Democracy vs Plutocracy

[Spitfire]

Ok everyone, leading on from the thread on "An observation in LOS", and considering the great posts that were offered, I would like to pose another question to all.

Do we live here in a Democracy or Plutocracy?

Plutocracy- A country that is run by the rich.
Source- The Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary

The Thai politicians love the fact that Thailand is labelled as a democracy along with with all the googies that this brings, like face and military aid etc.

What they don't like is "The Rub".

"The Rub" is that in a democracy, it is the will of the people, or the majority. If they elect someone then they have to swallow it because that's democracy, however detrimental it is to the elite.

Here in LOS, if the high class people in Bangkok don't like the outcome, then they orchestrate it's downfall, not really the dictionary deffinition of democracy.

Maybe we don't have the right word in English for a country that is in "The half-way house" situation yet.

I have read that the UN still classifies Thailand as "A developing democracy", whatever that means.

OK, I know this is a contraversial idea, but the logical conclusion is that this is a Plutocracy, not a democracy. They just argue about semantics.

Would be interested to know what my peers think.

Again, this is not concete opinion, just proposing ideas.

I might be wrong, but would be interested to know what you all think.

If you think I'm being idealistic, then say so.

Everyone.

Edited for spelling

[redzonerocker]

aren't all nations a form of plutocracy?
i think thailand is no different, the rich run the country whichever way you look at it.
western democracy is only reresentative. brown is pm because of that, although he was never actually voted for.
does your locally elected mp represent your views & continue to do so, following his election to office?
no, more often than not, they vote according to the party line
like most threads concerning the question of democratic views, i still believe that there is no such thing as a clear democracy
freedom of speech & movement are clearer in so called western nations, but only to a certain point.
i see no great differences in thailand, as long as you tow the line

[buksida]

Thailand is a 100% plutocracy. Millionaire politicians and generals jousting for power so they can promote their cronies and look after their businesses making themselves more millions in the process. Meanwhile very little is done for the people.

True, it happens in the west but here its is the outright blatant shamelessness of it all that makes the country and its leaders look like a basket-case.

[sandman67]

agree with Busksi 100% - its a pure plutocracy. Money talks - everyone else walks.

Here in the land of smiles theres only one thing money can't buy - and thats poverty

Thai politicians and voters wouldn't know the meaning of "democracy" if it were 50 feet tall, bright pink, and beat them around the head with a copy of Plato's Republic.

"Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophise, that is, until political power and philosophy entirely coincide, while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from doing so, cities will have no rest from evils,... nor, I think, will the human race." (Republic 473c-d)

Or as Eddy Blackadder said:

"Toffs at the top, plebs at the bottom, and me in the middle making a fat wad of cash off both of them"

seems to be how it is.....

thing is....the whole shebang leaves me feeling like a vulture sometimes

[Guess]

Thailand is a 100% plutocracy. .............

As is the rest of the world.

[Norseman]

Thai politicians and voters wouldn't know the meaning of "democracy" if it were 50 feet tall, bright pink, and beat them around the head with a copy of Plato's Republic.

We need a reward for the best statement on the board.
Priceless sm67!!

[redzonerocker]

Thailand is a 100% plutocracy. Millionaire politicians and generals jousting for power so they can promote their cronies and look after their businesses making themselves more millions in the process. Meanwhile very little is done for the people.

True, it happens in the west but here its is the outright blatant shamelessness of it all that makes the country and its leaders look like a basket-case.

take out the generals buksi & you could quite easily be talking about the uk there
only difference i suppose is the uk is a 100% 'democratic' plutocrasy

[STEVE G]

I suppose all countries to one extent or another are controlled by the rich, but in the West the people running them are actually paid a comparative pittance for doing the job. Maybe if you paid the going rate for a CEO of a multinational company to the PM you might get someone halfway competent interested in doing the job.
Instead we just get people with no talent other than in political back-stabbing and trying to look trustworthy in front of a camera.
In Asia just about all countries become plutocracies because if you weren’t rich when you got into power, you will be after the first few weeks of awarding multimillion dollar government contracts to all your family!

“Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner”
James Bovard.

[johnnyk]

In America it costs upwards of $400 million to run (not necessarily be elected) to a job that pays $400K (plus benefits..."I wanna go for a dinner cruise, get me a nuclear aircraft carrier! NOW!").

[charlesh]

plutocracy=democracy= idiocracy=mediocracy=hypocracy. (spelling excused).
I am sure that someone can relive the Socratic logic for this sequence.
Charles H

[sargeant]

Last night i read this thread and had typed in "gor blimey i actually agree 100% on a political point of view with " at this point i felt faint and had a funny doins at the same time my alzhiemers kicked in and i typed whas is name i then forgot what i was doin and went to bed

When i came down this morning i saw what i had typed (forgot to switch the puter off old age memory loss)

I then reread the thread and agree with what i typed i agree 100% for the first time with whas is name ,Darth Vader,,,,,,Luke sky walker,,,,,,,,,,R2D2,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,OB1 kenobi ,,,,,, never mind i agree wiv im anyway
norseman apologies in advance if this is a no humour thread

[buksida]

You underestimate the power of the dark side, the populist rebellion will be crushed!

[sargeant]

Ah Hah may the force be with you, to me politics no matter where it is is just a simple case of changing one deckchair for another on the titanic.
Steves observation they are paid a pittance while in office is a trueism but belies the fact all the palms are now well and truly greased after they leave politics as directors etc etcetera etcetara and book deals and talk ing engagemennts etceters etcetera ad corrupt nauseam .
I just see it differently at least over here as Buksi says they do it unashamedly our only difference is i think its better to know its a crook and stick with him and buksi wants to change him for a crook he doesnt know.
Mind you at least over here you do know they are all crooks ang on alzhiemers again bummer they are over there as well but they roll up one trouser leg and have funny handshakes so thats ok

[Super Joe]

To me there is at least a certain degree of democracy here, that I'm grateful of.
Corruption/money is obviously the big problem here, but we farangs take advantage of that when it suits, but also complain about it at the same time But that's human nature I guess.

It's good enough here overall for a developing 2.5-3rd world country.
In SE Asia Thailand is close behind HK, Singapore and Malaysia in the Economists' 'world democracy index' and ahead of other neighbours like Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, China.
Phils and Indonesia areway higher than HK, Singapore which surprises me.

Could be better, could be worse I guess.

SJ

[MrPlum]

Thailand's leaders lack charisma, that's all. They just need to take a leaf out of Georgie's book...

A man of integritary...



Having the vision thing...



Gets right to the heart of the matter...



Most of all we need leaders with balls...