Public Ignorant On Charter, Thai Poll Finds

[webfact]

Public ignorant on charter, poll finds

The Nation

A large number of pro-government red-shirt supporters rally at Democracy Monument Sunday to mark what they called 80 years of democracy.

BANGKOK: -- Thailand has been a democratic country for 80 years but most people lack a profound understanding of the Constitution, an opinion survey has found.

The survey by Suan Dusit Pollster found that less than 5 per cent of respondents had a deep knowledge of the Constitution.

It was carried out among 1,245 people on the anniversary of Thailand's change from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy 80 years ago.

Only 4.7 per cent of respondents said they had a very good knowledge of the Constitution, while 8.9 per cent said they knew nothing about the highest law of the country. The remaining respondents said they had some knowledge about the charter.

The survey found that 41.7 per cent of respondents said they were somewhat interested in the charter and 12.01 per cent were very interested; 31.5 per cent said they were not interested much; while 14.7 per cent said they were not interested in the charter at all.

When asked whether they thought the charter was important for the country, up to 66.4 per cent said yes and 3.4 per cent said no; the rest said it was somewhat important.

The respondents were divided as to whether the ongoing charter amendment should proceed. So far, the third reading has been suspended pending a ruling by the Constitution Court as to whether the amendments would be constitutional or not.

The survey found that 32.1 per cent of the respondents wanted the amendments to proceed and be completed; but 23.5 per cent said the amendments should be aborted; while the rest - or 44.29 per cent - said they were not sure.

Up to 39.7 per cent of respondents said the current charter was rather imperfect, while 14.3 per cent said it was absolutely imperfect, and 37.4 per cent said the charter was rather perfect, while 8.6 per cent said it was already perfect.

On an open-ended question as to how the new charter should be, 54.19 per cent said it should be written based on the voices of the majority of people. And 20.6 per cent said the charter should ensure that justice and transparency prevailed in the country; while 13.4 per cent said it should respond with the changing situation in the country. The remainder said it should have the respect of the people.

-- The Nation 2012-06-25

[theblether]

Me too

[Moruya]

Pathetic really given the amount of news bandwidth it's had and the amount of grief it has caused the nation.

Maybe the people just don't care about their country. Only money counts.

That said, no surprise there.

[Buchholz]

I'd like them to poll the public on how many are ignorant of the proposed changes to the Constitution.

While the Constitution is freely available for reading and understanding:

http://www.asianlii.org/th/legis/const/2007/1.html

I'm not aware of any line by line description of what specific changes the Red Shirts and Pheu Thai Party want to make to it.

.

[virtualtraveller]

funnily, the BP quoted a poll (not clear if it was the same one) a few days ago, where they said the majority said they had a good understanding of the constitution, but I'm guessing it was a different question, people tend to lie about things which they feel embarrassed about. If you really want to know, do a spot test on the public regarding various key articles, see how they fair.

[ThaiOats]

The dam_n military, after so many coup, you'd think they'd come out with a charter to keep the people impoverished. If they were smarter, they should've just made it illegal to protest and rule the country as speculated by these Red Shirts.

[Woodcaulk]

Public ignorant on charter

News flash: Public is ignorant on everything excepting the weekend bus schedule between Bumf*ck Issan and Bangkok

[Mosha]

This doesn't surprise me. The delivered constitution booklets which were delivered to households, that were voted on last time, went unread by my wife. Didn't stop her voting for it though. No her name isn't Yingluck.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Public ignorant , poll finds

Fixed that for ya...

[Bagwan]

I'm not at all surprised by the confusion of those polled. How can they even understand what a constitution is when they are not au fait with what democracy means? From an early age they have to accept that what teacher says is right and they are not encouraged to think and dare not ask questions. Holding a different opinion can be fraught with danger. All too often when discussing all things Thai, on offering my farang point of view I am asked "Do you what boxing?"

[Pseudolus]

Awwww come on guys. You are not giving the public enough credit.

1)They are ignorant because they know it will make no difference to them, will not benefit their pocket individually or cost them more money.

2) They realise nothing will change and that this is just another excuse to keep the laughing stock of a parliament busy for a while

They would know about it if they could earn money from it (legally, or the politician / police way through extortion and bribery) OR if they were going to have to pay money to people.

Besides, the press would report this on page 13 of the papers, bottom left hand corner, after 12 pages of "Cute girl dresses up like japanese porn star here is 3 pages of pictures of her" and a shock expose on the fact that some gay korean boy band wore a black sock instead of a pink one.

[geriatrickid]

Public ignorant on charter

News flash: Public is ignorant on everything excepting the weekend bus schedule between Bumf*ck Issan and Bangkok

And the appropriate amount of money a farang should give to his companion to ensure he is loved long time.

[ratcatcher]

Public ignorant on charter

News flash: Public is ignorant on everything excepting the weekend bus schedule between Bumf*ck Issan and Bangkok

And the appropriate amount of money a farang should give to his companion to ensure he is loved long time.

