Government told to carry on populist policies

BANGKOK: -- The government should not be too worried with populist policies and should provide handouts to farmers as a means to stimulate the economy, said Sahapat Group chairman Mr Boonchai Chokewattana over the weekend.

He pointed out that it would depend on the government whether the purchasing power of the grass root people would be increased or not the coming year. He suggested that the government should carry on with the populist policies so that there will be money injected into the economy.

He said that it would take a longer time for the fruits of government’s investments on all the mega infrastructure projects to be filtered down to the grass root people. He predicted that the economy would pick up if the government did the right thing that it should do in the first and second quarters.

But if the economy does not pick up in the third quarter, Mr Boonchai predicted that the economy for the whole year next year would be in a bad shape even though oil prices have come down.

As for the Sahapat Group, he said that the growth projection for the coming year would be just 8 percent which is the lowest in many years from an average of more than 10 percent.

The growth rate for this year stood at 3 percent, he added.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/government-told-carry-populist-policies

-- Thai PBS 2014-12-28

A Thai Napoleon??

For all the money spent on populist policies, which do not benefit everyone, it would have been better spent on upgrading farming methods, teaching how to grow new crops, crop rotation, growing organically instead of being reliant on expensive & dangerous chemicals (this alone would also save hugely on health care), providng viable microfinancing instead of pushing them into the hands of ruthless loan sharks, self sufficiency as promoted by the King, better health & education services. The list is endless where the financial returns would be much greater than just providing handouts.

Remember the million Baht per village scheme where the majority of the money was used to buy new motorbikes, telephones & so forth which provided huge benefits to the sellers of those items & was most likely contrived to do just that, much like the rice scheme was contrived to put huge sums into the hands of a few.

Please just throw the towel in before you drive the economy into the ground.

Have an election ASAP I wouldn't care if the yellows won democratically but anyone's better than this lot.

Everyday in every department it's policy on the run and that haven't got the expertise to run a chook raffle let alone a country!

All those shiney medals.

Probably bought just like everything else in Thailand.

Please just throw the towel in before you drive the economy into the ground.

Have an election ASAP I wouldn't care if the yellows won democratically but anyone's better than this lot.

Everyday in every department it's policy on the run and that haven't got the expertise to run a chook raffle let alone a country!

Everyday in every department it's policy on the run and that haven't got the expertise to run a chook raffle let alone a country!

And the previous government had the "expertise" ??

As for the part of "drive economy into the ground"

Yingluck did a pretty good job of that with her rice-scam!!

Just gotta love the junta supporters .

My country no way Thailand ok!

Thailand is in a confusing stage. There is no sense of direction of whatsoever.

Please just throw the towel in before you drive the economy into the ground.

Have an election ASAP I wouldn't care if the yellows won democratically but anyone's better than this lot.

Everyday in every department it's policy on the run and that haven't got the expertise to run a chook raffle let alone a country!

Everyday in every department it's policy on the run and that haven't got the expertise to run a chook raffle let alone a country!

And the previous government had the "expertise" ??

As for the part of "drive economy into the ground"

Yingluck did a pretty good job of that with her rice-scam!!

I am sure there are plenty of truly qualified, capable & honest people who would do a commendable job of running the country, unfortunately not one government has ever used them & most would not even want to be associated with any of the past governments. When MPs & minsters are usually selected it is because of nepotism, family ties, business interests but never for the greater good. Sad but true & it is has long been holding Thailand back from fully developing its true capabilities.

Edited December 28, 201411 yr by Valentine

What legal defense will Prayuth have when the government is found to have lost billions of baht on populist schemes? Yingluck should be found guilty of dereliction of duty in the rice case, it is public information that Kittirat, her finance minister, informed her that the government could not pay the agreed price for rice. He stated that 12,000 baht would be affordable. He was ignored by the Pm, chairman of the rice board, which is proof that she was negligent. If money is lost from a rubber farmers bailout and other populist schemes, is Prayuth prepared to face the courts?

A Thai Napoleon??

Wrong question, should be "one of the Thai Napoleons ??"

