Charter voting registration ends today; only one percent signs up

[tuanku]

If it ain't worth discussing like grown-ups, it ain't worth voting about.

An ultra low turnout makes a YES vote more likely - is it possible this is part of the plan?

[Eric Loh]

" The junta has been encouraging people to read the new charter, to register to vote, and to vote, without propagandists getting to spew their crap."

Yes, they have been very encouraging in making sure a vigorous public debate has taken place, where they have encouraged all aeguments for and against the charter to be heard.

555555555! Do you even believe the <deleted> you're posting??

" I explain their indifference by trust, whereas you don't seem to have an explanation."

Uh, did you read my post at all? Try one more time and if you,re still unable to grasp what I wrote I will send you a PM.

" BTW the election will be after the new charter is installed. The junta won't be on the ballot. "

Why on earth would they be on the ballot since the suggested charter will ensure they will remain in power anyway???

It's called making up your own mind, not listening to others who might be biased, if not paid to spread misinformation. How do you have a vigorous public debate and exclude propagandists?

Oh your claim that the election will be rigged? Which explains the thousands taking to the streets in protest, or not. You see, if they don't care to vote because the referendum is rigged, and the don't bother to protest that rigging, then it seems obvious that they don't care IF it is rigged. Didn't that occur to you?

Remain in power? That's one way of looking as stopping the Shinawatras from gaining it again.

"It's called making up your own mind"

Don't you think the Thai people should be allowed to listen to arguments both for and against the charter and then make up their own minds? After all from what little we hear it seems that both the dems and PT are against the charter. If the PM is so confident in the charter it should withstand debate.

I understand your hatred of the Shinawatras. If I had my vote they wouldn't be my first choice but they were the choice of the Thai people many times over. That was when they were allowed to make their own minds up and not be dictated to at the barrel of a gun/tank.

Sad lot of guys when you allow hatred of someone to compromise your own principles and values especially those who come from a democracy background. Must have left their brains behind.

[halloween]

If it ain't worth discussing like grown-ups, it ain't worth voting about.

An ultra low turnout makes a YES vote more likely - is it possible this is part of the plan?

Has Thailand ever had a turnout as low as regularly occurs in your country?

[halloween]

" The junta has been encouraging people to read the new charter, to register to vote, and to vote, without propagandists getting to spew their crap."

Yes, they have been very encouraging in making sure a vigorous public debate has taken place, where they have encouraged all aeguments for and against the charter to be heard.

555555555! Do you even believe the <deleted> you're posting??

" I explain their indifference by trust, whereas you don't seem to have an explanation."

Uh, did you read my post at all? Try one more time and if you,re still unable to grasp what I wrote I will send you a PM.

" BTW the election will be after the new charter is installed. The junta won't be on the ballot. "

Why on earth would they be on the ballot since the suggested charter will ensure they will remain in power anyway???

It's called making up your own mind, not listening to others who might be biased, if not paid to spread misinformation. How do you have a vigorous public debate and exclude propagandists?

Oh your claim that the election will be rigged? Which explains the thousands taking to the streets in protest, or not. You see, if they don't care to vote because the referendum is rigged, and the don't bother to protest that rigging, then it seems obvious that they don't care IF it is rigged. Didn't that occur to you?

Remain in power? That's one way of looking as stopping the Shinawatras from gaining it again.

" It's called making up your own mind, not listening to others who might be biased, if not paid to spread misinformation. How do you have a vigorous public debate and exclude propagandists?"

So only in Thailand can there be no public debate because of "propagandists". Tell me, should we do the same in the west?

Listening to others who might be biased??? How many people do you think are unbiased? The junta?

" Oh your claim that the election will be rigged? Which explains the thousands taking to the streets in protest, or not. You see, if they don't care to vote because the referendum is rigged, and the don't bother to protest that rigging, then it seems obvious that they don't care IF it is rigged. Didn't that occur to you?"

What DID occur to me was that there is a junta in power that has made it illegal for groups of more than five people to gather.

I will not ask if that occured to you because sadly I know the answer.

Oh please. Millions of outraged citizens aren't protesting because it's illegal? Or because nobody's handing out b500 notes?

Face it, they just don't CARE.

[Winniedapu]

Galling isn't it, that they trust their military to do the right thing by the nation much more than the criminals they elect?

They do?? How do you figure that? Has there been an election I missed that proved your rather laughable statement? Or did you just pull it out of a certain place?

You see, to me it isn't galling at all if the Thai population elects to be ruled by the military. What's galling is that the military prevents them from doing so.

Keep singing your one note song. If it isn't "election" it's nothing.

