Thread: What if the PAD gets it's way?

^^ Actually Bugs, you dont own any land in Issarn at all, as I am sure you well know.

Thaksin, the PPP, Samak and now Somchai offer 1/3 of this nation's population something no government had before.

Dignity.

PAD will get it's ass beat if it takes over.

Samak would still be in power if it wasn't for re-opening those silly Constitution amendments, that was an obvious give away to his allegiance to Thaksin friends. That basically put back PAD on the streets.

Originally Posted by Panda

^^ Actually Bugs, you dont own any land in Issarn at all, as I am sure you well know.

Usufruct - it's mine until I die.

Originally Posted by Bugs

As for the courts, just think if they would have been as ticky tacky about the rule of law way back when Taxman for won the first time he likely would not have been allowed into office and Thailand would not be in the mess they are in now. But that's what happens when a country decided to only apply the rule of law from time to time.

There is one reason and one reason only the courts moved against Thaksin. He was the first PM ever to gain a single party majority in Parliament without having to form a coalition! This in essence gave him unprecedented power and he exercised it to a great degree in opposition to the will of the "status quo".

Was Thaksin corrupt? Yep. Has every previous Thailand PM been free of corruption? Nope. If rooting out corruption is the mission of the court then why has Thaksin been the only PM to have been convicted of such an unspeakable crime?

Originally Posted by sabang

^^ There is moneylending Bugs, and there is Usury. Even in the usurious West, Usury is illegal.
And there is a Sucker born every minute. especially in Isaan.
The moneylender in this case was a gangster, who has done the same thing several times over.
The net result is he gains land and buildings at a substantial discount to their market value. It is a deliberate strategy on his part.


Incidentally, when Thaksin was in power I was not fond of him- few were in HK. Doing business in Thailand got more expensive, and of course you know why.

I have since come to realise his domestic policies however were quite enlightened- they really did a lot to help the rural people. Those are the roots of the current impasse', but is it not a governments duty to act in the best interests of it's population?

I would agree that something needs to be done in regard to the loan sharks. But until the rule of law is actually thought of as something positive and worthwhile nothing is likely to happen to prevent the loan sharks from running amuck. That being said the loan shark did not force the largest farm in the area to go out and take loans. They should have gotten a clue if they could not get a loan from a bank, that what they wanted/ needed the money for was not a sound enough reason to get a loan.

Sounds like to me you are saying they are too stupid to know how to handel their own money and how to go about getting a loand, but somehow smart enough to be able to choose who runs the country.
(^That last bit was in jest)

I think Taxman did quite alot for the country, but I am not so sold on how much real good he did for the rural poor. Most of the results that I am aware of ended up in much the same why as the aforementioned loan sharks. Folks getting loans and using the money on things that they don't really need (mobile phones, and motorbikes) rather than things that might provide a better income or some kind of return in the future, and then not being able to repay the loans.

Not unlike many a politician I think Taxman did quite a lot of good in his first run, and that he had the ability to build on what he did the first time around. But instead he let the power go to his head after the second election and started to dole out the favors to his friends, and to line his own pockets and thus should have been ousted in some fashion.

I don't think Taxmans domestic policies are really the root of the problem for the PAD. The root of the problem is that they (the PAD) are not in control. The things that Taxman did in the last year or so of his reign just gave them fodder to go on the attack. IMHO the way the PPP has acted since the last election has been a terrible way to try and make peace after a coup. They have basically been rubbing the faces of the PAD in the fact that they won and they'll do as they damn well please. They should have been smart enough to realize that their control of power is fragile (regardless of the poll numbers), and to tread cautiously in how they govern.

Sure in a democracy the party that wins the election should be able/allowed to do as they damn well please. But Thailand does not have a long history of having strong/stable governments. Anyone that takes control needs to be cautious of how they weld the power they have and be aware of who their enemies are and what power the enemy can bring to the fight – the PPP has failed miserably at this.