Well at least enough money to make sure the buffaloes are healthy eh?

[Robby nz]

Of course the people are ignorant of the charter and the changes proposed, thats the way its supposed to be.

[lungmi]

Ignorance is a kind of human self-defence: What I don't know about cannot worry me. (Law of Ostriches)

[drdoom6996]

They are ignorant because they don't know what to believe. They can't separate the Bull from the truth.

[sprq]

"Only 4.7 per cent of respondents said they had a very good knowledge of the Constitution, while 8.9 per cent said they knew nothing about the highest law of the country. The remaining respondents said they had some knowledge about the charter."

This looks like the answers to a multiple choice question like this:

How much do you know about the Constitution? a) A lot. A fair amount. c) Nothing.

In other words, the answers mean nothing. You can only test people's knowledge of a subject by asking them specific questions about it, not by asking them "how much" they know.

[JohnAllan]

"The survey found that 41.7 per cent of respondents said they were somewhat interested in the charter and 12.01 per cent were very interested; 31.5 per cent said they were not interested much; while 14.7 per cent said they were not interested in the charter at all."

"Up to 39.7 per cent of respondents said the current charter was rather imperfect, while 14.3 per cent said it was absolutely imperfect, and 37.4 per cent said the charter was rather perfect, while 8.6 per cent said it was already perfect."

Seems that while 31.5% had little interest in the charter, and 14.7% none at all, a 100% of those polled were knowledgeable enough to have a view on the imperfections, or otherwise, of the current charter.

[ramrod711]

The survey found that 41.7 per cent of respondents said they were somewhat interested in the charter and 12.01 per cent were very interested; 31.5 per cent said they were not interested much; while 14.7 per cent said they were not interested in the charter at all.

When asked if they favoured receiving money from Dubai, 100% were strongly in favour.

[bigbamboo]

Pathetic really given the amount of news bandwidth it's had and the amount of grief it has caused the nation.

Maybe the people just don't care about their country. Only money counts.

That said, no surprise there.

The people didn't vote for charter change. They voted for a 300 baht minimum wage and a computer for their schoolkids and a guaranteed 15k so the their children can take care of M and D when they've left uni.

And they're still waiting.

[whybother]

They needed a poll?

[cooked]

well, what do you guys know about what happened in 1932 and since? (slightly trolling here)

Edited June 25, 2012 by cooked

[nurofiend]

I'd like them to poll the public on how many are ignorant of the proposed changes to the Constitution.

While the Constitution is freely available for reading and understanding:

http://www.asianlii....nst/2007/1.html

I'm not aware of any line by line description of what specific changes the Red Shirts and Pheu Thai Party want to make to it.

.

yet you automatically oppose it.

[h90]

Public ignorant on charter

News flash: Public is ignorant on everything excepting the weekend bus schedule between Bumf*ck Issan and Bangkok

That is not true! I know a lot Thais who know every soccer player, even Austrian player I never heard of.....

[h90]

Pathetic really given the amount of news bandwidth it's had and the amount of grief it has caused the nation.

Maybe the people just don't care about their country. Only money counts.

That said, no surprise there.

The people didn't vote for charter change. They voted for a 300 baht minimum wage and a computer for their schoolkids and a guaranteed 15k so the their children can take care of M and D when they've left uni.

And they're still waiting.

And the 500 Baht cash they got

[h90]

Public ignorant on charter

News flash: Public is ignorant on everything excepting the weekend bus schedule between Bumf*ck Issan and Bangkok

And the appropriate amount of money a farang should give to his companion to ensure he is loved long time.

Well at least enough money to make sure the buffaloes are healthy eh?

if they get sick, it will get very expensive

[Buchholz]

I'd like them to poll the public on how many are ignorant of the proposed changes to the Constitution.

While the Constitution is freely available for reading and understanding:

http://www.asianlii....nst/2007/1.html

I'm not aware of any line by line description of what specific changes the Red Shirts and Pheu Thai Party want to make to it.

yet you automatically oppose it.

The only automatic is your stating something that is not stated.

In favor of or opposed to positions are waiting for them to publish what they want to change.

.

[OzMick]

<p>The prize for the best tinfoil hat goes to the lady in the front row wearing her coffee table.

[OzMick]

The prize for the best tinfoil hat goes to the lady in the front row wearing her coffee table.

[nurofiend]

I'd like them to poll the public on how many are ignorant of the proposed changes to the Constitution.

While the Constitution is freely available for reading and understanding:

http://www.asianlii....nst/2007/1.html

I'm not aware of any line by line description of what specific changes the Red Shirts and Pheu Thai Party want to make to it.

yet you automatically oppose it.

The only automatic is your stating something that is not stated.

In favor of or opposed to positions are waiting for them to publish what they want to change.

.

yeah right, like you've not outlined an opposition to this before...

maybe it's just the pad and the dems that automatically oppose it then, eh...