The junta has been encouraging people to read the new charter, to register to vote, and to vote, without propagandists getting to spew their crap. I explain their indifference by trust, whereas you don't seem to have an explanation.

BTW the election will be after the new charter is installed. The junta won't be on the ballot. And yes, I would rather see anybody else running this country than a venal career criminal. Why you ignore his crimes because he is popular is the mystery.

" The junta has been encouraging people to read the new charter, to register to vote, and to vote, without propagandists getting to spew their crap."

Yes, they have been very encouraging in making sure a vigorous public debate has taken place, where they have encouraged all aeguments for and against the charter to be heard.

555555555! Do you even believe the <deleted> you're posting??

" I explain their indifference by trust, whereas you don't seem to have an explanation."

Uh, did you read my post at all? Try one more time and if you,re still unable to grasp what I wrote I will send you a PM.

" BTW the election will be after the new charter is installed. The junta won't be on the ballot. "

Why on earth would they be on the ballot since the suggested charter will ensure they will remain in power anyway???

He just doesn't get it, nor will he ever get it, so why bother my friend.

True, so true. I just have a lot of time on my hands today:) But I must admit that having a small group of junta fanatics om the forum spices things up a bit.

Really? I find that even a little spicy gives me diarrhoea. Especially this lot. Still. judicious use of the 'ignore' button helps a lot. I'm told that being a bit slow in the head isn't catching, but why take the risk?

Winnie

[Praematura]

Registration ends today? That's an easy way to say hey we don't want people to vote in the first place.

[MZurf]

" The junta has been encouraging people to read the new charter, to register to vote, and to vote, without propagandists getting to spew their crap."

Yes, they have been very encouraging in making sure a vigorous public debate has taken place, where they have encouraged all aeguments for and against the charter to be heard.

555555555! Do you even believe the <deleted> you're posting??

" I explain their indifference by trust, whereas you don't seem to have an explanation."

Uh, did you read my post at all? Try one more time and if you,re still unable to grasp what I wrote I will send you a PM.

" BTW the election will be after the new charter is installed. The junta won't be on the ballot. "

Why on earth would they be on the ballot since the suggested charter will ensure they will remain in power anyway???

It's called making up your own mind, not listening to others who might be biased, if not paid to spread misinformation. How do you have a vigorous public debate and exclude propagandists?

Oh your claim that the election will be rigged? Which explains the thousands taking to the streets in protest, or not. You see, if they don't care to vote because the referendum is rigged, and the don't bother to protest that rigging, then it seems obvious that they don't care IF it is rigged. Didn't that occur to you?

Remain in power? That's one way of looking as stopping the Shinawatras from gaining it again.

" It's called making up your own mind, not listening to others who might be biased, if not paid to spread misinformation. How do you have a vigorous public debate and exclude propagandists?"

So only in Thailand can there be no public debate because of "propagandists". Tell me, should we do the same in the west?

Listening to others who might be biased??? How many people do you think are unbiased? The junta?

" Oh your claim that the election will be rigged? Which explains the thousands taking to the streets in protest, or not. You see, if they don't care to vote because the referendum is rigged, and the don't bother to protest that rigging, then it seems obvious that they don't care IF it is rigged. Didn't that occur to you?"

What DID occur to me was that there is a junta in power that has made it illegal for groups of more than five people to gather.

I will not ask if that occured to you because sadly I know the answer.

Oh please. Millions of outraged citizens aren't protesting because it's illegal? Or because nobody's handing out b500 notes?

Face it, they just don't CARE.

As I have patiently tried to explain to you there probably aren't millions of outraged citizens since both a yes and no vote will see the old elite retain power.

So why should people care????

[heybruce]

I am not suprise. Just show the EC did a damn lousy job in organizing the voting registration. None of my Thai friends heard about this. Nothing much promoted on air or print. EC has yet to demonstrate that they can organize anything successfully. Perhaps it's planned to have low voter turnout as it will certainly favour the "yes" result.

You could be right. The "quality people" of Bangkok don't travel to the provinces in search of work, they stay in Bangkok and so don't need to register in order to vote. It is the "ignorant buffaloes" that travel from the provinces to the cities that need to register to vote outside their hometowns, and I'm sure the junta would prefer they not vote.

[JAG]

I am not suprise. Just show the EC did a damn lousy job in organizing the voting registration. None of my Thai friends heard about this. Nothing much promoted on air or print. EC has yet to demonstrate that they can organize anything successfully. Perhaps it's planned to have low voter turnout as it will certainly favour the "yes" result.

The majority of those living away from their home districts are migrant workers - mainly I would suggest from the North East and working in Bangkok and nearby.

