Would Thailand be better off if it was colonized by a Western power?

[shadmo63]

Do you blame the Iraqi's for Saddam, or the Lybians for Gaddafi, or the Americans for Dubya?

If you read about Pridi Banomyong and his ideology and leadership you will see that Thailand would have followed a very different path toward the present day and be much further down the path toward democracy if he had achieved power for longer. Instead he was forced out of office and the country forever after being unjustly implicated in the death of Rama VIII and instead Thailand got the fascist leaning anti-monarchist military dictator Phibun for another decade, followed by another distasteful alcoholic military dictator in Sarit Thanarat, followed by the 3 tyrants in the 60s & 70s, etc etc. At least 50 years of the last 80 since constitutional monarchy have been under military dictators, and the democratically elected governments last on average about a year or so. It could have been a lot different. So right or wrong i don't judge Thailand for Phibunsongkrans decisions like you do.

[thailiketoo]

Who is Responsible for Our Miserable Lives-Our Colonialist, Our Leaders, or Ourselves?

It is now more than a half century since most of the African counties had their so-called independence, but, the painful truth is, Africans are yet to be freed from the agonizing economic shambles and shackles they have been going through for ages; and the fact of the matter remains that there isn’t much hope that they will get anywhere better soon under the circumstances.

http://standardtimespress.org/?p=4662

Bush got elected twice. Every nation gets the government it deserves. In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alexis_de_Tocqueville

Thailand is my 5th country. I have lived in three others that I didn't much like.

[Jackson86]

can you imagine if USA or any european country is colonised by asian country?

[thailiketoo]

can you imagine if USA or any european country is colonised by asian country?

LIke Korea or Taiwan?

[Grateful farang]

Colonize?

Dont make me laugh!

You mean like eygpt, libya, syria, iraq, afghanistan( british/usa/israeli heroin manufactoring operation)

Please keep your evil thieving murdering hands off of thailand

[hawker9000]

Who is Responsible for Our Miserable Lives-Our Colonialist, Our Leaders, or Ourselves?

It is now more than a half century since most of the African counties had their so-called independence, but, the painful truth is, Africans are yet to be freed from the agonizing economic shambles and shackles they have been going through for ages; and the fact of the matter remains that there isn’t much hope that they will get anywhere better soon under the circumstances.

http://standardtimespress.org/?p=4662

Bush got elected twice. Every nation gets the government it deserves. In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alexis_de_Tocqueville

Thailand is my 5th country. I have lived in three others that I didn't much like.

And then to make matters incalculably & unimaginably worse, we elected Obama! Twice!! Well, once upon a time, Thailand elected Thaksin. And then they elected Yingluck! (Well, elected by the Parliament actually, but you know what I mean.) Many would argue that in electing Yingluck, they were really re-electing Thaksin, and they knew it. Not only do the people get the government they deserve, they then practically beg for worse & worse...

But that's not really on topic.

Colonialism was a mixed bag. It sometimes contributed developmental momentum, knowledge, and considerable investment in the local economy and infrastructure; it also often subjugated and exploited the local population. It tended to deposit both the best & worst habits & characteristics (some would call this the "culture") of the mother country. Both the good & the bad have their lasting effects. This thread would be more interesting and I think in keeping with the original intent if, instead of ranting about the evils of colonialism (& other things) generally, the discussion were more specifically about what Thailand lacks today as a result of its never having been colonized...

[shadmo63]

Who is Responsible for Our Miserable Lives-Our Colonialist, Our Leaders, or Ourselves?

It is now more than a half century since most of the African counties had their so-called independence, but, the painful truth is, Africans are yet to be freed from the agonizing economic shambles and shackles they have been going through for ages; and the fact of the matter remains that there isn’t much hope that they will get anywhere better soon under the circumstances.

http://standardtimespress.org/?p=4662

Bush got elected twice. Every nation gets the government it deserves. In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alexis_de_Tocqueville

Thailand is my 5th country. I have lived in three others that I didn't much like.

And then to make matters incalculably & unimaginably worse, we elected Obama! Twice!! Well, once upon a time, Thailand elected Thaksin. And then they elected Yingluck! (Well, elected by the Parliament actually, but you know what I mean.) Many would argue that in electing Yingluck, they were really re-electing Thaksin, and they knew it. Not only do the people get the government they deserve, they then practically beg for worse & worse...

But that's not really on topic.

Colonialism was a mixed bag. It sometimes contributed developmental momentum, knowledge, and considerable investment in the local economy and infrastructure; it also often subjugated and exploited the local population. It tended to deposit both the best & worst habits & characteristics (some would call this the "culture") of the mother country. Both the good & the bad have their lasting effects. This thread would be more interesting and I think in keeping with the original intent if, instead of ranting about the evils of colonialism (& other things) generally, the discussion were more specifically about what Thailand lacks today as a result of its never having been colonized...

Sakdina still exists in the mindset of Thais. Innocence or guilt is still determined by who you are, not what you've done. You can not root out corruption without first having a fair and honest legal system? I remember how upset I was the first time I got pulled up for 'speeding' in Thailand doing 85 in a 100 zone. I wasn't going to pay up on my farang principles. Now 20 years later and I would just cough up without a second thought. TiT.

And a 'democracy' run with a feudal governance.

PS - Better get used to it. Hillary will get two terms too. The tea party will make sure of that.

[thaibeachlovers]

Who is Responsible for Our Miserable Lives-Our Colonialist, Our Leaders, or Ourselves?