Originally Posted by sabang

Actually they didn't- the PPP leader was Samak, who is not related and proved to be quite independent from Thaksin- in fact he marginalised some of Thaksins closest supporters. Several rumours around that Thaksin was none to fond of him, actually. Then in their infinite wisdom, the Judiciary kicked Samak out as PM for receiving a few thousand baht for a televised cooking show. And in came Thaksins brother in law. Nice one.

Off topic slightly, but what exactly is the World Record for the number of own goals scored in a football match?

Originally Posted by Bugs

Sounds like to me you are saying they are too stupid to know how to handel their own money and how to go about getting a loand, but somehow smart enough to be able to choose who runs the country.

Guess the same can be said for the electorate in the US who are in foreclosure on their homes. Reckon we better just change the US Constitution to keep these ignorant folks from sullying our great nation.

Originally Posted by Norton

There is one reason and one reason only the courts moved against Thaksin. He was the first PM ever to gain a single party majority in Parliament without having to form a coalition! This in essence gave him unprecedented power and he exercised it to a great degree in opposition to the will of the "status quo".

Was Thaksin corrupt? Yep. Has every previous Thailand PM been free of corruption? Nope. If rooting out corruption is the mission of the court then why has Thaksin been the only PM to have been convicted of such an unspeakable crime?

That’s rub of it thought isn’t it - The court made a move on Taxman because they wanted to – not because it was their job, or really due to any obligation under the rule of law. As long as the police, politicians, and the courts are given free pass to follow the rule of law selectively and mainly only to further their own agenda (or to prevent others from furthering their agenda) then Thailand will continue to ride the merry-go-round of power.

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by Bugs

Sounds like to me you are saying they are too stupid to know how to handel their own money and how to go about getting a loand, but somehow smart enough to be able to choose who runs the country.

Guess the same can be said for the electorate in the US who are in foreclosure on their homes. Reckon we better just change the US Constitution to keep these ignorant folks from sullying our great nation.

Well, the original Constitution did limit who was allowed to vote - whites only and men only. Additionally the US senate was not elected by the people they were appointed by other politicians.

Why'd we have to go and mess up such a fine original document?

Originally Posted by Texpat

DPRK -- Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Yes, it's a bit weird that the countries which have Democratic in their title don't tend to go in for elections very much.

German Democratic Republic (East Germany)
Democratic Republic of Congo
Lao People's Democratic Republic...

Originally Posted by Bugs

until after elvis has left the building or at least appoints his replacement.

If my Thai friends are correct, Elvis is a hostage of Priscilla and friends.

Originally Posted by Bugs

Why'd we have to go and mess up such a fine original document?

In many ways, I agree. I'm sure many in Thailand are regretting giving the vote to all as well. But like pandora's box

Originally Posted by Bugs

Originally Posted by sabang

Originally Posted by Bugs

until after elvis has left the building or at least appoints his replacement.

If my Thai friends are correct, Elvis is a hostage of Priscilla and friends.

I think that is probably correct, and the real shame of the matter is I don't trust Priscilla nor her friends to pick the best person as the replacement. On the flip side if they pick who I think they'll pick all the luster will soon wear off the family tree and they will have no respect and thus no real power to throw behind the PAD.

But I think this is the heart of why things are unfolding right now, before Elvis leaves the building. Priscilla and friends see the writting on the wall and know the only way they will matter after Elvis leaves is if they can take control before hand.

35 billion fried banana sandwiches can buy a lot of respect and power.

Originally Posted by sabang

This buying votes nonsense is a smokescreen, believed by too many gullible Bkker's. The PPP hardly needed to buy votes in the north and Isaan- Thaksins policies left them with an enormous amount of goodwill up there.

In my wifes Ubon village, no votes were bribed or bought in the national elections. No offer was even made. I am sure that is the same in most of the Provinces. Votes were bought however in the local elections.

You are right, my wife's family and many of our friends live in rural areas, do not dare insult them that their votes are for sale. These people are smart and decent. The PAD'S full of crap as usual.