Perhaps they are unlikely to be unduly enthusiastic about the juntas projected constitution, so yes, a low turnout, particularly amongst such groups, may be desired.

Interesting that the concern about the low registration levels was not publicised until it was too late to do anything about it.

Edited to add:: Heybruce got their before me!

[baboon]

I am not suprise. Just show the EC did a damn lousy job in organizing the voting registration. None of my Thai friends heard about this. Nothing much promoted on air or print. EC has yet to demonstrate that they can organize anything successfully. Perhaps it's planned to have low voter turnout as it will certainly favour the "yes" result.

You could be right. The "quality people" of Bangkok don't travel to the provinces in search of work, they stay in Bangkok and so don't need to register in order to vote. It is the "ignorant buffaloes" that travel from the provinces to the cities that need to register to vote outside their hometowns, and I'm sure the junta would prefer they not vote.

Hmm. To be honest, gents, when given the choice between conspiracy and simple flat out incompetence I tend to side with the latter.

A low turnout could lead to accusations that the mandate is insufficient or inconclusive...

[canuckamuck]

Here's the choice.

Vote yes and get a constitution that will ensure the same unfair unequal representation and power distribution that all Thais are accustomed to.

Or vote no and... Well... probably you will get the same thing. But that's a secret.

I can't understand why there isn't more excitement

[Eric Loh]

I am not suprise. Just show the EC did a damn lousy job in organizing the voting registration. None of my Thai friends heard about this. Nothing much promoted on air or print. EC has yet to demonstrate that they can organize anything successfully. Perhaps it's planned to have low voter turnout as it will certainly favour the "yes" result.

You could be right. The "quality people" of Bangkok don't travel to the provinces in search of work, they stay in Bangkok and so don't need to register in order to vote. It is the "ignorant buffaloes" that travel from the provinces to the cities that need to register to vote outside their hometowns, and I'm sure the junta would prefer they not vote.

Hmm. To be honest, gents, when given the choice between conspiracy and simple flat out incompetence I tend to side with the latter.

A low turnout could lead to accusations that the mandate is insufficient or inconclusive...

Don't think the junta government bother about accusation or negative comment if low turnout. A yes will be sufficient for their proganda machine to claim the mandate to run the country their way for next 5 years or beyond. The last charter referendum turnout was about 57% and high majority was from the south and Bangkok. Contrasting with the exceptionally low turnout inthe north. The result was expected. With all the draconian ways the junta is suppressing and intimidating, will be uphill for the no result.

[halloween]

Don't think the junta government bother about accusation or negative comment if low turnout. A yes will be sufficient for their proganda machine to claim the mandate to run the country their way for next 5 years or beyond. The last charter referendum turnout was about 57% and high majority was from the south and Bangkok. Contrasting with the exceptionally low turnout inthe north. The result was expected. With all the draconian ways the junta is suppressing and intimidating, will be uphill for the no result.

57% is 2% more than turned out for the 2012 presidential election.

[MZurf]

Don't think the junta government bother about accusation or negative comment if low turnout. A yes will be sufficient for their proganda machine to claim the mandate to run the country their way for next 5 years or beyond. The last charter referendum turnout was about 57% and high majority was from the south and Bangkok. Contrasting with the exceptionally low turnout inthe north. The result was expected. With all the draconian ways the junta is suppressing and intimidating, will be uphill for the no result.

57% is 2% more than turned out for the 2012 presidential election.

Thailand does not have a president. Confused again?

[Sunderland]

It will be an enormous barrel of laughs if the turnout for the referendum vote was a mere 1% across the whole country. However, that probably sums up the percentage of people in this country who know what the referendum is about.

My wife is from an educated background and lives in Bangkok and yet when I asked her about it she answered that she wouldn't bother voting because she doesn't know 'WHO' to vote for. Well, that just about sums it all up in a nutshell. If she hasn't got a clue what a referendum is or what she is supposed to decide on, don't expect those living in out the sticks to have a clue either.

[JAG]

I am not suprise. Just show the EC did a damn lousy job in organizing the voting registration. None of my Thai friends heard about this. Nothing much promoted on air or print. EC has yet to demonstrate that they can organize anything successfully. Perhaps it's planned to have low voter turnout as it will certainly favour the "yes" result.

You could be right. The "quality people" of Bangkok don't travel to the provinces in search of work, they stay in Bangkok and so don't need to register in order to vote. It is the "ignorant buffaloes" that travel from the provinces to the cities that need to register to vote outside their hometowns, and I'm sure the junta would prefer they not vote.

