a developed country and those at the bottom are close to the poverty line. On top of that they see people with several houses and cars and mobile phones that look like spaceships spending more on coffee and cake than the poor have to spend in a whole day. The division is too big and too brutal and with prices having gone through the roof...

Nothing to do with what Thaksin wants or doesnt. It is there whether or not he is smart enough to see it and ride it.

Edited to add: It is about balancing things a little.

Edited August 8, 2011 by hammered

[OzMick]

The working class of Thailand want and expect a decent pay rise because PTP told them that they deserved it, and yes, there may well be social unrest because of that. But k. Thaksin has been agitatiing social unrest since he was removed from office, by using distortions and untruths to inflame feelings of injustice and distrust of the way democracy works.

There will always be inequalities of wealth in Thailand and elsewhere. But if all the wealth in the country was divided equally amongst the population how much better off would even the poorest Thai be; a few thousand baht perhaps?

Can you price control everything? Will you tax the life out of every entrepreneur so that you can give handouts to those working in low productivity industries, who pay no tax at all? And while all these handouts are draining the treasury, how do finance a decent education system that might allow people to lift themselves out of poverty?

PTP have made their promises, now it's time to deliver. Thaksin organised and financed the red-shirt movement, and when everybody doesn't become rich overnight, they may have to reap that harvest. I can see a time when the poor of Thailand call for Thaksin to come back, so he can be publicly hanged.

It is not just about PTP promised it. It is about prices have been rising for ages while they get bunged one baht a day pay increases. Nobody is saying everyone should earn the same, but for too long in Thailand those at the bottom have been given little while those in the middle and at the top have seen it all. If it were a super developed country like the US maybe the inequal wealth distribution wouldnt matter but Thailand isnt a developed country and those at the bottom are close to the poverty line. On top of that they see people with several houses and cars and mobile phones that look like spaceships spending more on coffee and cake than the poor have to spend in a whole day. The division is too big and too brutal and with prices having gone through the roof...

Nothing to do with what Thaksin wants or doesnt. It is there whether or not he is smart enough to see it and ride it.

Edited to add: It is about balancing things a little.

Though I sympathise with your feelings and hopes for the poor of this country, what you are advocating simply will not work. Trying to enforce price controls leads to an economy much like communist Russia, with empty shelves in the controlled-price stores and a flourishing black market. Free market economies have always outperformed those trying to "correct" imbalances - if for no other reason because of the expensive beaurocracy required to administer the rules. And in this country, there will always be those trying to bend or break them.

Times are tough all over, this is not 2005 - but in Thailand there is going to be an economic miracle, and the living standards of 30,000,000+ people are suddenly going to rise virtually overnight. Crap.

This has everything to do with Thaksin. He created the red-shirts to destabilise the past government, he set up their propaganda machine to inflame passions and discontent of Isaaners with their current lot, and with his PTP frontmen has made promises of enrichment and economic equality that are impossible to fulfill. Now that he has created the monster, do you think he will be able to control it? Or will it tear the country apart?

And all for one goal, to get his hands back on the reins of power.

[nurofiend]

This has everything to do with Thaksin. He created the red-shirts to destabilise the past government, he set up their propaganda machine to inflame passions and discontent of Isaaners with their current lot, and with his PTP frontmen has made promises of enrichment and economic equality that are impossible to fulfill. Now that he has created the monster, do you think he will be able to control it? Or will it tear the country apart?

And all for one goal, to get his hands back on the reins of power.

how would creating this uncontrollable 'monster' that i'm assuming you think (by how you phrased your question) is gonna tear the country apart and making promises that are impossible to fulfill help him get his hands back on the reins of power? when it will be his party in power while the country is tearing itself apart...

or are you saying he's made a mistake by doing those things you mentioned while trying to get back in power and now won't get back in power because of the consequences of these actions?

it doesn't matter anyway because the PTP are probably gonna be kicked out when they get all the blame for the economic downturn that thailand is going to face due to world issues rather than thai issues, and i'm sure if the democrats were in power the PTP would blame them just as much

[whybother]

<snip>

it doesn't matter anyway because the PTP are probably gonna be kicked out when they get all the blame for the economic downturn that thailand is going to face due to world issues rather than thai issues, and i'm sure if the democrats were in power the PTP would blame them just as much

The PTP have been blaming the Democrats for the economic downturn and rising prices since the they came to power just after the GFC.

[nurofiend]

<snip>

it doesn't matter anyway because the PTP are probably gonna be kicked out when they get all the blame for the economic downturn that thailand is going to face due to world issues rather than thai issues, and i'm sure if the democrats were in power the PTP would blame them just as much

The PTP have been blaming the Democrats for the economic downturn and rising prices since the they came to power just after the GFC.

yeah?

as i said i'm sure both sides would do it

[whybother]

yeah?

as i said i'm sure both sides would do it

Yeah. Did you miss the election campaign?

[nurofiend]

yeah?

as i said i'm sure both sides would do it

Yeah. Did you miss the election campaign?

no, did you?

[whybother]

yeah?

as i said i'm sure both sides would do it

Yeah. Did you miss the election campaign?

no, did you?

[nurofiend]

yeah?

as i said i'm sure both sides would do it

Yeah. Did you miss the election campaign?

no, did you?

what your doing is trying to make out that i wasn't aware that the PTP were blaming economic problems on the democrats while they were in power...c'mon get serious, there isn't an opposing government in the world that doesn't do this

i meant in my original point that if the democrats were still in power the PTP would be blaming them for the current economic situation, which has just gotten hugely worse globally and looks like it will continue to get worse

believe me i was aware that the PTP had blamed economic problems on the democrats! that's a huge basis of their campaign

Edited August 9, 2011 by nurofiend