Next week in our village there is an election for the local mayor.

The only thing that most people seem to be considering is money. Money paid for their vote by one of the candidates. Only one is offering any money so seems to be guaranteed to win.

It is just incredibly sad that a significant proportion of the electorate are more concerned with getting 200bht than anything else.

It's more honest than in other countries like US where corporate lobbyists give unlimited amounts of money to senators and congressmen for their campaign in return for favors when they are elected. At least here in Thailand you know that small amounts of money are being given. They are open and upfront about it. Seems to me that open and upfront and small amounts are better than large amounts behind closed doors.

Democracy has had its day, it is now so corrupt and rigged in favor of corporations and banks that it hardly qualifies for the name. Our politicians have succeeded in brainwashing everyone into believing that "democracy" equals "good", but of course you can have good democracies and bad democracies. Thailand's is looking like the deck will be stacked against the poor, just like everywhere else, and stacked in favor of the rich, just like everywhere else.

Democracy os the wrong system for tackling the world's biggest problems, like climate change where no politician will take the risk of losing votes to do the right thing, and America who should perhaps be taking the lead is stymied because of corporate donations from companies like Exxon that have a vested interest in poisoning the planet to enhance their profits. Similarly the capitalist system cannot solve the problems of inequality or climate change, its thinking is too short term, profit today and tomorrow may hang itself.

Next week in our village there is an election for the local mayor.

The only thing that most people seem to be considering is money. Money paid for their vote by one of the candidates. Only one is offering any money so seems to be guaranteed to win.

It is just incredibly sad that a significant proportion of the electorate are more concerned with getting 200bht than anything else.

It's more honest than in other countries like US where corporate lobbyists give unlimited amounts of money to senators and congressmen for their campaign in return for favors when they are elected. At least here in Thailand you know that small amounts of money are being given. They are open and upfront about it. Seems to me that open and upfront and small amounts are better than large amounts behind closed doors.

Democracy has had its day, it is now so corrupt and rigged in favor of corporations and banks that it hardly qualifies for the name. Our politicians have succeeded in brainwashing everyone into believing that "democracy" equals "good", but of course you can have good democracies and bad democracies. Thailand's is looking like the deck will be stacked against the poor, just like everywhere else, and stacked in favor of the rich, just like everywhere else.

Democracy os the wrong system for tackling the world's biggest problems, like climate change where no politician will take the risk of losing votes to do the right thing, and America who should perhaps be taking the lead is stymied because of corporate donations from companies like Exxon that have a vested interest in poisoning the planet to enhance their profits. Similarly the capitalist system cannot solve the problems of inequality or climate change, its thinking is too short term, profit today and tomorrow may hang itself.

And your answer is all the worldly malaise is for a coup and the military in charge. You will find your perfect world in the feudal and warlord past.