Radical change is needed to unlock Thailand's potential

[NanLaew]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

The 12th plan, which is part of the government’s 20-year strategy, has 10 pillars which the National Economic and Social Development Board believe can help the economy grow by 5 per cent annually and narrow the income inequality gap. Many people have questioned such an ambitious goal.

There you go, 12, 20, 10 and 5. Your lottery picks for next week.

 

Knock yourself out.

[NanLaew]

40 minutes ago, InMyShadow said:

Wrong. Your injecting your view of western democracy onto Thailand.

That type of democracy is 50 years away.

Thais can't even get the basics right. Accept a democratic election even if your side didn't win.

On no we lost, let's make bangkok burn!!!

About 20 years ago, a much revered elder statesman, ex-military, former PM and still near the top of the totem pole, claimed that Thailand needs a special kind of democracy. Do you think he was right?

 

Your reasoning on what triggered the burning in Bangkok is a bit flawed BTW.

 

36 minutes ago, ianf said:

You really don't get it. Just voting for someone doesn't mean you have democracy. People vote for Mugabe, Hun Sen and so on. Are these democratic leaders? Absolutely not. Did Thaksin head a democracy? Did Yingluck head a democracy. 100% Not in either case. Is this regime any more or any less unaccountable or repressive than Thaksin's? Same same if you ask me. But Thaksin leads in the repressive stakes with his extra-judicial killings of 3000 so-called drug dealers. And as I have already said democracy per se is not the sole answer. Most people here don't understand what democracy is anyway.....

Another 'special democracy' advocate? Yes, democracy needs to grow and develop but when non-democratic methods were used to remove the first democratically elected government and again to remove the second one, then what do you suggest? As unlikely as it seems, there's no telling if Thaksin's or Yingluck's administrations could have become like Mugabe's or Hun Sen's as democratic due process was never considered. One has to start somewhere but repeatedly pulling the plug doesn't do the nation any favours.

 

Of all the Thai administrations, only the Thaksin and Yingluck governments were democratically elected. The interim government of Abhisit wasn't.

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies have been removed. 

[soalbundy]

4 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Hmmm. Zimbabwe was colonized. So were most of the other sub Saharan states that have been run into the ground by corrupt politicians and ethnic violence since independence. Vietnam, Cambodia were colonized - didn't work out too well for them either since independence. 

 

Colinization works well for those in charge, who squeeze out what they want then leave the mess.

Zimbabwe was doing well until a local decided to kick out the white farmers who had know how and give the land to the black population who had no know how before that Rhodesia was a bread basket with surplus food now its a basket case.

[Stargeezr]

I agree that Thailand had to change in many, many ways to go ahead into the 21 and 22 century.

  Getting rid of corruption has to start now  and  first, as with corrupt governments, the country will not

change.  The new government has to regulate  its self and if there are corrupt members in any of the

government offices,  expose them and get rid of them.  Then the government has to get rid of a lot of these

old hurtful laws and modernize. This will likely take from 20 to 50 years to do,  so today would be a great

day to start.

Geezer

Edited July 5, 2017 by Stargrazer9889

[candide]

20 minutes ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

I agree that Thailand had to change in many, many ways to go ahead into the 21 and 22 century.

  Getting rid of corruption has to start now  and  first, as with corrupt governments, the country will not

change.  The new government has to regulate  its self and if there are corrupt members in any of the

government offices,  expose them and get rid of them.  Then the government has to get rid of a lot of these

old hurtful laws and modernize. This will likely take from 20 to 50 years to do,  so today would be a great

day to start.

Geezer

Fine! What about unelected politicians who will de facto control the country under the new constitution. Any chance to get rid of them?

[Stargeezr]

As for the unelected politicians, well I think that there are masses like that in most countries. They are called

the richest families of the countries, and they will have to control them selves.  Getting rid of them would

break most countries All the rich families  ,  I mean...

Geezer

[davehowden]

What potential is it that the writer wants to unlock?

 

To become more like the USA or  Europe, where democratically elected stupidity and incompetence are at a premium, or to fuel the profits of global corporations?

 

In my view Thailand is OK as it is.

 

People know their place in a structured society, their view of life is blinkered, they don't worry about things too much as they know they cannot change anything anyway.

 

Life is about today's food, a smoke, a drop to drink, the family, the soi, the village..... How many people in the so called "democratic" countries would willingly return to the Thai way of life if they had a chance!

 

Isn't that why most of us are here in the first place.

Edited July 5, 2017 by davehowden

[kannot]

no problem

[JAG]

What potential is it that the writer wants to unlock?
 
To become more like the USA or  Europe, where democratically elected stupidity and incompetence are at a premium, or to fuel the profits of global corporations?
 
In my view Thailand is OK as it is.
 
People know their place in a structured society, their view of life is blinkered, they don't worry about things too much as they know they cannot change anything anyway.
 
Life is about today's food, a smoke, a drop to drink, the family, the soi, the village..... How many people in the so called "democratic" countries would willingly return to the Thai way of life if they had a chance!
 
Isn't that why most of us are here in the first place.

No

[NCFC]

Outdated Institutions? Whatever do they mean by that?

[Lunchbob]

Courageous speech. Well done.

[Orton Rd]

All they have is exporting rice and sugar with cheap labour, prostitutes and tourism. They are too corrupt and poorly educated to unlock anything else.

[owl sees all]

26 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

All they have is exporting rice and sugar with cheap labour, prostitutes and tourism.

Pineapples!

[Smarter Than You]

4 hours ago, davehowden said:

What potential is it that the writer wants to unlock?

 

To become more like the USA or  Europe, where democratically elected stupidity and incompetence are at a premium, or to fuel the profits of global corporations?

 

In my view Thailand is OK as it is.

 

People know their place in a structured society, their view of life is blinkered, they don't worry about things too much as they know they cannot change anything anyway.

 

Life is about today's food, a smoke, a drop to drink, the family, the soi, the village..... How many people in the so called "democratic" countries would willingly return to the Thai way of life if they had a chance!

 

Isn't that why most of us are here in the first place.

OK as it is... until your child gets sick and dies because you can't afford decent medical treatment.

 

Perhaps after watching so many of their relatives die through lack of access to health care and so many of their children not get decent jobs through lack of access to a decent education has caused many to remove the blinkers and start worrying.

 

Perhaps the improved life quality bought about by the policies of Thaksin governments, the realisation that their votes can make a difference has instilled in many the knowledge that they can change everything.

 

There is enormous potential, great swathes of this country and millions of its people have been neglected for decades - put away the guns, accept democracy, show the neglected a bit of attention and reap the rewards.

 

The glass, my friend, is half full.

Edited July 6, 2017 by Smarter Than You

[soalbundy]

Prayut is full of potential, i can smell it