The New Thaksin

[Guest]

One of my colleagues is friends with a few generals in the army.

Under Thaksin, they had Toyota Corollas. They now have Mercedes and BMWs. Why? As they explicitly told my colleague, "Before Thaksin's cronies all got the money, but now we can get it.".

The coup was nothing more than a redistribution of wealth from politicians to the army.

[Ladyboy_Loser!]

A big Amen to that Ziggy. Those at the top in Thailand always make sure that "their" cronies get some of the spoils. Nothing is going to change, no matter who is elected. I do love it that Thakin's Machester City Football Club is doing so well in the E.P.L. talk about sticking a finger in your opponents eye. Thaksin is a genius and will always make these guys look like fools.

[katoeylover]

(PogueMahone @ Oct. 01 2007,18:41) Thaksin is a genius and will always make these guys look like fools.

[allstar88]

maybe they will buy man.u

[Snick]

Thats a big simplification, corruption has always existed here. But under Thaksin is became much larger and more organized - with TRT acting as a country wide coordinator of bribes and corruption.
And Thaksin also commited two huge sins, he sold his assets to Singapore and he was disrespectful of the King.


(The Thais I know complained he was "too corrupt" )

[Guest]

The beauty of the system today is that people don't see the corruption as blatant because Generals in the army are usually not so public nor under the scrutiny of asset examination. But in no think this isn't rampant now. The army love it.

[Snick]

Its a question of degrees, I have no doubt the Army guys are enriching themselves, but for the sake of argument lets say they are "appropriating" tens of millions of dollars worth of assets for themselves. Thaksin and TRT were siphoning off BILLIONS.

I know guys on the inside too, and they are making money off this (with this gov't and the last), but the scale of Thaksin's plundering was too much even for them (not that it stopped them from taking some).

p.s. I think you need to edit your comment "...But in no think this isn't rampant now. The army love it"

[Road Runner]

The thing I find most worrying about Thai politics is that the many of politicians and local officials are also in the army or police.

Not only are they able to abuse their government position but they are also the ones who would normally be charged with checking for corruption.

Until they change that Thailand will never have a properly developed and stable democracy and the corruption will go on and on.

RR.

[Ladyboy_Loser!]

For my wife and her family Thaksin is a God. After he pushed through that 30 Baht health plan and the subsidies for when the rice crop went in the toilet he could do no wrong. Up here in Issan he is the most popular leader that Thailand has ever had. For me now I am concerned that the Military might be relucant to give up the power that they have gained through the Coup. Sure, they promise a free and democratic election but with their restrictions on the press and television/radio I wonder how much the people running against them can accomplish. I only hope to God that the military in Thailand does not go to the dark side like they have in Myanmar. Should that ever happen I will cut my losses and be out of there on the next flight back to safety.

[moe666]

I called my girl friend when the coup was happening to check on her and we chatted for a bit. Her commit was that nothing change for me and family except the faces in charge. Thailand never change stay same , same.
She is fron Issan but hated Thaksin and his vote buying.

[Road Runner]

Taksin was following what they did in Singapore.

Improve the infrastructure   -  transport/communications/ports.  He managed to get quite big injections of foreign capital to fund these projects.
Improve the health care and make it more accessible  -  the 30 Baht health care scheme.
This is pretty much a win win situation as you keep more of the work force working  -  building the economy and paying taxes.

The bits he missed for some reason  

Stamp out all overt corruption  -  I think he was probably stabbed in the back here admittedly.
It's good election advertising and you can still pay your cronies on the quiet.

And finally  -  which was the real cornerstone of the Singapore 'revolution'  -  drastically improve the education system.
If he had got that in place early I think he may have survived the army's coup.   It's what Thailand really really needs.
At least 25% of Herself's family I rate as above average IQ and yet the schools in their area are not able to keep the kids interest long enough to even teach them to read and write properly.


I don't hold out any hope that his replacements will sort out the last two goals.  I just hope they do not f@*k up the first two.
I'm no fan of Taksin  -  I think he deserved to get the push  -  it's just I suspect that he is better than what will replace him.


RR.

[stogie bear]

Politics is an enriching career and has nothing to do with the betterment of society.

Once you understand that the headlines no longer mean a thing.

This applies to the world, not just to Thailand.

Take a look at the UK... The ex PM was sucking off the head of Tescos, the rest of these idiots were busy getting visas for their whore girlfriends and taking back handers from councils to be left alone to fleece rate payers...

In the USA... well... too many to choose from, but two words... Jeb Bush!!!

Politics is all about power and the acqusition of wealth.