"The smell of a coup is in the air"

[STEVE G]

Steve G with respect, it really is not our business

Kendo, I’m merely an observer of Thai politics and my opinions are largely based around what Thai commentators are saying about the situation in the press and on websites. Presumably since Thais write much about the matter in English it’s primarily aimed at non-Thais.
I have quite a lot invested in Thailand on both a personal and financial level and I would like to be the first to know if the country is about to fall apart.
Keeping informed about the situation is different from getting involved in it, which would be largely futile anyway.
Having already had one failed attempt to reach an airport in an Asian city, surrounded by gunfire, looting, rape and people brandishing machetes, I don’t feel inclined to repeat the experience.

[Wanderlust]

Anyway, the question i want answered is, what does a coup smell like? Is it like napalm in the morning?

[Jockey]

Isn't it time to start feedin the coos? Have you seen how skinny they are?

[sargeant]

Reading the above posts I have to ask what exact part of the definition of democracy don’t you understand
Also we have just had 2 years of military pseudo Democratic Party rule (and what a disaster that was) and the most rigged elections I have ever witnessed in my lifetime and still the TRT/PPP & Mr. T were preferred. What lesson should you have learnt from that?
The Arrogance of believing you all know what’s best for Thailand better than the Thais who have been here for centuries when none of you has been here more than ten years is breathtaking.
The last Coup was bloodless because Mr. Ts army followers the class of 98 (I believe they were called) stayed in barracks I am not so sure that would be the case twice be bluddy careful what you wish for, put your glasses on and have a peek over the border or better still go and ask Aung san su Kyee
It strikes me that for some god knows reason why you people seem to think the democratic party will be better for you as a Falang, Dream on gunga din they are all the friggin same they are politicians and don’t give a rats arse about falangs wake up you don’t have a vote so they don’t care.
Some of you sound like George Bush we want democracy in Gaza and the west bank (UN monitored free and fair elections) OOOPS they voted in HAMAS so we aint gonna play
Lastly how about considering the Thais interests first for a change.They cant pick up sticks and leave like you lot can.
Quote me before the last elections
Lastly as an Issaan farmer waiting for my daughter the apple of my eye my pride and joy the love of my life to send me some money for my rice bowl from down Bintabaht way under a drunken old fat farang.
I am struggling with voting for a party that puts farangs comfort first. I think I will stick with one that says it will give me a standard of living so my daughter can come home even if they are all liars.
If that doesnt work I will buy a lottery ticket.
As for educating me to vote for a farang friendly govt dream on Gunga Din.

[buksida]

Ahh, the broken record is back! Sarge, you are correct in that there are no "farang friendly" political parties but there are certainly "farang unfriendly" or "xenophobic" ones and therein lies the difference. By farang friendly I'm not talking about letting you get your retirement visa easier I'm talking about being more open to foreign investment and business, creating jobs, improving education and standards, not closing the doors with the attitude of "we can do it all ourselves" ... thats fine for Burma and North Korea.

Issan voted for this bunch of idiots for a couple of baht, how much better off are they now? Or will they be in ten years? Som num na I say.

While I'm in rant mode I must say the "we are guests", "nothing to do with us", "upto the thais" attitude is fine for holiday makers (which I assume whoever made that comment is) but if you have to educate your children in this country then you certainly do or should give a toss about its political situation and the future regardless of the fact that you are powerless to change it. The masses usually are in most countries.

[sargeant]

Fine Buksi i may be an old fart in my dotage but as far as i last looked democracy means the will of the people (majority) and if there is a broken record its those that (after calling for the last coup) and now after only a miserable 3 months are calling for a coup again based on calling samak corrupt now and are again totally ignoring the majority who voted and still won in a rigged election.
And as if those people that rigged it and still lost havent proved in spades what a load of losers they are and as they are the only alternative to what you have got now who exactely do you want in power.
quote yourself "being more open to foreign investment and business, creating jobs,"
question
Just exactely which party was in power when this town exploded with foreign investment and business,creating jobs,"
question
Which way has it gone in the last 2 years under the military pseudo democratic party
xenophobia is also what i see when xenophobes keep on accusing others of being xenophobic (took me ages to work that one out)
suggest you go back and read the predictions 2008 thread again its interesting

[buksida]

I made that predictions thread and it seems to be happening

Edit: The party that was in power proceeded to clamp down on visas and foreigners working following that explosion indicating their underlying dissatisfaction with it. Agree it did all go to shit during military rule, hasn't improved much since though.

We are all entitled to our OPINIONS regardless of how many decades we claim to have been here - mine and yours differ as we have found out on a number of occasions so best leave it at that. Half of this Kingdom also disagrees politically with the other half so there goes your "majority".