It is now more than a half century since most of the African counties had their so-called independence, but, the painful truth is, Africans are yet to be freed from the agonizing economic shambles and shackles they have been going through for ages; and the fact of the matter remains that there isn’t much hope that they will get anywhere better soon under the circumstances.

http://standardtimespress.org/?p=4662

Bush got elected twice. Every nation gets the government it deserves. In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alexis_de_Tocqueville

Thailand is my 5th country. I have lived in three others that I didn't much like.

And then to make matters incalculably & unimaginably worse, we elected Obama! Twice!! Well, once upon a time, Thailand elected Thaksin. And then they elected Yingluck! (Well, elected by the Parliament actually, but you know what I mean.) Many would argue that in electing Yingluck, they were really re-electing Thaksin, and they knew it. Not only do the people get the government they deserve, they then practically beg for worse & worse...

But that's not really on topic.

Colonialism was a mixed bag. It sometimes contributed developmental momentum, knowledge, and considerable investment in the local economy and infrastructure; it also often subjugated and exploited the local population. It tended to deposit both the best & worst habits & characteristics (some would call this the "culture") of the mother country. Both the good & the bad have their lasting effects. This thread would be more interesting and I think in keeping with the original intent if, instead of ranting about the evils of colonialism (& other things) generally, the discussion were more specifically about what Thailand lacks today as a result of its never having been colonized...

<what Thailand lacks today as a result of its never having been colonized... >

Pavements.

[thailiketoo]

Who is Responsible for Our Miserable Lives-Our Colonialist, Our Leaders, or Ourselves?

It is now more than a half century since most of the African counties had their so-called independence, but, the painful truth is, Africans are yet to be freed from the agonizing economic shambles and shackles they have been going through for ages; and the fact of the matter remains that there isn’t much hope that they will get anywhere better soon under the circumstances.

http://standardtimespress.org/?p=4662

Bush got elected twice. Every nation gets the government it deserves. In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alexis_de_Tocqueville

Thailand is my 5th country. I have lived in three others that I didn't much like.

And then to make matters incalculably & unimaginably worse, we elected Obama! Twice!! Well, once upon a time, Thailand elected Thaksin. And then they elected Yingluck! (Well, elected by the Parliament actually, but you know what I mean.) Many would argue that in electing Yingluck, they were really re-electing Thaksin, and they knew it. Not only do the people get the government they deserve, they then practically beg for worse & worse...

But that's not really on topic.

Colonialism was a mixed bag. It sometimes contributed developmental momentum, knowledge, and considerable investment in the local economy and infrastructure; it also often subjugated and exploited the local population. It tended to deposit both the best & worst habits & characteristics (some would call this the "culture") of the mother country. Both the good & the bad have their lasting effects. This thread would be more interesting and I think in keeping with the original intent if, instead of ranting about the evils of colonialism (& other things) generally, the discussion were more specifically about what Thailand lacks today as a result of its never having been colonized...

<what Thailand lacks today as a result of its never having been colonized... >

Pavements.

Photo Gallery for the

44th Engineer Group (Construction)

in Thailand from 1962-71

http://us-army-support-thailand.50megs.com/photogallery.htm

In 1963 Seabee Teams were sent to Thailand to assist in the Royal Thai Government's Accelerated Rural Development Program. In the northern provinces these diversified units taught and advised local Thais in an effort to help them form the cadre of essential rural public works organizations. Three years of diligent work in this region was finally concluded in May 1966.

Japan WWII

The Japanese high command authourised the building of two road networks and two railways. Pre -war the Japanese planning was excellent – they had locomotives prepared for the famous Thai Burma railway since the mid 1930′s, and they had already identified a bridge from Dutch Indonesia to form the second “Bridge on the River Kwai”

State Highways 1095 and 108

The bridge at Pai

The present Thai State Highways 1095 and the 108 generally follow course of the Japanese road. It took 50 years before the Thai government to upgrade it from the Japanese original.

http://dtctravelblog.com/2013/07/20/the-skeleton-road-the-japanese-in-northern-thailand-during-ww2/

Edited June 19, 2014 by thailiketoo

[JLCrab]

Thailand is my 5th country. Let's see: Freedonia, Grand Duchy of Fenwick, ...

[shadmo63]

Who is Responsible for Our Miserable Lives-Our Colonialist, Our Leaders, or Ourselves?

It is now more than a half century since most of the African counties had their so-called independence, but, the painful truth is, Africans are yet to be freed from the agonizing economic shambles and shackles they have been going through for ages; and the fact of the matter remains that there isn’t much hope that they will get anywhere better soon under the circumstances.

http://standardtimespress.org/?p=4662

Bush got elected twice. Every nation gets the government it deserves. In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alexis_de_Tocqueville

Thailand is my 5th country. I have lived in three others that I didn't much like.

http://dtctravelblog.com/2013/07/20/the-skeleton-road-the-japanese-in-northern-thailand-during-ww2/

Thanks, interesting link. Just what were the other countries you didn't like much?

[jaideeguy]

The way I see it...............comparing Thai and Phil is that they win with better infrastructure, Romanized language, 2nd language skills, beautiful mixed ethnic blood, fusion foods, and more.

they loose their nationalism [xenophobia], and it becomes harder for them to intergrate into this new globalized world we are living in.

It's a win/loose situation..............but I sure wish I could read Thai script.

[shadmo63]

You can learn Thai script but you have to make an effort for six months. It would all be too easy for us farang with romanised script.

"Fusion foods" - haven't tried them. There are about 280 Thai Restaurants in Melbourne Australia and 0 Philippine restaurants. Nuff said.

I'm not supposed to correct English on here so I won't. I don't want to LOSE my posting rights, because I am LOOSE in following the rules.