Originally Posted by
Bettyboo
Sorry Chi, but I don't agree. I've met many so-called educated Brits and Americans who are totally stupid in every aspect; never mind the average uneducated moron. I've met (or know well) many Thais who work at Chula who are great people, very smart and would be comfortable in conversation/work in any country in the world - they graducated from your top universities, they can think outside the box just fine.
I'll add: the problem in Thailand is not the people, it's the culture - the patronage culture that the PADites want to reinforce, and the false history created in the 1930s to keep the feudal lords at the top of the patronage system. That's the problem.
Although I'm sure bettyboo is right that there is some Thais who actually have worked hard to learn and have ended up with a good education, but likewise I'm sure bettyboo knows that quite a few Thais are "to big to fail" and that degrees are handed out and swindled like candy wrappers big time in the top Thai uni's.
Same goes for the private uni's in the US that specialises in slapping a degree on high paying Thai foreign costumers (I refuse to call them students) these things have been documented often enough.
And all this shit and their hopeless lack of basic knowledge and ability to compete internationally within their chosen fields, is exatly what part of the ongoing conflict is all about, the elite wants to keep status quo, where they via nepotism, connections and name can get the power positions, they want to hang on to the xenophobic Thai business/government system keeping "low-class" Thais, and foreigners in place and forcing foreign business to hire Thais to top spots or pay hefty bribes for the privilege to operate in Thailand.
They know full well that if further democratic development is allowed to continue, and Thailand consequently conforms more and more to international practises - their time is over, both Thai and foreign company's, and state institutions will gradually start to employ and chose the best for the job regardless of origin or name, rather than the connected High So.
They are all scared shit-less that their privileges is going to be taken away, and they are right too, because it is inevitable.