Survey: Rising Costs Greatest Threat To Thai Govt

[webfact]

SURVEY
Rising costs greatest threat to govt
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The increasing cost of living was cited as the major factor threatening to weaken public support for the Yingluck government in a poll by Assumption University.

Higher cost of living was cited as the most likely cause of a drop in support for the government by 85.2 per cent of the 2,115 respondents in 17 provinces. Charter amendment (81.9 per cent) was the second most cited threat to the government's stability.

Of all respondents, 73.8 per cent believed that constant efforts to explain its policies to the public could strengthen the government's stability, while 55.9 per cent said they want the Yingluck government to complete its four-year term.

A separate poll by Suan Dusit showed that the Thai public expects the political conflict to intensify, following opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva's speculation that a general election may take place late this year.

The Yingluck government took office in August 2011.

Of 1,316 respondents, 43.35 per cent believed that Abhisit's speculation would intensify political conflicts, while 20.23 per cent said the government's performance will be the best sign of whether a general electionwill be called early. Only 6.95 per cent believed that there would be a general election late this year as Abhisit suggested.

Asked if they wanted to see a vote late this year, 44.80 per cent said no, saying it would be a waste of money and lead to political instability.


-- The Nation 2013-05-20

[MaxLee]

Wrong headline. The headline shoul say: SURVEY

Rising costs greatest threat to govt to the people of Thailand who get their tax money ripped off-dry-sucked out of the government's greedy populist policies

[bigbamboo]

I guess that when half the country voted for a party who promised they would make them rich then when it doesn't happen they might think twice about voting for them again.

[NeverSure]

But, but, but, there was just a huge raise in the minimum wage. I thought everyone was in tall rice cotton. What would cause prices to go up? It just can't be.

[MaxLee]

Election in Thailand are won by Vote buying-bidding, so no matter Pheu Thai or Democrats, the people in power are all the same in character...

[chainarong]

Government promises are the focal point to this political tribe of miss-fits down fall in popularity , people can be fooled some of the time , but not all of the time , outside forces and pressure play a bigger part on the economy, such as oil , the government has no control over, the only time governments have control over the cost of fuel is when they subsidise it and we all know what happened in the Thaksin years, popular policies unless delivered ,people then see the Lady with the sugar coated pill, very similar to her brother, people blame governments for all sorts of things, however meeting promises is critical to survival

[thhMan]

What they did not mention was 22.56% just wanted to get on with life and not hear statistics

While 38.9% wished the Government would stop cheating the country, forget about individual "face saving", kick out the "sleepers", promote the "go for its" and get on with the job of running the country.. -sic-

[NongKhaiKid]

Government promises are the focal point to this political tribe of miss-fits down fall in popularity , people can be fooled some of the time , but not all of the time , outside forces and pressure play a bigger part on the economy, such as oil , the government has no control over, the only time governments have control over the cost of fuel is when they subsidise it and we all know what happened in the Thaksin years, popular policies unless delivered ,people then see the Lady with the sugar coated pill, very similar to her brother, people blame governments for all sorts of things, however meeting promises is critical to survival

Broken promises, especially populist ones, have killed off many a government around the world. Mr. T and PTP are rolling along on the premise that the people will support them no matter what but we see the reds starting to flex their muscles against their masters and when the ordinary people in the fields start to suffer financially the marriage is over. It may take time yet but if any government can be guaranteed to shoot itself in the foot this one fits the bill.

[JetsetBkk]

Wrong headline. The headline shoul say: SURVEY

Rising costs greatest threat to govt to the people of Thailand who get their tax money ripped off-dry-sucked out of the government's greedy populist policies

Yes, but The Nation newspaper would have to be much wider.

[Halion]

With regard to the current price hikes these can be fully laid at the door of the Government minimum wage fiasco. The strenght of the Baht has little or no impact on the domestic market. Indeed it could be argued that the strong Baht would allow farmers to purchace overseas agro chemicals at a lower impact cost to improve their production. When this policy was introduced it was initiated in regions where there was high foreign investment in Industries and a florishing tourist presence and as such the differentials were far less significant

It took the PTP over one further year to introduce the scheme into the North and East of the country which do not have such infrastructure and as a result had significantly lower incomes. In this case the differential was far higher resulting in price esculations for basic produce which hit the vast majority of the nation in their pocket. Inevitable and extreemly foreseeable that this scenario would happen.

