Thread: Ways for Thailand's Political Breakthrough in the Eyes of the People

Poll: Public ponders possible ways to break political impasse



BANGKOK, July 10 (TNA) – Marginally over one-fourth -- 28 per cent -- of the Thai public look to the dissolution of the House of Representatives as an appropriate way for a political breakthrough to help ease the country's conflicts and to end the ongoing protests aimed at bringing about a change of government, according to a new survey.

The survey was conducted by the Suan Dusit Rajabhat University (Suan Dusit Poll) to seek the opinions of residents in metropolitan Bangkok and provincial areas on "Ways for Thailand's Political Breakthrough in the Eyes of the People", taken using a random sample of 1,266 people during July 8-9.

Suan Dusit pollsters found 28.44 per cent of the respondents viewed the House should be dissolved and a snap election be held to allow the people to choose the new government to administer the country.

However, 25.12 per cent supported the cabinet reshuffle to replace the present embattled ministers with new ones. They did not want a new election because they see it as a waste of money.

Others felt a reshuffle will not meet the current need: 17.54 per cent viewed the cabinet should resign en masse so that the new government can be formed. The respondents said the current government performed in a partisan way and failed to solve the country's problems.

In addition, the poll showed 15.40 per cent of the respondents as believing that the minor coalition parties should withdraw from the government and join with the opposition Democrat Party to set up a new government.

They believed this proposal would help end the demonstrations by the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy.

It also found 3.31 per cent wanted the military to stage a coup since they believed it would help bring peace and order to the country, while 10.19 per cent viewed all conflicting parties should negotiate with each other or return to some earlier understanding for the benefit of the country.(TNA)

enews.mcot.net

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

^^ there is a divide between the rural electorate who vote TRT/PPP and the urbanites that overwhelmingly vote for the Democrat Party. Unfortunately this divide is as much down to class differences, rich and poor, moreso than it has to do with vote buying and election profiteering.

It's not quite as simple as support waning because of the poor policies of this shambolic cabinet, if that were so, they would have lost all hope a long time ago.

TRT/PPP are still regarded, with very good reason, as the only party that takes notice of the rural poor and so will still retain the vast majority of that vote.

As we know, the rural masses vote in governments, and the Bangkok middle and upper classes remove them.

Yep - heard it all before - but what I was looking for was some first, second or third hand reports confirming or contradicting what I wrote above, rather than stating the bloody obvious.

^ If you had half a brain, you would realise I was telling you that it doesn't matter how people are feeling about certain Government policies.

"A little late perhaps, but could we be sing a slow turn-around, where the great unwashed finally start to realise that selling their votes to the highest bidder is not actually in their favour in the long run?"

It seems you need to be "stated the obvious", seeing as you yourself posted that nonsense.

Originally Posted by Whiteshiva

I would be interested to hear if any of TDs members living in, or having contacts with the provinces have similar (or differing stories to tell), as governments tend to be elected by the rural masses (and then frequently fall as a result of Bangkok street protests and/or coups).

A few points as observed from someone who lives in a village and has conversations quite often re politics in Isaan:

Isaan cannot be characterized in one single generalization. So anything I say only applies to what I have directly observed.

In the last election, vote buying was not the norm at least in the area I live in. I know for sure no money changed hands in my village or those within the Tambon. Certainly there was vote buying in other areas but from what I have heard, offers were made by all the political parties including the Democrats.

General consensus is Samak was a bad choice to lead the PPP and now after observing his antics and uncontrolled mouth the folks of Isaan are ready for a change in PPP leadership. Let's remember, the PPP ran and was elected on the perception a vote for the PPP was a vote for Thaksin.

As it relates to the PAD demonstrations the consensus is as I noted in my post above to "Keep the Bangkok elite in power no matter what the cost to Thailand, it's people or it's economy!"

I have found no one who has any sympathy for another coup. The Army as with the police are generally despised and another coup will anger the folks in Isaan and, IMO unlike the last one could result in wide spread civil unrest.

Nearly all want Thaksin back and perceive all the corruption charges against him and other PPP members are aimed at putting the Dems (Bangkok elite) in power. As your wife has noted most are unhappy with the PPP but surely will not cast their vote for a Dem if there is another election. If the PPP were to select a more rational leader, the PPP would be supported just as strong as before in a snap election.

As it is in every country worldwide, the economy is the big issue. From the unwashed masses to educated shop owners, they feel the government is not doing enough to ease the burden on them. The difference between Isaan folks and Bangkokians is the Isaan folks expectation's the government can/will do anything are much lower. Being a pragmatic lot, they know full well no matter who is in charge, with the exception of Thaksin, Thai politicians seldom have any interest in the lives of the people of Isaan.

time.

^^ I agree. I think charges of absolute corruption in the last election are overstated.

This is Thailand. There will always be some -- but not to the extent others suggest.

My wife thought Toxin was a good PM. She's silent about Samak.

Ways for Thailand's Political Breakthrough in the Eyes of the People

Become a Republic?

Originally Posted by Texpat

She's silent about Samak.

Ah yes, the old Thai woman silent treatment ploy. We all know what this means. Translation - Fcukwit!

Noppadon has resigned. Who is next?

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

^ If you had half a brain, you would realise I was telling you that it doesn't matter how people are feeling about certain Government policies.