Hmm. To be honest, gents, when given the choice between conspiracy and simple flat out incompetence I tend to side with the latter.

A low turnout could lead to accusations that the mandate is insufficient or inconclusive...

Granted the EC is not renowned for it's competence.

[heybruce]

I am not suprise. Just show the EC did a damn lousy job in organizing the voting registration. None of my Thai friends heard about this. Nothing much promoted on air or print. EC has yet to demonstrate that they can organize anything successfully. Perhaps it's planned to have low voter turnout as it will certainly favour the "yes" result.

You could be right. The "quality people" of Bangkok don't travel to the provinces in search of work, they stay in Bangkok and so don't need to register in order to vote. It is the "ignorant buffaloes" that travel from the provinces to the cities that need to register to vote outside their hometowns, and I'm sure the junta would prefer they not vote.

Hmm. To be honest, gents, when given the choice between conspiracy and simple flat out incompetence I tend to side with the latter.

A low turnout could lead to accusations that the mandate is insufficient or inconclusive...

Not really a conspiracy. I think there has never been a lot of effort put into registering people who work away from their home villages for any kind of vote. In Thailand these are overwhelmingly poor people from farming areas who go to cities for any kind of job that pays. I don't think that encouraging these people to vote was ever a priority for the unelected governments.

[halloween]

Not really a conspiracy. I think there has never been a lot of effort put into registering people who work away from their home villages for any kind of vote. In Thailand these are overwhelmingly poor people from farming areas who go to cities for any kind of job that pays. I don't think that encouraging these people to vote was ever a priority for the unelected governments.

Have they ever been a priority for elected governments? Aren't they the people who were supposed to elect a light pole for BKK governor?

[heybruce]

Not really a conspiracy. I think there has never been a lot of effort put into registering people who work away from their home villages for any kind of vote. In Thailand these are overwhelmingly poor people from farming areas who go to cities for any kind of job that pays. I don't think that encouraging these people to vote was ever a priority for the unelected governments.

Have they ever been a priority for elected governments? Aren't they the people who were supposed to elect a light pole for BKK governor?

"Have they ever been a priority for elected governments?"

Difficult to say. The only elected governments I've seen came after military or military appointed governments, and weren't allowed to stay in place long enough for a second election.

"Aren't they the people who were supposed to elect a light pole for BKK governor?"

Is this some kind of inside humor, or have you been drinking?

[tuanku]

If it ain't worth discussing like grown-ups, it ain't worth voting about.

An ultra low turnout makes a YES vote more likely - is it possible this is part of the plan?

Has Thailand ever had a turnout as low as regularly occurs in your country?

There are many differences between Thailand and my country which make your question (to which I don't know the answer without some research) irrelevant. In Thailand, many people have been shown time and again that their votes ultimately don't count as the Government they elect is overturned time and a gain by the kakocracy.

[Caveat Emptor]

Will facts and especially figures quoted now bear any relation to those after the ' votes ' have been counted ?

[halloween]

If it ain't worth discussing like grown-ups, it ain't worth voting about.

An ultra low turnout makes a YES vote more likely - is it possible this is part of the plan?

Has Thailand ever had a turnout as low as regularly occurs in your country?

There are many differences between Thailand and my country which make your question (to which I don't know the answer without some research) irrelevant. In Thailand, many people have been shown time and again that their votes ultimately don't count as the Government they elect is overturned time and a gain by the kakocracy.

That's alright, I'm happy to educate you. The last referendum had a 57% turnout which was indeed very low for Thailand. The 2012 US presidential election managed under 55% voter turnout, but census data indicates around 42% of ELIGIBLE voters bothered.

Before being critical of another country's voting performance, take a long look at your own.

[tuanku]

If it ain't worth discussing like grown-ups, it ain't worth voting about.

An ultra low turnout makes a YES vote more likely - is it possible this is part of the plan?

Has Thailand ever had a turnout as low as regularly occurs in your country?

There are many differences between Thailand and my country which make your question (to which I don't know the answer without some research) irrelevant. In Thailand, many people have been shown time and again that their votes ultimately don't count as the Government they elect is overturned time and a gain by the kakocracy.

That's alright, I'm happy to educate you. The last referendum had a 57% turnout which was indeed very low for Thailand. The 2012 US presidential election managed under 55% voter turnout, but census data indicates around 42% of ELIGIBLE voters bothered.

Before being critical of another country's voting performance, take a long look at your own.

Thanks. The comparison is still irrelevant, and BTW, I am from Afghanistan not USA so the workings of the great Satan are of little interest.

