Thank You, Thais, From The Bottom Of My Heart: Stoppage Time

[webfact]

STOPPAGE TIME

Thank you, Thais, from the bottom of my heart

Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- I'm flattered. I always knew that you lot, more than anybody else in the world, had accommodated me, but to come out in full force like that in opinion polls is simply touching. You find me, Corruption, acceptable when it benefits you. Critics call that shameful; I call it smart and courageous.

You will be crucified, but screw the critics. At least you aren't hypocrites. You are pragmatic, that's all. Others have demonised me, citing one abstract value after another, but let them argue with the statistics that you so staggeringly put in their faces. When nearly 70 per cent of people surveyed say they wouldn't mind me being a little nasty here and there as long as they get a little something out of it, that, my friends, is what matters.

The Malaysians wouldn't accept me even for the world? Give me a break. Let me guess: they must have done the questionnaires on high horses. But, well, come to think of it, I have thrived not because of those who "accept" me, but because of those who pretend they can't accept me. You know, Hypocrisy and I are like Romeo and Juliet. We complete each other.

I have fought Democracy for God knows how long. I always try to convince him that we are better off together, not against each other. But he wouldn't sign a pact with me, which could have combined and turned us into the most powerful force on earth. It's this kind of stubbornness that led to weird %@#& - forgive my foul language - like in Thailand, where a court warrant has been issued for the arrest of a fugitive who is worshipped by police chiefs and whom a deputy prime minister wants to promote to the rank of police general.

I can only hope all the pretenders take a long, hard look at the latest Abac poll. If I'm so bad, why am I so popular? What would you do to a cop who takes bribes and who also happens to be a great crime-buster? Okay, the bribe-taking does not benefit the people directly, but the practice may have enabled that cop to keep functioning as a cop and prevent him from becoming a criminal himself.

There are plenty of "corrupt" activities that benefit the communities. One politician might benefit from mega-concessions but his constituents might get new roads. Of course, the roads could have been of better quality had he been "clean", but in this world, nothing is perfect, right? A cunning minister might make a killing on untoward "commission" fees, but many rural schools might get computers.

Some may say the roads and computers are useless because corrupt practice usually delivers them to the wrong place at the wrong time and with the wrong specs. There are dreamers who think that, without me, better roads would be built where they should be and up-to-date computers would be given to poor students, along with teachers who know how to use them. Keep dreaming.

All I can say is that these critics are insulting the intelligence of the majority of the Thai population, who, according to the Abac poll, gave me their overwhelming vote of confidence. The critics are assuming that those Thais don't know it's the government's duty to give them roads and computers in the first place. They are accusing those Thais of being conned into accepting windfalls from me so they won't care what I do in the big picture.

I'm glad you have spoken out, again and again. And you have spoken the truth because, from where I come from, truth is whatever the majority of the people say it is. That's what Democracy is all about, isn't it? Otherwise, Democracy would be just a system that favours the ones who are better liars.

Now, Democracy: tell me you are better than that. Don't tell me all you do is be a breeding ground of the gullible who are also low on moral standards. Tell me that, when the majority have spoken, they are the voice from heaven, even though they speak in favour of a man like me.

So, here's my big pledge of gratitude again to all the Thais brave enough to overcome superficial moral clichés like "Corruption shall never be tolerated". This is a win-some-lose-some world, and it's so refreshing to know there are people like you out there who don't see things in black and white. You are my inspiration. Although that sounds like a cliché, it is not. It's from the bottom of my heart.

I promise that I will keep doing my best to repay you. There's so much more I can give apart from roads and computers. Thanks to your support, I'm perfecting the art. Whatever I do next, I guarantee you, it will be smooth and flawless because, no matter what everybody else is saying, I do care about your conscience, too.

Eternally yours (as suggested by Abac polls),

Corruption

-- The Nation 2012-10-17

[FOODLOVER]

Dear Mr and or Mrs Corruption

Piss Off!

Yours truly, Farang

[chainarong]

Whatever this guys on please hand them out freely to those of us that feel totaly outa tune with this garbage.

[cooked]

You guys may have missed the point?

[FOODLOVER]

You guys may have missed the point?

Corruption writing a letter? Maybe went over my head.

[redroo]

pionting out human nature.

Whats new.

[JurgenG]

I'm surprised you are surprised

Khun Corruption is a regular editor at The Nation, together with K. Lies and K. Deception, under the leadership of the venerable K. Defamation.

Edited October 17, 2012 by JurgenG

[Pormax]

What a weird OP!!!!!!

