Redshirts or Yellowshirts

[PigDogg]

Which side do you want to prevail?

[rxpharm]

actually both sides are idiotic, proper choice of wording there PD! However, I think that the reds are being simplistic if they think dissolving parliament and having new elections will solve their problems - especially if Thaksin came back.

The solution for them is to create another political party to run in the next election - and give Thailand a chance for some stability to get through the economic mess we're all in.

If they disrupt things it will cost LOS almost as much as when the airports closed.

[donnykey]

Bobby I prefer a Red Shirt










Cheers Bruce

[Master Bator]

Well there is a whole bunch of them protesting on 3rd road now at this very moment and I could not get over Sukhumvit this morning -they have closed the complete lanein the direction to Bangkok. And you were not allowed to turn to go down Pattya Tai and Threpasit Rd.
A friend living on 3rd road called and in the background you could hear the protesting red shirts.

[Grinder]

Know what you mean MB - I'm living over on the Dark Side and got my driver to take me into town last night. He was very sceptical at first and seems to have written off even venturing in that direction for a while.

(Off topic) Never mind... managed to get into SF for what can only be described as a frsutrating episode as my holidaying friend was scared shitless and wanted to run away. Shame, I was enjoying the cockfest!

[Stogie]

If Thaksin came back and formed a new government (unlikely) then Thailand would see the fastest economic recovery and growth of the whole of Asia.

His strong arm tactics and popularity are what is missing in the world especially in Asia.

[Snick]

There needs to be a "both a bunch of idiots" option

Its bad no matter how you look at it.

[SukhumvitRoad]

(Stogie @ Apr. 10 2009,12:24) If Thaksin came back and formed a new government (unlikely) then Thailand would see the fastest economic recovery and growth of the whole of Asia.

His strong arm tactics and popularity are what is missing in the world especially in Asia.

As is so frequently the case, Mr. Bear has nailed it.

I sometimes wonder why so many foreigners seem to want to prove that they hate Thakain more than any Thai does? Do they think that proves they actually do belong here?

[Ivor Biggun]

Thaksin was the best thing to happen to Thailand in a long time in my humble opinion. Sure he pulled a few dodgy things but what politician doesn't? He upset the Bkk elite applecart which is what caused his downfall. However he needs to back off at the moment and allow a bit of stability to creep in. Next elections lets see what happens- if a vote shows the will of the majority, not the few EVERYONE should respect it,a and not force another coup because they don't like the results.

[robbo]

i allways pack a stripey red and yellow shirt,best not to offend anyone

[Road Runner]

(robbo @ Apr. 10 2009,19:50) i allways pack a stripey red and yellow shirt,best not to offend anyone

I'm a long way past caring about offending anyone  -  however I have no wish to get killed for the sake of someone else's uneducated/un-informed take on politics.

I give Taksin his due in that he made major inprovements to the infrastructure of Thailand  -   roads and telecommunications etc.
Where he failed in his plan to make this place like Singapore was in the education system.
Though I suspect that he was defeated by people who put their own interests before that of Thailand.

Am I a fan of Thaksin?  NO!  I regard him as a chancer who had his day in the sun.
Just like some of the same ilk we have (had) in the UK  -  the Americans have (had)  -  and the non-entity I half remember in the 'People's Democratic Repiblic of the Congo had.
They are all the same at the end of the day what ever colour T-shirts they wear.

Taksin did make his mark and it was a better one than many (most?) have done.
In some ways it would not be a bad thing if he came back  -  as Stogie suggested Thailand could do with a strong leader to help them out of the present mess.
But I think it's more the World needs a strong leader rather than Thailand.
The Democrats managed to drag Thailand out of it's last financial crisis and I believe they will do OK this time.

What worries me is that this infant democracy (still infant after 77 years!) is heading towards mob rule and it's because a few people are pulling strings behind the scenes
for their own ends and don't see or care what the consequences may be.

Even more worrying could be a change of management at the very top.

Mai Pen Rai is not a good way of running a government.

RR.

[rxpharm]

Thaksin coming back won't solve any problems - there will still be the polarization of Thai society. What Thailand needs is someone like Lee Kuan Yew, former prime minister of Singapore. He ran the country as a benevolent dictatorship - but had a goal of transforming Singapore to benefit all the people. Thaksin, who has compared himself to Nelson Mandela, had the major goal of enriching himself and if the Thailand benefited as a side effect it was ok.

In today's economic climate, I would doubt that Thaksin or anyone else could come up with a plan to cure the problems of any country in short order.

[manarak]

(Stogie @ Apr. 10 2009,12:24) If Thaksin came back and formed a new government (unlikely) then Thailand would see the fastest economic recovery and growth of the whole of Asia.

His strong arm tactics and popularity are what is missing in the world especially in Asia.

Ok... take Singapore.
They had lots of growth.

Now, take away Thai, Viet, Philippina and PRC girls from OT, Geylang and Desker/Rowell areas.

What fun remains?


I know many of you are Star Trek fans.

But... where do federation citizens get their P4P fun ??

[PigDogg]

Redshirts vs Riot Police:

[Master Bator]

(manarak @ Apr. 11 2009,03:05)

(Stogie @ Apr. 10 2009,12:24) If Thaksin came back and formed a new government (unlikely) then Thailand would see the fastest economic recovery and growth of the whole of Asia.

His strong arm tactics and popularity are what is missing in the world especially in Asia.

Ok... take Singapore.
They had lots of growth.

The so called "Eastern Democracy" worked well indeed for Singapore.

But you may not compare Thaksin to Lee Kuan Yew.

Read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Kuan_Yew

You will find many differences in policies. Most importantly regarding corruption and cronyism:

Like many countries, Singapore was not immune to corruption. Lee was well aware how corruption had led to the downfall of the Nationalist Chinese government in mainland China. Fighting against the communists himself, he knew he had to 'clean house'. Lee introduced legislation giving the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) greater power to conduct arrests, search, call up witnesses, and investigate bank accounts and income-tax returns of suspected persons and their families. The CPIB was given the authority to investigate any officer or minister, and several ministers were later charged with corruption.

Lee believed that ministers should be well paid in order to maintain a clean and honest government. In 1994 he proposed to link the salaries of ministers, judges, and top civil servants to the salaries of top professionals in the private sector, arguing that this would help recruit and retain talent to serve in the public sector.