Thai talk: An idiot's guide to this Sunday's election

[geriatrickid]

A cursory glance at the number of parties running might make the outsider think voters are spoilt for choice, over 50 I believe.

But nearly all these parties are only contesting a few seats, they don't have the numbers or money to contest all.

Thus many voters have nochoice at all.

A joke election, an absolute waste of money.

Who are you to tell the parties contesting the election that they should not? Who are you to deny these people from participating in an election?Therein lies the arrogance of the OP, you and the people who hit like on your comment. You feel these small parties are worthless. That position speaks to a lack of understanding as to the electoral process, and shows contempt for those who do not want to support one of the parties you and the OP have decided merit the right to run candidates.

Many political parties throughout the world have had a regional focus in national elections or who have intentionally run a small number of candidates. In some countries they have been quite successful.You are saying that these parties should not be allowed to run candidates, and that all of the voters who select their candidates should be dismissed as irrelevant because they do not support a small number of political parties. This defeats the multiparty and universal access of the electoral process.

Do you know what happens when voters are denied options? One ends up with the dysfunctional US style system of impasse and bickering because the system is skewed to only 2 political parties. No system is perfect and one can say that Italy and Israel demonstrate dysfunction too because of their multiparty governments that are forced to cobble together coalitions. And yet, those very same countries are able to hammer out legislation and budgets without the brinksmanship one sees when there are only a handful of political parties running candidates.

The fact of the matter is that the Democrats took a political gamble when they chose not to participate in the election. They were afraid of Suthep and they needed his organization to get out the vote in the south. Suthep was the most important person in the Democrat party when it came time to deliver key constituencies. Unfortunately, for the Democrats, they called it wrong. It is now apparent that while Suthep has influence, he is not omnipotent. Had the Democrats run candidates, there is a strong likelihood that they would have at least bloodied PTP's political nose. Instead, Abhisit once again demonstrated his lack of backbone and threw in the towel before the election had even started. He betrayed the voters and he betrayed the electoral process. It's Yingluck who has shown the strength throughout this campaign, and she will see the results when the votes are counted, despite the sabotage and attempts by Suthep and his Democrat supporters to deny people their right to vote.

Edited January 30, 2014 by geriatrickid

[Morakot]

We are all under the emergency decree

Though the emergency decree is only for a few provinces, not the whole of Thailand.

[slipperylobster]

An Idiot's guide from an Idiot.

get out and vote to show Suthep that he is not wanted here.

Farang idiots and/or non-idiots are not allowed to vote.

Just stay away from the polls, or bring a flak jacket.

Not our business, suthep or yingluck.

Leave it to the Thai's and keep your distance.

[spirit47]

An Idiot's guide from an Idiot.

get out and vote to show Suthep that he is not wanted here.

Yes, go for the bloodshed party to support corruption, violence and your brain in Dubai, red thugs.

[spirit47]

An Idiot's guide from an Idiot.

get out and vote to show Suthep that he is not wanted here.

Farang idiots and/or non-idiots are not allowed to vote.

Just stay away from the polls, or bring a flak jacket.

Not our business, suthep or yingluck.

Leave it to the Thai's and keep your distance.

If you not have the balls, its yours, I have to take care my family, and they going to protest. And what is my business or not, I decide by myself.

[Berinek]

I can not believe how many idiot foreigners are living in Thailand and put here so many idiotic comments. None of you have clue of what is democracy. Especialy those who says "Suthep nobody wants you here". BTW it is not your country and no matter what, you have no right to express who Thai people want or do not want. It is so obvious what Thai people want and numbers of people in the streets are selfexplanatory. I would like to see what would you do, if you would have such fraudulent government in your country. Oh I forgot, you have one and that is why you emigrated to Thailand...... Big respect for brave Thai people, as most of Europeans and Americans has no balls to do the same with their own corrupt governments!!!

[how241]

To the author .. anymore idiotic than this and we'd have to water you twice a week... IQ of a Ficus

ha ha ha ....Good One !!! Seriously , everyone has the right to vote. Use that right .

[wileycoyote]

Dearie Me !

[bunuel]

Excellent post - this is the heart of the matter. Conservative and nationalist parties around the world have campaigned hard and some have even won elections. What the Thai " Democrats" are doing is both childish and completely irresponsible, and sill effectively destroy their party's credibility for future elections. If PT are a gang of crooks, make your case to the Thai people and let them be the judge.

