Looking forward my thoughts

Post by **komfortablynumb** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:38 pm

Ill Thai monarch misses speech

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej has not been able to give his traditional speech to the nation on the eve of his 81st birthday.

Crown Prince Varjiralongkorn went on the radio instead to say his father was a "little sick".

Thais had been looking forward to hearing from their much-loved monarch, who has long been looked to for guidance in times of turmoil.

The country is in the middle of a long-running political stand-off.

The international airport was taken over by anti-government protesters for most of the past week, and the situation is only now getting back to normal.

BBC.
Now i worry.

Post by **santa** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 12:20 pm

While not excusing Thaksin's undoubted corruption, the backers and organisers of the fascist PAD are and were always against him because by becoming PM he took the keys to the piggy bank off them. He gets the votes of the poor majority because he did more for them (cynically or not) than the old elites. And this is why they support him and his proxies,and untill the old parties, particularly the Democrats act for the poor as well as the mainly Bangkok "haves", they would be fools to vote for them. And as for bribing voters, the Democrats did the same.

Post by **miked** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 1:38 pm

quote,
While not excusing Thaksin's undoubted corruption[/b

it cannot be excused or brushed under the carpet, as he would like. i agree more must be done for the north. in fact much more.
Mr T should be in jail and hopefully that will come about. he is a common thief and must never be allowed to be in a position of political influence again.
the PAD will make sure of that.
miked

Post by **cookmanchef** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 3:27 pm

I notice that most people are immediately critical of the PAD's proposal to have 70% unelected members and jockey refers to the UK's House of Lords. Does anyone know the detail of this proposal because I would be interested to find out more.

The House of Lords was formed over 700 years ago and at various stages has been more powerful than the commons. On the balance of it I would say it did a pretty good job in lifting little old England to be the biggest and most succesful empire the world has ever seen.

When democracies are emerging they have to go through many different phases before they fully mature and sometimes the less well educated do need guidance.

If the 70% consists of intelligent people with good knowledge both of the needs of the poor, and the best way for Thailand to develop into a genuine 'first world' country, then it may be the best solution.

Get some fresh minds straight from university involved and get rid of these old men and women that are holding this country back. The key is to choose people from a wide cross section.

Briefly back to the UK's House of Lords, in 1911 the Lords power to reject legislation was removed and now since then it acts as more of a conscience to the commons and can only delay any acts of parliament by making the commons take a second look.

Post by **hhfarang** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 4:45 pm

little old England to be the biggest and most succesful empire the world has ever seen.

Really?!?

Post by **cookmanchef** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 5:03 pm

Absolutely!!

According to pretty much all respected historians.

Post by **hhfarang** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 5:46 pm

According to pretty much all respected historians.

Respected by whom? Would those historians have an Eton or Oxford accent per chance?

Post by **cookmanchef** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:05 pm

Respected by most of the world, with the possible exception of some of the former colonies.

No such thing as an Eton accent by the way. Although some of the finer Indian, Nigerian and Antipodean historians may well have had the good fortune to have been educated there.

Post by **hhfarang** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:33 pm

No such thing as an Eton accent

I stand corrected

Post by **dtaai-maai** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 11:17 pm

hhfarang wrote:
No such thing as an Eton accent
I stand corrected

Don't stand corrected too much, hhf - there may not be an Eton accent, but I don't think you'll find a huge variety of accents at Eton, even these days!

Post by **HansMartin** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 12:53 pm

The 12/6-12/12 isssue of The Economist has an extensive article about the political situation in Thailand. A one page editorial and a 3 page article. I doubt if you will be able to get this in Thailand, and if you do it will be heavily censored. You might try The Economist website. This is must reading for any of you outside Thailand, but with interests inside Thailand. It is not a terribly optimistic article.

This matches pretty well what my wife has been telling me, but it is much more succint, provides a much needed historical perspective, and describes American meddling during the Viet Nam War that I did not appreciate before.

Post by **cozza** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 5:27 pm

Hi HansMartin,

I read the article in The Economist and wow what an article. I mean I did find it pro-democratic/anti-monarchy, but there was some good research to it.

My wife said to me once Thailand would be Communist if Thaksin got his way after "Father" was gone. The US funding could be the reason and makes sense but I guess cannot be proven and cannot be taken as gospel.

Interesting still and would love to hear more as you sound like you know a lot, even if you PM me.