What legal defense will Prayuth have when the government is found to have lost billions of baht on populist schemes? Yingluck should be found guilty of dereliction of duty in the rice case, it is public information that Kittirat, her finance minister, informed her that the government could not pay the agreed price for rice. He stated that 12,000 baht would be affordable. He was ignored by the Pm, chairman of the rice board, which is proof that she was negligent. If money is lost from a rubber farmers bailout and other populist schemes, is Prayuth prepared to face the courts?

As long as the 'handouts' are detailed and have reservations within the National Budget there should be no problem.

What legal defense will Prayuth have when the government is found to have lost billions of baht on populist schemes? Yingluck should be found guilty of dereliction of duty in the rice case, it is public information that Kittirat, her finance minister, informed her that the government could not pay the agreed price for rice. He stated that 12,000 baht would be affordable. He was ignored by the Pm, chairman of the rice board, which is proof that she was negligent. If money is lost from a rubber farmers bailout and other populist schemes, is Prayuth prepared to face the courts?

As long as the 'handouts' are detailed and have reservations within the National Budget there should be no problem.

It is one thing to have a populist scheme designed to actually benefit those in need, it is another thing altogether to design a scheme to enrich family & cronies.

What legal defense will Prayuth have when the government is found to have lost billions of baht on populist schemes? Yingluck should be found guilty of dereliction of duty in the rice case, it is public information that Kittirat, her finance minister, informed her that the government could not pay the agreed price for rice. He stated that 12,000 baht would be affordable. He was ignored by the Pm, chairman of the rice board, which is proof that she was negligent. If money is lost from a rubber farmers bailout and other populist schemes, is Prayuth prepared to face the courts?

As long as the 'handouts' are detailed and have reservations within the National Budget there should be no problem.

It is one thing to have a populist scheme designed to actually benefit those in need, it is another thing altogether to design a scheme to enrich family & cronies.

You're right. I was a bit brief in my post.

What I was assuming is that having a budget reserved for certain purposes which are described in detail and are aimed at improving the lives of those in need, there shouldn't be a problem. The 'needy' should be clearly described as group and the procedures to get the financial support to them, justification for the procedures, auditing implemented to guarantee correct use, etc., etc.

What legal defense will Prayuth have when the government is found to have lost billions of baht on populist schemes? Yingluck should be found guilty of dereliction of duty in the rice case, it is public information that Kittirat, her finance minister, informed her that the government could not pay the agreed price for rice. He stated that 12,000 baht would be affordable. He was ignored by the Pm, chairman of the rice board, which is proof that she was negligent. If money is lost from a rubber farmers bailout and other populist schemes, is Prayuth prepared to face the courts?

Prayuth? Face the courts? I'll sooner be the first farang president of Thailand than that happening.

so the military said they had to kick out the previous government due to uneconomic populism policies and now populism is the main policy of the military government.

so the military said they had to kick out the previous government due to uneconomic populism policies and now populism is the main policy of the military government.

This exact same thing happened after the last coup!

You couldn't make it up...

Government told to carry on populist policies

says one of the alleged financial backers of the PDRC which decried populist policies...

Dafter by the day.

Running the country in to the ground with giveaways. Not a positive action in sight.

Please just throw the towel in before you drive the economy into the ground.

Have an election ASAP I wouldn't care if the yellows won democratically but anyone's better than this lot.

Everyday in every department it's policy on the run and that haven't got the expertise to run a chook raffle let alone a country!

Do you think the Sahapat group should throw in the towel?

I think you should read the OP, take a 30 minute break, and then comment. By then you should realise that it isn't some one in the government that is suggesting the populist policies.

so the military said they had to kick out the previous government due to uneconomic populism policies and now populism is the main policy of the military government.

No. Maybe you should actually read the OP.

Please just throw the towel in before you drive the economy into the ground.

Have an election ASAP I wouldn't care if the yellows won democratically but anyone's better than this lot.

Everyday in every department it's policy on the run and that haven't got the expertise to run a chook raffle let alone a country!

Do you think the Sahapat group should throw in the towel?