What is becoming painfully clear to the worls is that PCRD et consortes have no time for democracy and no respect for the millions of people they claim to represent. As result, PT, in spite of its many obvious problems, will win my default in the court of public opinion and in the eyes of the world.

I would ask all those followers of Thaivisa - shouldn't the Thai Democrats be standing in this election like a respectable political parrty, and shouldn't they try to negotiate with the government - if only for tactical reasons? Their refusal fo do both has been a major political blunder, in my view.

I pray for Thailans!

A decade ago a small but unassuming party started in the UK with only a few seats, today it is contesting most is the 3rd largest has rocked the establishment and is changing the face of British political discussion and policy of the other 2 parties has been forced to change and even to give the people a referendum on Europe could possibly decide if the UK leaves the EU.

THAT is how you affect change on a system, it takes time thats all.

Dont tell me its not worth voting for another smaller party because they cant win, winning is not always the point or goal. PTP is not the only option.

This writer is what he says, an idiot and needs a guide.

[leggo]

Please Thailand - start living in the real world!

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[DocN]

An Idiot's guide from an Idiot.

get out and vote to show Suthep that he is not wanted here.

Yes, go for the bloodshed party to support corruption, violence and your brain in Dubai, red thugs.

I am a bit concerned about the doggie in your avatar...did you have it for breakfast?

...calm down...

[DocN]

I can not believe how many idiot foreigners are living in Thailand and put here so many idiotic comments. None of you have clue of what is democracy. Especialy those who says "Suthep nobody wants you here". BTW it is not your country and no matter what, you have no right to express who Thai people want or do not want. It is so obvious what Thai people want and numbers of people in the streets are selfexplanatory. I would like to see what would you do, if you would have such fraudulent government in your country. Oh I forgot, you have one and that is why you emigrated to Thailand...... Big respect for brave Thai people, as most of Europeans and Americans has no balls to do the same with their own corrupt governments!!!

Happy hour started early today!

Damn all those bars with wifi!

[ppmacready]

Monday morning and the elitists will still have control of the army!

[JosteinSetsaas]

Where will we find charity collector Suthep, and on Monday?

[khunken]

This thread has provided a good laugh with all the ptp/red posts ranging from hatred to idiocy.

Seems like they've lost any sense of humour they may or may not have had as the Op was obviously written with tongue in cheek. Even the heading should have provided a clue.

It's even more ridiculous when the 'election' has very little chance of being approved.

[robert888d]

Yingluck's party WILL WIN the election, however not enough people will participate in the election to make the result legal..so what will happen then is anybody's guess!

[DocN]

May I suggest, that those of you with an open mind, read the BP and Voranajs article.

For those, who consider everyone red and a Thaksin- whore, who is not running around with a whistle and a Thai-wrist band...don't bother!

[tingtongteesood]

And how many of those smaller parties are not under Taksin's thumb and would sell their granny's to get in his good graces..,..?

[metisdead]

An inflammatory post has been removed.

[sawadee1947]

this guy must be Suthep's brother: two idiots

[kimamey]

I can not believe how many idiot foreigners are living in Thailand and put here so many idiotic comments. None of you have clue of what is democracy. Especialy those who says "Suthep nobody wants you here". BTW it is not your country and no matter what, you have no right to express who Thai people want or do not want. It is so obvious what Thai people want and numbers of people in the streets are selfexplanatory. I would like to see what would you do, if you would have such fraudulent government in your country. Oh I forgot, you have one and that is why you emigrated to Thailand...... Big respect for brave Thai people, as most of Europeans and Americans has no balls to do the same with their own corrupt governments!!!

Welcome and thank you for your first post. Before you post your second try thinking a little more or you will end up posting another one which is as ridiculous as the "Suthep nobody wants you here" post which you were right to criticise. Some Thais post on here so Thailand is their country but you need to remember that this is a forum which means it's a place to post views and comments. You should also remember this isn't Thailand but the World Wide Web on the internet. Not everyone is even in Thailand. I am now but sometimes I'm not.