[halloween]

Thanks. The comparison is still irrelevant, and BTW, I am from Afghanistan not USA so the workings of the great Satan are of little interest.

You're from Afghanistan and you're complaining about Thai voting patterns? Sorry, I am completely incapable of supplying comparison data.

[MW72]

Not really a conspiracy. I think there has never been a lot of effort put into registering people who work away from their home villages for any kind of vote. In Thailand these are overwhelmingly poor people from farming areas who go to cities for any kind of job that pays. I don't think that encouraging these people to vote was ever a priority for the unelected governments.

Have they ever been a priority for elected governments? Aren't they the people who were supposed to elect a light pole for BKK governor?

The people of Missouri once voted for a dead man rather than vote for John Ashcroft. I can't say I blame them. A working light pole is definitely more useful than a dead man but it is beyond me what any of this has to do with the referendum on the constitution.

[Eric Loh]

If it ain't worth discussing like grown-ups, it ain't worth voting about.

An ultra low turnout makes a YES vote more likely - is it possible this is part of the plan?

Has Thailand ever had a turnout as low as regularly occurs in your country?

There are many differences between Thailand and my country which make your question (to which I don't know the answer without some research) irrelevant. In Thailand, many people have been shown time and again that their votes ultimately don't count as the Government they elect is overturned time and a gain by the kakocracy.

That's alright, I'm happy to educate you. The last referendum had a 57% turnout which was indeed very low for Thailand. The 2012 US presidential election managed under 55% voter turnout, but census data indicates around 42% of ELIGIBLE voters bothered.

Before being critical of another country's voting performance, take a long look at your own.

The US presidential elections have always hovered around the 50+% turnout. Poor example. As for Thailand, lots to be critical as the average election turnout is always around the 70% except for the 2014 PDRC poll station blockages. Now get back to the topic.

[MZurf]

Thanks. The comparison is still irrelevant, and BTW, I am from Afghanistan not USA so the workings of the great Satan are of little interest.

You're from Afghanistan and you're complaining about Thai voting patterns? Sorry, I am completely incapable of supplying comparison data.

That's not the only thing you're incapable of. Tell me, have you now realized that Thailand is not a republic?

[halloween]

Thanks. The comparison is still irrelevant, and BTW, I am from Afghanistan not USA so the workings of the great Satan are of little interest.

You're from Afghanistan and you're complaining about Thai voting patterns? Sorry, I am completely incapable of supplying comparison data.

That's not the only thing you're incapable of. Tell me, have you now realized that Thailand is not a republic?

Really? That's your input to the discussion of voting patterns?

[tuanku]

Thanks. The comparison is still irrelevant, and BTW, I am from Afghanistan not USA so the workings of the great Satan are of little interest.

You're from Afghanistan and you're complaining about Thai voting patterns? Sorry, I am completely incapable of supplying comparison data.

Not really, no. That was just to challenge your assumptions. My country just narrowly voted to make the worst decision in 43 years, which was almost immediately regretted by many of those who voted for it, will probably lead to the break up of the "United" Kingdom, has opened up divisions between young and old and between region and region, and will impoverish the country for the next 10 years at least. It all happened because one party needed the votes of the right wing nationalists to stay in power so they promised to delegate to the "man/woman in the street" a decision which was too complex to be properly understood and too important to be taken without a proper understanding, and should have been taken by their elected government which on the whole recognised the folly of Brexit.

And I am not complaining about Thai voting patterns - Thailand repeatedly elects the Government which the majority wants and the military repeatedly overthrows it at the behest of the powerful minority. Under the circumstances I fully understand anyone who refuses to participate in sham democracy which this referendum is an example of. The choice between approve this b...............t charter or else we will simply write another one is no choice at all and the people recognise that their power to change anything without an outright rebellion is non-existent. Why should they be falling over themselves to participate in this charade? they will simply wait until a mass movement of some sort captures their imagination and then make their feelings known - hopefully in a peaceful way.

[MZurf]

Thanks. The comparison is still irrelevant, and BTW, I am from Afghanistan not USA so the workings of the great Satan are of little interest.

You're from Afghanistan and you're complaining about Thai voting patterns? Sorry, I am completely incapable of supplying comparison data.

That's not the only thing you're incapable of. Tell me, have you now realized that Thailand is not a republic?

Really? That's your input to the discussion of voting patterns?

Uh, no. What I've posted (try reading my posts sometimes - it will make your replies seem marginally more coherent) is that my assertion is that there is little interest in voting since the junta has rigged it so that it doesn't matter what the voters choose.

If you disagree then let us hear your arguments (except from your "argument" that you don't care who runs the country as long as it's not Thaksin).