P.S. I should have said "Yet another weird OP"

Edited October 17, 2012 by Pormax

[Payboy]

Thanks for that reminder not to subscribe to the Nation.

[David006]

Actually he has a point..the world does go round powered by nepotism, back handers, expensive boondoggles, business lunches, sweeteners,donations,promotions, lobby funding...even flattery/sucking up?....AKA corruption or is it just politics??..... yadda yadda.

Not sure that the article has any value add though...... possibly the author got/keeps his job through suspect qualifications and nepotism...lol

Nepotism started with big G methinks........I heard even JC provided food so the plebs would listen...lol

1000 bt I love you long time handsum man.....

[siampolee]

Superb satire ,to the point and hard hitting truth

Memories return of '' That Was The Week That Was,, along with The Frost Report, and to a lesser degree Private Eye too.'',

Corrupt officials and business people in the U.K. were bought to their knee's and ultimately to justice due to journalistic input like the O.P. here.

Edited October 17, 2012 by siampolee

[hellodolly]

You guys may have missed the point?

Corruption writing a letter? Maybe went over my head.

obviously

[scorecard]

You guys may have missed the point?

How's that? Please share.

[cooked]

You guys may have missed the point?

How's that? Please share.

I think it's called satire.

[asiawatcher]

Great (satire) piece, well written and to the point by a journalist who knows his business. Well done.

[Dap]

Well said

[jbrain]

Is The Nation now trying to attract some subcribers from NotTheNation ?

[Pi Sek]

Good piece of satire, very Juvenal-esque... a better effort than I've seen from any native English journalists in my recent memory.

[Bill999]

Excellent. Best piece of intelligent observation that's been on here for a long time.

[chainarong]

Good piece of satire, very Juvenal-esque... a better effort than I've seen from any native English journalists in my recent memory.

Whats the point , logic is just a word, like crap

[chainarong]

You guys may have missed the point?

I feel all warm and fuzzy after that , whats the point

[Bill999]

Dear Mr and or Mrs Corruption

Piss Off!

Yours truly, Farang

Brilliant, well-considered response. Imbecile.

[Ferangled]

A pretty obviously slanted piece of satire by the Nation. Refreshing but ultimately falls short in my opinion.

Corruption signed a pact with Democracy a long, long time ago. Western society is the result. The pretence of a clean system is all that holds the West together... The Thais are mere pretenders at this; here corruption remains blatant and obvious, as such it is a far lesser evil to the carefully orchestrated web of deceit weaved in the UK, US and Europe.

"The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist..."

[Naam]

what some of you honourable gentlemen call satire is nothing but a statement of facts. these facts prevail all over the world. in some areas less and subtle, in some areas dominating and obvious.

summary: corruption has and will always exist, whether you like it or hate it. welcome to reality!

[Naam]

...here corruption remains blatant and obvious, as such it is a far lesser evil to the carefully orchestrated web of deceit weaved in the UK, US and Europe.

[FOODLOVER]

Dear Mr and or Mrs Corruption

Piss Off!

Yours truly, Farang

Brilliant, well-considered response. Imbecile.

Thank you for your appreciation of my writing style, kind of you to overlook my disability. I believe i was dropped but with strength and perseverance i was able to overcome this serious disability. I still go to the imbecile meetings, and with support from people like you Bill999 I am still able to move on with my life. My wife is standing here with a single tear in appreciation of your support. Thank you again. God bless.

[cooked]

Dear Mr and or Mrs Corruption

Piss Off!

Yours truly, Farang

Brilliant, well-considered response. Imbecile.

Thank you for your appreciation of my writing style, kind of you to overlook my disability. I believe i was dropped but with strength and perseverance i was able to overcome this serious disability. I still go to the imbecile meetings, and with support from people like you Bill999 I am still able to move on with my life. My wife is standing here with a single tear in appreciation of your support. Thank you again. God bless.

Ok, time to close the topic... or stay civilised you guys...

[how241]

pionting out human nature.

Whats new.

+1

[Gnasher328]

Sympathy For The Devil.

[Xangsamhua]

...here corruption remains blatant and obvious, as such it is a far lesser evil to the carefully orchestrated web of deceit weaved in the UK, US and Europe.

But there are degrees of corruption (and transparency).

According to this index, New Zealand has the greatest transparency (least corruption) with a score of 9.5. Thailand is 80th with a score of 3.4. Nevertheless, Thailand is still in the top half of the table of 182 countries. (Somalia and North Korea are at the bottom.)