"A little late perhaps, but could we be sing a slow turn-around, where the great unwashed finally start to realise that selling their votes to the highest bidder is not actually in their favour in the long run?"

It seems you need to be "stated the obvious", seeing as you yourself posted that nonsense.

(Ways for Thailand's Political Breakthrough in the Eyes of the People)Ways for Thailand's...10-07-2008 02:16 PMEmperorTudit wasn't obvious to you, going by your last post

Ouch - touched a sore spot, did I?

^ no.

i think the death of a certain someone will scatter this log jam in a way that will quite predicably benefit the "haves".

Originally Posted by obsidian

i think the death of a certain someone will scatter this log jam in a way that will quite predicably benefit the "haves".

For sure although I fear they have that sewn that up already.

The last coup was evidence of their continuing influence and control IMO.

Thaksin wasn't any different but what he and his cronies do is pay lip service to the plight of the rural poor and that's a step too far for Thailand's elite, who don't even acknowledge them. The reality of an influencial poor electorate has been evident and it scares the wealthy. In their opinion the poor should be seen but not heard. Empowering them financially and politically is seen to be a big mistake.

What we are seeing now is the positioning should such an eventuality that you spoke of arise.

Originally Posted by obsidian

time.

Originally Posted by obsidian

i think the death of a certain someone will scatter this log jam in a way that will quite predicably benefit the "haves".

Ah, got it finally. The "time" post went right over my head. Not as sharp as I once was!!

Right click predicably.

Like it or not, governments are elected for a fixed term in democratic places.
They usually make the hard decisions in the early years and add the sweeteners for the voting public towards the end of their term. That's just the con job the governments pull on us voters everywhere. But in more mature democracies we don't demand a new election after only 5 months because we don't like the way things are going with the new government.

So the taxi drivers have to pay 400 baht to change their meters and the price of fuel is going up, up, up around the world. Are they valid reasons for a new election?

But having said the above, there is a very real possibility of fresh elections in Thailand if the courts decide to deregister the PPP.
The result will be the same, all be it with a new name and some new faces. But same, same despite all the fuss.

Personally, although I do support the PPP/TRT ideal of democracy through appealing to the needs of the poor masses, I do think the courts are doing a good job of rounding up the cheats. PPP/TRT or what ever it might be called next time around doesn't need to bribe voters if they genuinely look after the interests of the majority of voters to gain political power. Same goes for the Democrats.

Thailand really needs to clean up its act if it is ever going to become a true functioning democracy.

This wink, wink, nod, nod Thai attitude of -- "oh yes, but Thailand is different and we do it the Thai way here" is pure BS and designed only to water down true democracy and interweave it with the endemic corruption that is holding the nation back.

But with the Thai superior attitude that they are the smartest people in the world, I don't hold out much hope that they will ever work it out.

Good for me though, as the Thais keep destroying their own economy and keep the nation as a third world country I can live pretty well there on my Farang income. By the time they figure out how to get over their national preoccupation with endemic corruption I will be long dead, so why should I care anyway?

It's probably true that a lot of people in Bangkok don't care about the people upcountry but its also probably true that most people in Bangkok area come from the countryside anyways. I've heard 70% originally came from Esarn. Those protesting have a variety of reasons for doing what they are doing. Don't throw them into one pot. Four years ago my Esarn wife would explode at me for criticising Tax sin but she changed her views after hearing the other side of the story. She even joined the last protests to oust him. A lot of people from her part of Surin aren't pro-Thaksin. Thaksin travelled around Esarn mostly at the end of his time to rally support as he came under criticism. Most of his time in, he didn't go up to Esarn much.

As for money for votes in the last election, I'll have to ask my relatives about that again but I can say that locally the corruption game is still going on. How many people are going to admit they took money or something else? In the past six months I have heard my brother-in-law say that the locals have gotten free meat and fertilizer as gifts from those running for lower level positions. There's all kinds of stuff going on; in Esarn, its not just about cash in hand.

Samak is a lot better politician than many of the new people that are now in the Thai government and he is a freakin moron half the time. The problem in the government at the moment involves much more than Samak.

If Thaksin could get all his ill-gotten wealth and that which wasn't ill-gotten and be free to visit Thailand without fear of retribution I would think he would probably take that and keep far away from politics right now. But it looks like he may face a real independent court system. (There's always the possibilty that all the people that are taking falls are doing it so that when Taxsin gets cleared it will look as if the courts made the decision for him in good faith without influence! I know, I'm cynical. I want Taxsin and his family to burn!)

He doesn't deserve his ill-gotten wealth and deserves to be punished financially and possibly by imprisonment for what he has done to this country.

The hunting down of corrupt individuals shouldn't stop with Tax sin, Thailand needs to break free from these criminals and this corruption.

Originally Posted by Rattanaburi

Thailand needs to break free from these criminals and this corruption.

Needs to but will never do so.

Gonna get a lot worse when the big guy goes.

I guess they could use taxsin's stolen wealth and his fine to help lower LPG and NGV gas prices for people upcountry. This might help Thailand recover from its current crisis.

Originally Posted by Rattanaburi

I've heard 70% originally came from Esarn.

Think you're right about the % but unless they change their residence to Bangkok and very few do, they return to Isaan to vote. Once there, like voters anywhere they are influenced by local political thought.

the purchase of votes is endemic in thailand. i am very skeptical of those who claim it isnt happening regularity.