Thai Politics - I'm Burnt Out!

[ATMwalking]

I've always enjoyed following politics. I enjoy commenting on the forum. But now I think I've reached an end.

Thai politics was funny back during the first reign of Thaksin. Both the odd things he'd do combined with the reports trying to sneak info out between the lines.

With the mass demonstrations and follow-up coupe things became less funny. We went through the serious times of disbanding political parties, creating a new constitution, and holding a new election.

Recently the Elections Committee has indicated they are likely to disband two of the governments coalitions partners for paying bribes. There is also a very good chance they will move to disband the PPP for being a proxy of the banned TRT.

Meanwhile they are just starting the process to select Constitutional judges. We know from the past H.M. The King supports solving matters using the laws on the books and can act as a backstop.

So in response, the current (proxy) PM wants to amend the constitution and get rid of those pesky parts of the constitution. However the constitution also requires changes go to the public in a referendum. The PM is saying this is just a big waste of money, he knows what needs to be done, so he wants to just make the changes. Further, the PM argues he must rush these changes so the E.C. and their secret backers don't "destabilize" the government.

Of course this completely undermines the very reason for having a constitution. Fortunately for the ruling party the vast majority of Thais have no idea why a constitution matters. Unfortunately for the PPP there are enough educated and active Thais to start protests again. It should be noted that the PPP recently changed the national police chief.

Where does this leave us? Roughly where we were about two years ago. Things are just spinning around.

I find this so self-destructive. It's not funny anymore. Just tragic.

It is hurting residents on a local level. For example, infrastructure and other projects that need to happen can't get the funding. The police will be further distracted from rising crime. Everything is ultimately controlled from BKK so commenting on local issues is pointless until the federal issues are resolved.

So I've decided to disconnect from Thai politics and to a greater degree all news in this country. I won't be commenting. It is pointless. And I become even more fearful of the biggest and scariest event that is lurking ever closer.

[LivinLOS]

Why do you think Thailand is a 3rd world country ?? I think the piece of Pith is "a democratic nation gets the government it deserves"..

Also you heard the Dept Finance minister !!! I read it in the Nation on the plane yesterday but The Bugle sums it up better

and this from Saturday’s Bangkok Post is about the new deputy finance minister:
On fielding a question about the equity of the VAT on the poor, Lt Ranongrak offered an answer that left the ministry press corps stunned.
''I think the VAT is quite fair. It's just the tourists who pay, don't they? Other people don't have any problem,'' she said in all seriousness.
The reality is quite the opposite, of course, as tourists can claim refunds from the 7% VAT upon leaving the country.
Still, Lt Ranongrak expressed confidence that she can accomplish her responsibilities as one of the country's top economic policymakers.
''I am trying to learn about everything that is under my responsibility. As soon as I learned about my appointment, I did a search on the internet to see what the Finance Ministry actually does,'' she said.

It is good to see the economic well being of this nation is in such good hands!

Those are her exact quoted words !!

[K2]

''I am trying to learn about everything that is under my responsibility. As soon as I learned about my appointment, I did a search on the internet to see what the Finance Ministry actually does.''

Read this too - and beggars belief - a disaster in waiting, and you thought sub-prime was bad!!

[ATMwalking]

Originally Posted by K2

Read this too - and beggars belief - a disaster in waiting, and you thought sub-prime was bad!!

Sounds scary on first read for sure. Second read as well. But Thaksin aways had proxy finance ministers when he was PM. Thaksin ran finance. I read this as confirmation he is back in that role. The better question is she good at taking orders and dutifully caring them out.

[Schmeen]

In my time in Thailand I've experienced two coups, such PM's as Banharn 20%, Chatchai Choonhavan, Chaovalit Yongchaiyudh, Suchinda Kraprayoon, (I was in close proximity in 1992) scandal after scandal, Purachai and his morals campaign and many others I have forgotten.

I think some people are now starting to have a clue why I had some respect for many aspects of Thaksin's rule.

I don't hink I've ever been so concerned about the future of this country than I am at the moment.

It's as bad as I remember it in the early to mid nineties and I feel something is ticking and on the way to exploding.

I ain't going anywhere though

[inthemode]

I loved reading about the assets that were claimed by the new ministers.

One guy owns a F-14, F-16 and F-18 flight simulators that were worth 500,000. baht to over 3 million baht.

Another guy had a watch worth over a million baht...not too big a deal.

Some were in debt to over 40 million baht......good job to get you in the black.

[marc26]

Originally Posted by Schmeen

It's as bad as I remember it in the early to mid nineties and I feel something is ticking and on the way to exploding.

I ain't going anywhere though

so why would you stay?
as you seem to be most ingrained in Thai life, i would think the political situation effects you more than the average ex-pat
i just dont understand why people would want to stay in an unstable country

[LivinLOS]

But really (and I know this sounds horribly colonial) why does an unstable country bother me really ??

I mean, the net still works (kinda) the beers still cheap (kinda) and the girls still willing (kinda).. I think partly its the lack of stability some people revel in. My old house mate sounds like he may be heading to colombia, I dont think hes going there because of the stability.

[marc26]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

But really (and I know this sounds horribly colonial) why does an unstable country bother me really ??

I mean, the net still works (kinda) the beers still cheap (kinda) and the girls still willing (kinda).. I think partly its the lack of stability some people revel in. My old house mate sounds like he may be heading to colombia, I dont think hes going there because of the stability.

again, i sort of view ex-pats that are doing their own thing vs someone like Schmeen that actually works for a thai company differently. i think a countrie's stability would effect someone liek him moreso than someone like you

[ATMwalking]

Originally Posted by marc26

again, i sort of view ex-pats that are doing their own thing vs someone like Schmeen that actually works for a thai company differently. i think a countrie's stability would effect someone liek him moreso than someone like you

I tend to agree.

Right now it is just games in Bangkok. If you never read the news or talked politics you would have no idea any of the stuff in the past couple of years happend (if you live in Phuket). So most expats would be more outraged by a increase in the cost of beer than anything political.

[K2]

Originally Posted by ATMwalking

I won't be commenting.

Never say never eh Chris?!! 5555

[ATMwalking]

Originally Posted by K2

Never say never eh Chris?!! 5555

Hey, it was a different point about if thai politics impacts expats

[Schmeen]

Why would I stay??

Life is far more fun here.

I have a better quality of life and earn way more here than I do elsewehere.

I like the weather.

I like the food.

Most importantly, I have always had an eye on such a situation developing. I am protected in many ways, if it goes really really bad I can be on a plane pretty quickly.

Deep down I also don't believe it will ever get that bad, but it is getting worse.

[inthemode]

In my business instability dosen't matter, what matters is tourists. As long as they keep coming to Thailand we are ok.

I would be bored to death if I had to live in the U.S., Canada,U.K.

Just my opinion.