Thailand's future doesn't lie in the past

[webfact]

Thailand's Future Doesn't Lie in the Past
By William Pesek

BANGKOK: -- After taking power nearly 16 months ago, Thai coup leaders sought to banish all traces of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra from public life. It's more than a little ironic that they're now embracing his economic policies.

Thaksin himself was removed in a 2006 coup after five years in power. But his political machine continued to control Asia's seventh-biggest economy off-and-on for years after, with his younger sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, serving as prime minister from 2011 to 2013. In May 2014, a new band of military leaders rolled into Bangkok determined to restore order after a long-running political stalemate and hoping to drive the Thaksin crowd out once and for all.

Initially, general-turned-premier Prayuth Chan-Ocha won reasonably broad support from a Thai public exhausted by political infighting. Many Thais figured that if democratically-elected leaders couldn't boost living standards, perhaps the generals could. But as the economy's struggles have deepened, the government's support rate has sunk along with the Thai currency. To prop up those numbers, Prayuth is turning to the same spendthrift economic policies -- dubbed Thaksinomics -- he once derided.

Full story: http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-09-14/a-return-to-populism-won-t-boost-thailand-s-economy

-- Bloomberg View 2015-09-15

[chainarong]

It is not about the past, it is all about finding good honest people with a vision for the future, not putting to much spiel on it, while you continue to hold Coups every 6 years you will remain in the past , never have I seen a Thai General who doesn't live in the past , their only part of the future is the Merc and smart phone they use.

[taff33]

When will they ( the generals and co. ) learn that some of the things that Thaksin did for Thailand was good for Thailand,the problem was that many of the things was also good for the Thaksin clan.

[MaxLee]

Thailand is caught in an internal loop of saving face, where authorities and influential people go over dead bodies to say face.

[Tatsujin]

When will they ( the generals and co. ) learn that some of the things that Thaksin did for Thailand was good for Thailand,the problem was that many of the things was also good for the Thaksin clan.

The Shinawatra's did do some good for Thailand, but that was of secondary importance to their primary goal of doing good for themselves.

[Orac]

When will they ( the generals and co. ) learn that some of the things that Thaksin did for Thailand was good for Thailand,the problem was that many of the things was also good for the Thaksin clan.

The Shinawatra's did do some good for Thailand, but that was of secondary importance to their primary goal of doing good for themselves.

Which differs how exactly from any other grouping seeking or taking power in Thailand or, for that matter, anywhere.

There are very few altruists out there and those that appear to be usually end up being exposed as charlatans.

[oldsailor35]

When will they ( the generals and co. ) learn that some of the things that Thaksin did for Thailand was good for Thailand,the problem was that many of the things was also good for the Thaksin clan.

During Thaksins time, the Thai economy certainly was beginning to boom and the 'lot' of the poorer people was improving. So maybe the general realises this and can do a bit of copying.

[FangFerang]

When will they ( the generals and co. ) learn that some of the things that Thaksin did for Thailand was good for Thailand,the problem was that many of the things was also good for the Thaksin clan.

The Shinawatra's did do some good for Thailand, but that was of secondary importance to their primary goal of doing good for themselves.

No politician in the history of the world ever got on the public stage without selfish considerations being first on the agenda. This is not an apology for the wild west weirdness that was and still is going on.

18 coups are a real track record, and illuminating entirely.

[oldsailor35]

When will they ( the generals and co. ) learn that some of the things that Thaksin did for Thailand was good for Thailand,the problem was that many of the things was also good for the Thaksin clan.

The Shinawatra's did do some good for Thailand, but that was of secondary importance to their primary goal of doing good for themselves.

Which differs how exactly from any other grouping seeking or taking power in Thailand or, for that matter, anywhere.

There are very few altruists out there and those that appear to be usually end up being exposed as charlatans.

Doing good for themselves is definately not just the domain of the Shins, but from what i see, the aim of all Thai politicians, its just the good which they do for others along the way which counts, and unfortunately for the Hi-so of Thailand Thaksin did try to help the less well off. This probably causing his downfall as the Hi-so severely resented any interference in their "born to rule" mentality and culture..

[Monomial]

When will they ( the generals and co. ) learn that some of the things that Thaksin did for Thailand was good for Thailand,the problem was that many of the things was also good for the Thaksin clan.