After complaining about our views and comments you then decide to tell us why we came to Thailand which you can't possibly know. In my case and I expect many others you are completely wrong. No government is perfect but I can tell you that most Thai politicians and the PM in the last government in particular wouldn't stand a chance of getting into parliament let alone staying in it.

One last thing. Before you criticise non Thais and westerners in particular take some time to consider what life would be like in Thailand without all that the outside world has given it. For many reasons you wouldn't be posting on here for a start.

Sorry to be so blunt but there are as you say a lot of idiots on here and they don't need any help.

[Berinek]

Happy hour started early today!

dam_n all those bars with wifi!

Sorry man but I do not drink alkohol and last time I was in bar would be more then 5 years ago...

Edited January 30, 2014 by Berinek

[Berinek]

I can not believe how many idiot foreigners are living in Thailand and put here so many idiotic comments. None of you have clue of what is democracy. Especialy those who says "Suthep nobody wants you here". BTW it is not your country and no matter what, you have no right to express who Thai people want or do not want. It is so obvious what Thai people want and numbers of people in the streets are selfexplanatory. I would like to see what would you do, if you would have such fraudulent government in your country. Oh I forgot, you have one and that is why you emigrated to Thailand...... Big respect for brave Thai people, as most of Europeans and Americans has no balls to do the same with their own corrupt governments!!!

Welcome and thank you for your first post. Before you post your second try thinking a little more or you will end up posting another one which is as ridiculous as the "Suthep nobody wants you here" post which you were right to criticise. Some Thais post on here so Thailand is their country but you need to remember that this is a forum which means it's a place to post views and comments. You should also remember this isn't Thailand but the World Wide Web on the internet. Not everyone is even in Thailand. I am now but sometimes I'm not.

After complaining about our views and comments you then decide to tell us why we came to Thailand which you can't possibly know. In my case and I expect many others you are completely wrong. No government is perfect but I can tell you that most Thai politicians and the PM in the last government in particular wouldn't stand a chance of getting into parliament let alone staying in it.

One last thing. Before you criticise non Thais and westerners in particular take some time to consider what life would be like in Thailand without all that the outside world has given it. For many reasons you wouldn't be posting on here for a start.

Sorry to be so blunt but there are as you say a lot of idiots on here and they don't need any help.

No problem... normaly I do not comment any posts, and just read them, but this time I did so because I have enough of those people who are calling others idiots without real reason and have full mouth of democracy and constitution while do not know what democracy is. Most of people in this forum say about current political situation that what is happening now in Thailand is undemocratic and against constitution. But all of them forgot that protests, demonstrations, free speech and civil disobedience are basic principles of democracy. If we look to european democracies such as France, Italy etc. the people always go to the streets and protest if they are not happy with something what government does. Because they do not have any other possibility. Now Thais do the same and its been called undemocratic and protesters are called with bad names. But why nobody call current government also undemocratic if they are cheating in parliament to pass selfish laws and disrespecting the decision of Constitutional Court? It is very undemocratic. I am not on side of anybody, neither Suthep nor current government, because I am foreigner and I feel that it is not my business even if I live here. I simply do not have the right to vote here. But there are several actions of government so badly obvious that I understand that people are not happy and they want change. And with their highly respected HM King by majority of Thais, they have very unique chance to realy change something. It is so easy to win another elections for Pheu Thai Party, because of the fact that Isan with the biggest population of Thailand, with poor and uneducated majority of people will easily vote for them. Just because Thaksin and Yinglack paid them 50% more for their rice then the market price. This unfair policy itself is free ticket to win elections. And in the meantime the ministers and PM are getting richer and richer having Lamborgini and Mercedeses parked in their garages at home, while majority of Thais are living in poverty. And I think if there will be only another elections it will continue again and again.

One very interesting thing. There are similar protests running in Ukraine recently, and USA and other EU governments are supporting the protests which are even violent. But exactly same protests in Thailand are being critisized by US and EU and Westerners as undemocratic. Why? Is it because the current government is working for Wallstreet against Thai citizens? And this in Ukraine is not?

Edited January 30, 2014 by Berinek

[DocN]

Happy hour started early today!

dam_n all those bars with wifi!

Sorry man but I do not drink alkohol and last time I was in bar would be more then 5 years ago...

It doesn't show!

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies have been removed, this is not about UK politics.