[kendo]

Ahh, the broken record is back! Sarge, you are correct in that there are no "farang friendly" political parties but there are certainly "farang unfriendly" or "xenophobic" ones and therein lies the difference. By farang friendly I'm not talking about letting you get your retirement visa easier I'm talking about being more open to foreign investment and business, creating jobs, improving education and standards, not closing the doors with the attitude of "we can do it all ourselves" ... thats fine for Burma and North Korea.

Issan voted for this bunch of idiots for a couple of baht, how much better off are they now? Or will they be in ten years? Som num na I say.

While I'm in rant mode I must say the "we are guests", "nothing to do with us", "upto the thais" attitude is fine for holiday makers (which I assume whoever made that comment is) but if you have to educate your children in this country then you certainly do or should give a toss about its political situation and the future regardless of the fact that you are powerless to change it. The masses usually are in most countries.

Votes for money is hardly democratic and you cant change this farse, so on that bases its not at all plausable, and worth the time of day,

[buksida]

Votes for money is hardly democratic and you cant change this farse, so on that bases its not at all plausable, and worth the time of day,

Agree with you but for me having an opinion and knowledge of the situation no matter how frustrating is better that burying my head in the sand.

As we know Thailand has had 17 coups in 60 years primarily due to corrupt and greedy politicians. Until this pernicious element is eliminated nothing will change sadly.

[clive]

Thailand has just completed some 18 months of military rule and the chances are that if the current government were brave enough to speak out then my guess is that this country is effectively financially broke, except of course for that 5% or so that own and control the country . It really makes no difference who controls the country or a province or a town, they blatantly serve their own purposes. Before you all say that is the same as western leaders there is an amount of control there which you will not see here. Every now and then the Thai people actually make a majority decision as happened in Hua Hin recently with the removal of an allegedly blatantly corrupt mayor. The whole of Thai society operates on a system of bullying, the rich families bully everyone to get their own way, so do the army and the police and the government. At ground level you see examples of Truck drivers and Bus drivers bullying everyone in their way, joined by Mercedes and pick up drivers. The Thai attitude is that they are never wrong, hence the saving face problem. I deal with many large Thai companies and their family owners on a daily basis and they will never accept criticism, preferring to walk away from you and your business rather than be criticized, and woe betide anyone who happens to prove them wrong in front of their friends or colleagues. They will never accept assistance or a suggestion of how to do something a better way. Sounds a little like a neighbor with a disaster! Take a look at how many truly Thai owned companies have extended their business outside their home country and ask yourself why and it is not just because they are adverse to paying tax in any form! I have seen a reference in this thread to Thailand being a developing country, I am seriously beginning to doubt this, the only real development is the development of middle class Thai’s over extending their personal credit, oblivious to the deepening recession and rising oil prices in the rest of the world. Of course the fall out will never touch Thailand, remember 1997, Thailand’s leaders know better! Thailand is as it is, no matter how many coups or political leaders it has, that 5% will always remain in control, the only time that the country really develops is when a capitalist with some vision like Thaksin takes control, and then everyone will have to learn to accept their ways, taking as much out as they can and paying in as little possible, at least the residents of Isan will have a cow each to fall back on!

[Jockey]

The smell of a coo is in the air - it farted.

[Spitfire]

How many take overs have there been here in the last 20-30 years( probably about 20 or so ), probably be another one when they are ready.

Now, what's different is that they can do it without distrupting business and tourism, so I suppose that's evolution and progress.

[kendo]

Clive, firstly i find your comment on Isaan people offensive,also i posted that Thailand is a developing country,HH less than 10 years ago was a fishing village going back to the 70's Pattaya was a fishing village only made in to a developed economy by the influx of American service people fighting in Vietnam,i really dont think you know to much, look at the stats for Thailand in the 1980's onward unbelivable organic growth and thats with a qestionable democracy.

[Spitfire]

Kendo has a point here, 30-40 years ago there was nothing here.

I have talked to Vietnam vets that moved here 30 years ago and they all say there was nothing, and if you went to the villages then the women didn't even wear shirts.

Common observation from these guys was something like "When I first got here I had a girlfriend and she used to ask me if I could bring some soap and shampoo back from the base". Then would say "How different now". These guys are still sat around drinking beer in every major city.

This country has had to socially evolve 100 years in only 35 years of real time.

There are going to problems.

Technological advancement and exposure to rapid westernisation has left them floundering, particulary the 45+ year old Thais that cannot change from the old habit that prevailed just a short time ago. It might as well be a different planet for them.

[Super Joe]

we aint ever going to change thailands attitudes or driving or corruption or political system or .....

you either accept it or you aint gonna enjoy it here
que sera sera


and its worth remembering many of us wouldn't be living here/wouldn't have gotten to marry a beautiful young lady, if they did not have all these issues but were a 'more developed' nation instead
.