The Shinawatra's did do some good for Thailand, but that was of secondary importance to their primary goal of doing good for themselves.

Which differs how exactly from any other grouping seeking or taking power in Thailand or, for that matter, anywhere.

The difference lies in the way they excercised their power. Thaksin deferred to absolutely nobody, and believed he was the ultimate authority. The other Thai groups and elites recognize that there are limits on what they can do individually, and understand the concept of compromise. That serves as a check and balance of sorts, even if it is not a check and balance via an easily swayed electorate as some democracy proponents would have.

It is Thaksin's unwillingness to accept limits on his power that caused his downfall, and also the reason that he is dangerous and can not be allowed to return. Even Prayut, with all the power granted to him under section 44, recognizes that he can not excercise this power indiscriminately, and that he must subordinate himself to others at times. Thaksin would still be in charge today had he possessed this simple common sense.

[tonbridgebrit]

Look, what works will work. They call them "populist" policies ? These are polocies that are popular with the people ? And here we have a writer that does NOT want policies that are popular with the people. He doesn't want people to have what they want ?

Lets get real here. Whether it's a Chinese man in a suit doing the populist policies, or a Thai man with an army uniform doing populist policies, well, it's the same thing. It's what people want, I think it's good for Thailand, lets have it.

[Tatsujin]

When will they ( the generals and co. ) learn that some of the things that Thaksin did for Thailand was good for Thailand,the problem was that many of the things was also good for the Thaksin clan.

The Shinawatra's did do some good for Thailand, but that was of secondary importance to their primary goal of doing good for themselves.

Which differs how exactly from any other grouping seeking or taking power in Thailand or, for that matter, anywhere.

There are very few altruists out there and those that appear to be usually end up being exposed as charlatans.

I never claimed he was any different or better than others that preceded or followed him, but let's not start claiming now he was altruistic or benevolent. He was in it for the benefit of himself and no one else. Any benefits to the country or the people here were an accidental side-effect of his excessive, brazen thievery.

[billd766]

When will they ( the generals and co. ) learn that some of the things that Thaksin did for Thailand was good for Thailand,the problem was that many of the things was also good for the Thaksin clan.

During Thaksins time, the Thai economy certainly was beginning to boom and the 'lot' of the poorer people was improving. So maybe the general realises this and can do a bit of copying.

But only because the whole worlds economy was booming.

Now it isn't and not even the Imperial Master Thaksin could do much nowadays.

[Orac]

When will they ( the generals and co. ) learn that some of the things that Thaksin did for Thailand was good for Thailand,the problem was that many of the things was also good for the Thaksin clan.

The Shinawatra's did do some good for Thailand, but that was of secondary importance to their primary goal of doing good for themselves.

Which differs how exactly from any other grouping seeking or taking power in Thailand or, for that matter, anywhere.

There are very few altruists out there and those that appear to be usually end up being exposed as charlatans.

I never claimed he was any different or better than others that preceded or followed him, but let's not start claiming now he was altruistic or benevolent. He was in it for the benefit of himself and no one else. Any benefits to the country or the people here were an accidental side-effect of his excessive, brazen thievery.

To some extent i would agree with you however i would say that the accidental side-effect had the potential to move this country forward and break from the past. What Thaksin did achieve was to politicise the rural population and make them realise that they could influence the direction of the country.

Given time his excesses would have become more apparent and new political faces would have appeared or, more likely, old faces would realise that they had to be more responsive to the peoples needs. There were signs of Thaksin losing popular support towards the end of 2013 with the failing rice scheme and the amnesty bill and, in hindsight, the downturn in the global economy would by now have put PT on very rocky ground even if they could have won the annulled election had the Democrats put a bit of effort in.

Thaksin was bad for Thailand in the short term but the catalyst for long term change however the current regime is the opposite in that it provides a short term fix to issues that could have been handled differently but sustains the long term problems that Thailand faces of political immaturity and weak democratic processes.

[Thai at Heart]

When will they ( the generals and co. ) learn that some of the things that Thaksin did for Thailand was good for Thailand,the problem was that many of the things was also good for the Thaksin clan.