I think you should read the OP, take a 30 minute break, and then comment. By then you should realise that it isn't some one in the government that is suggesting the populist policies.

well, technically, you are right.

He is no longer an appointed Senator

Please just throw the towel in before you drive the economy into the ground.

Have an election ASAP I wouldn't care if the yellows won democratically but anyone's better than this lot.

Everyday in every department it's policy on the run and that haven't got the expertise to run a chook raffle let alone a country!

Please just throw the towel in before you drive the economy into the ground.

How so? The SET couldn't be stronger under the Junta? Look at the graph here. Look at Thailand inflation rate here. That is going in the right direction as well. Look at the GDP growth rate here. Thats looking pretty good as well heay. Consumer confidence has gone through the roof here. Couple that with consumer spending here that is looking very health. Business confidence is plodding along nicely here. In fact if you look at all the economic indicators they all started going down hill when the PTP tried to introduce the amnesty bill (against the majorities wishes) and unsurprising started to recover when the Junta took power (which indicators have shown the majority supported). I suspect the information you have that indicates the Junta are not doing well comes from "All my Thai friends say the economy is doing badly" Can you show me the economic indicators that show the Junta is driving the economy into the ground? Because the only ones I see that show the economy getting driven into the ground is when Bangkok witnessed daily terrorist attacks.

Have an election ASAP I wouldn't care if the yellows won democratically but anyone's better than this lot.

Wow your complaining how you do not like the Junta but are falling all over yourself for them to rush another election. Do you remember what happened after the election was rushed last time? The Junta stepped in after the violence and terrorist attacks. So your saying that won't happen again right? Why not? What has changed since then that will allow for a peaceful election. Nothing and that is why reform is needed.

Edited December 28, 201411 yr by djjamie

so the military said they had to kick out the previous government due to uneconomic populism policies and now populism is the main policy of the military government.

No. Maybe you should actually read the OP.

actually, the current 'government' has been quite able to execute their own and plagiarised populist policies...

now, the claim was to prevent bloodshed, not to stop populist policies. That part would have been the PDRC.

Plenty of countries' governments use populist policies to garner short term support. The problem starts when the bill has to be settled and that often falls upon the succeeding government which has to initiate cutbacks to cover the cost.

Plenty of countries' governments use populist policies to garner short term support. The problem starts when the bill has to be settled and that often falls upon the succeeding government which has to initiate cutbacks to cover the cost.

Just what happened when Labour were in power last time in the UK, in fact what happened every time they are in power,

Please just throw the towel in before you drive the economy into the ground.

Have an election ASAP I wouldn't care if the yellows won democratically but anyone's better than this lot.

Everyday in every department it's policy on the run and that haven't got the expertise to run a chook raffle let alone a country!

Do you think the Sahapat group should throw in the towel?

I think you should read the OP, take a 30 minute break, and then comment. By then you should realise that it isn't some one in the government that is suggesting the populist policies.

well, technically, you are right.

He is no longer an appointed Senator

Does that also mean that, technically, Yingluck is no longer PM?

As for the Sahapat Group, he said that the growth projection for the coming year would be just 8 percent which is the lowest in many years from an average of more than 10 percent.

The growth rate for this year stood at 3 percent, he added.

Hmm, is this year not one of many years?

so the military said they had to kick out the previous government due to uneconomic populism policies and now populism is the main policy of the military government.

No. Maybe you should actually read the OP.

actually, the current 'government' has been quite able to execute their own and plagiarised populist policies...

now, the claim was to prevent bloodshed, not to stop populist policies. That part would have been the PDRC.

Just because some (apparently) ex-senator suggests that populist policies are ok, does not make populism the main policy of the current government.

Populist policies, these are policies that are popular with the people.

Is being popular important in a democracy ? Well, yes. I think it's good that the junta is carrying out policies that the people of Thailand find popular. It means the junta will probably win whatever future general election. Surely, it's a good thing when whoever is in charge is popular with the people ? Surely, we don't want a group in charge, if they are not the most popular group ?

Populist policies by a man in a suit or a man in an army uniform. In all honesty, does it really make a big difference ?