I am all for raising the minimum income of the low end income earners but the way it has been done is to simply pass the burden on to the public at large and let them pay for it. In the knowledge that this would indeed be the end result and in the hope that this Government has an ounce of common sense, why did they not introduce a subsidy scheme for the first year for businesses that had no option but to raise prices to all and sundrie.

I am in constant despair at the lack of intellegence which is manifested in nearly everything they touch. Ignorance ,greed and corruption appear to be the prerequsites for Thai politicians and in that theater the PTP is abundant.

[useronthenet]

Personally the biggest threat to Thailand is inflation setting a record-high since the government announced 300 baht pay hike.

The effect this has had on small businesses can be felt throughout, and indeed come 2015 when the floodgates open, most I'm sure will employ non-thais to save themselves from going to the wall by reducing their costs.

[bannork]

In the past many families in my wife's village would dam na, grow rice by initially planting all the seeds in one paddy and then transplanting them to all the fields after a month.

This is the most efficient way as the planter can plant methodically and in a concentrated manner. But it costs money as the farmer has to hire workers to complete the job.

So this year after the 300 baht wage introduction 90% have switched to simply scattering the seeds- wan khao . It requires no labour but is less efficient and means less work for the poor or landless farmers

[SICHONSTEVE]

I guess that when half the country voted for a party who promised they would make them rich then when it doesn't happen they might think twice about voting for them again.

If only they were'nt so stupid up North!!!!

If the government bankrupted the country and everyone lost their jobs they would still vote for this bunch of useless and incompetent fools!!

[trainman34014]

In the past many families in my wife's village would dam na, grow rice by initially planting all the seeds in one paddy and then transplanting them to all the fields after a month.

This is the most efficient way as the planter can plant methodically and in a concentrated manner. But it costs money as the farmer has to hire workers to complete the job.

So this year after the 300 baht wage introduction 90% have switched to simply scattering the seeds- wan khao . It requires no labour but is less efficient and means less work for the poor or landless farmers

Yep; exactly the same has happened around my way, but the worst part is that several farmers have given up and sold their Paddy's to build on. If the Paddy's keep vanishing at the rate they are now in the North there will be very few left in say 10-15 years time.

[NeverSure]

In the past many families in my wife's village would dam na, grow rice by initially planting all the seeds in one paddy and then transplanting them to all the fields after a month.

This is the most efficient way as the planter can plant methodically and in a concentrated manner. But it costs money as the farmer has to hire workers to complete the job.

So this year after the 300 baht wage introduction 90% have switched to simply scattering the seeds- wan khao . It requires no labour but is less efficient and means less work for the poor or landless farmers

Yep, because the "leaders" can't see any farther than their noses, there will be lots of unintended consequences. It will ripple clear through the economy in lowered production and higher prices.

[hellodolly]

Election in Thailand are won by Vote buying-bidding, so no matter Pheu Thai or Democrats, the people in power are all the same in character...

I Don't think there will be a snap election I believe Thaksin will serve his full term.

The next election I think the PT will not have full control they will need the smaller parties backing. This will like the former government force them to change some of their policies.

As for vote buying the people are going to remember how much cheaper it was when Abhist was the PM and the PT will have to pay a much higher price for their votes.

The PT has robbed the Treasury in such a way that the red shirt can not understand it but they can understand paying more money for less than what they got when Abhist was in.

[Thai at Heart]

In the past many families in my wife's village would dam na, grow rice by initially planting all the seeds in one paddy and then transplanting them to all the fields after a month.

This is the most efficient way as the planter can plant methodically and in a concentrated manner. But it costs money as the farmer has to hire workers to complete the job.

So this year after the 300 baht wage introduction 90% have switched to simply scattering the seeds- wan khao . It requires no labour but is less efficient and means less work for the poor or landless farmers

Yep; exactly the same has happened around my way, but the worst part is that several farmers have given up and sold their Paddy's to build on. If the Paddy's keep vanishing at the rate they are now in the North there will be very few left in say 10-15 years time.

How quaint.

[belg]

we farang do not need to care to much to all that political scene, we can not do anything about it in the first place, neither can you in your own country, so wind down

[rucus7]

I guess that when half the country voted for a party who promised they would make them rich then when it doesn't happen they might think twice about voting for them again.

Your assumption should make sense. However the Thai population, specifically the rural majority seem content to live on hope and promises. They also seem to have short memories. The same is true for many Countries.