The Shinawatra's did do some good for Thailand, but that was of secondary importance to their primary goal of doing good for themselves.

Which differs how exactly from any other grouping seeking or taking power in Thailand or, for that matter, anywhere.

The difference lies in the way they excercised their power. Thaksin deferred to absolutely nobody, and believed he was the ultimate authority. The other Thai groups and elites recognize that there are limits on what they can do individually, and understand the concept of compromise. That serves as a check and balance of sorts, even if it is not a check and balance via an easily swayed electorate as some democracy proponents would have.

It is Thaksin's unwillingness to accept limits on his power that caused his downfall, and also the reason that he is dangerous and can not be allowed to return. Even Prayut, with all the power granted to him under section 44, recognizes that he can not excercise this power indiscriminately, and that he must subordinate himself to others at times. Thaksin would still be in charge today had he possessed this simple common sense.

Understand compromise? Their repeated way of working is to have a coup.

Hence I can understand why any politician in Thaksin's shoes would make hay while the sunshines, knowing full well that the result is 75% likely that there will be a coup. The bloke may have been corrupt, but when every policy he came up with is broadbrushed painted as some kind of evil populism in Fox news style, it is essentially impossible to win if the final outcome is a coup.

The elite hold the spectre of a coup over every government, and can intervene any time they like. That is the antithesis of compromise.

[Thai at Heart]

When will they ( the generals and co. ) learn that some of the things that Thaksin did for Thailand was good for Thailand,the problem was that many of the things was also good for the Thaksin clan.

During Thaksins time, the Thai economy certainly was beginning to boom and the 'lot' of the poorer people was improving. So maybe the general realises this and can do a bit of copying.

But only because the whole worlds economy was booming.

Now it isn't and not even the Imperial Master Thaksin could do much nowadays.

But what he probably would have been doing is boosting rural incomes all the way through, much to the massive annoyance of the PAD and their supporters branding it all as blatent populism and vote buying. Now the junta are doing the same it is supposedly sane measured economics.

[elgordo38]

When will they ( the generals and co. ) learn that some of the things that Thaksin did for Thailand was good for Thailand,the problem was that many of the things was also good for the Thaksin clan.

The Shinawatra's did do some good for Thailand, but that was of secondary importance to their primary goal of doing good for themselves.

I am neutral on the Shin's but what politician in this modern day? world does not put himself first and throw crumbs to the people? As the Bad Boy in Toronto used to say NOBODY!!!

[sweatalot]

When will they ( the generals and co. ) learn that some of the things that Thaksin did for Thailand was good for Thailand,the problem was that many of the things was also good for the Thaksin clan.

During Thaksins time, the Thai economy certainly was beginning to boom and the 'lot' of the poorer people was improving. So maybe the general realises this and can do a bit of copying.

During Thaksins time, the Thai economy certainly was beginning to boom

during that time economy in many countries in general was blooming, in disregard of T.

Good luck for him, good opportunity to take ownership of the boom,

that's what populists do

[CosmicSurfer]

When will they ( the generals and co. ) learn that some of the things that Thaksin did for Thailand was good for Thailand,the problem was that many of the things was also good for the Thaksin clan.

The Shinawatra's did do some good for Thailand, but that was of secondary importance to their primary goal of doing good for themselves.

No politician in the history of the world ever got on the public stage without selfish considerations being first on the agenda. This is not an apology for the wild west weirdness that was and still is going on.

18 coups are a real track record, and illuminating entirely.

You haven't Met Bernie Sanders... the Next President of the USA !!!

[Yme]

Similar sentiments expressed here: More Pain For Thailand’s Economy As Junta’s Reign Extended

The intent of the ruling junta is clear. A return to a Thailand of 84 years ago. Before the Siam Revolution in which the Thai people gained emancipation and an end to absolute monarchy rule. A straight up and down hierarchal structure with little room for dissent or individual freedoms modelled on China, or worse North Korea, ruled by a plutocratic government.

<snip>

The prospects of elections in Thailand before the end of this decade are starting to look slim.

<snip>

The attempt to turn back 84 years in history and return to a hierarchal, long-lost idyllic society that only exists in carefully edited history books and reengineer a society that has not only tasted, but embraced personal and political freedoms, is a road map to failure