Abhisit wants a flood of answers from Yingluck

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Abhisit wants a flood of answers from Yingluck

Ex-PM says 'nothing has changed' after the deluge

Published: 13/02/2012 at 03:40 AM
Newspaper section: News

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva is calling on the government to address his concerns about the prime minister's planned five-day flood tour.

It’s in the tank
Residents of Ban Ueang Doi in Tak’s Mae Sot district are building high cement containers to tank up water for use amid water shortages. ASSAWIN PHINITWONG

Mr Abhisit was speaking yesterday at a seminar on expectations for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's five-day flood tour which starts today and runs until Friday.

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About the author

: Writer: Pakawat Sunpituksaree; Position: Reporter

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johninbkk
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Discussion 43 : 16/02/2012 at 12:22 AM43
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englishbob - It's not about who is more productive. It's about 2/3rds being treated as 2nd class citizens, and then using the failure of the 2/3rds to integrate into society as an excuse to continue treating them as 2nd class. It's counter-productive. People are actively denied jobs simply because they have dark skin - and guess which region of Thailand has darker skin . . . it becomes a vicious cycle.

bkk-farang D39 - If you look at the Dem Party election promise website you'll see equally expensive populist policies. AV nearly doubled the national debt during his term with his populist handouts and buying the military 'vote'. TS reduced the debt year on year. AV's failure was he represented only 1/3rd of the voting population - not lack of free handouts.
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samut
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Discussion 42 : 15/02/2012 at 10:39 AM42
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RFR don’t get me wrong I do not accuse all poor Thai people of being lazy there are plenty who work hard and try to have a decent life but for sure many others are. I travel quite a lot and as I have a law office (in Pattaya) we are dealing with this kind of things on an almost daily basis. Believe me I could write a book about.
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ricefield
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Discussion 41 : 14/02/2012 at 11:23 PM41
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Disc 40 - I agree with you except for "unfortunately a lot of them too lazy to do something to change their life just blaming all others."

In 2010 I did an interview with a young guy. He had gone to trade school to become an electrician but was unable to find a job. He wasn't what you would call lazy he was pumping gas to make a living. What really stood out was the total despair he felt. He said he would never own a car, or a house, have a wife or all the other things that people want, because he was both poor and dark skinned. If you are in a pit all your life and are continually put down often you just give in. Many people in Thailand are in that pit, many more than are not. It's the responsibility of those who are not to give them a way out of it. Not with a handout but with a helping hand. More often than not those that have don't offer that hand to those that don't.

You grade a country on how they treat their poor and disadvantaged not how they treat the wealthy and privileged. In that respect Thailand is an utter failure.
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samut
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Discussion 40 : 14/02/2012 at 12:54 PM40
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Discussion 38 and 39; this is not as easy as black and white! There is no 1/3 and 2/3, there are approx. 5 to 10% of the population who are extremely rich and take advantage of all the rest, there are around 20%? who could be called middle class and contribute most of the money to keep the country going and than the rest made of low-income and no-income earners; unfortunately a lot of them too lazy to do something to change their life just blaming all others.
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 39 : 14/02/2012 at 09:01 AM39
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@ricefield #38: You are not wrong about the productivity of the 2/3 and I wish they would get a fairer share of the money – but not as handouts.
Without the tax of the 1/3 Thaksin & Co would not be able to pay for the populist politics for the 2/3. And would the 2/3 vote for their heroes if they would not get regular handouts?
Maybe we can agree that if all politicians would work more for the people and less for themselves then 3/3 of Thailand would win.
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ricefield
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Discussion 38 : 14/02/2012 at 06:19 AM38
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Disc 37 - Steve, the other 2/3 of englishbob's country feeds the 1/3, makes their blankets and TVs, cut their grass, clean their toilets, build their houses, raise their kids and work for a pittance. So who's really productive here? It all depends how you look at productivity and worth. Without those 2/3 the 1/3 wouldn't have a clue how to survive and wouldn't be nearly so economically self important.
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SteveCM
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Discussion 37 : 13/02/2012 at 11:35 PM37
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englishbob (#33): "They (Dems) represent 1/3 of the population - the most productive and economically important third".

It'd be interesting to see clarification of & back-up for this claim. Even if true - what's the relevance here?
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johninbkk
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Discussion 36 : 13/02/2012 at 08:21 PM36
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englishbob D33 - "The Dems are perfectly entitled to criticise and monitor the government...1) It's their job."
I agree, but . . . The Dems are not monitoring the government, and not offering constructive criticism. They are criticizing proposed plans and laws before even reading them. Many of the things the Dems criticized PTP for they themselves did during their own administration - giving them little credibility. They are censuring for corruption without investigations or evidence to their claims. They are entirely focused on attacking one single man at the expense of their country. In the US, the opposition writes and proposes bills, and works with the majority government to get it passed.
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thaipeter
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Discussion 35 : 13/02/2012 at 06:10 PM35
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@ bula, etc.: basically it's simple: although last year's flooding occurred in YS's premiership, you could probably argue that they have been caused by mismanagement of the, or any previous government. but if this year should become the same disaster, well i guess it could be seen as only her government's mismanagement. on the other side, she and her government can prove themselves as capable if there will be a flooding threat but disaster can be avoided or minimized with good flood management. just telling citizens to brace this year for another flooding will not be sufficient.

so, let's see how the situation will be at the end of 2012 and then judge. i guess this is a more important issue right now than tablets, 300 baht minimum wage, etc. what use would a tablet computer be if one is under 1 m or more of flood water?
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bula
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Discussion 34 : 13/02/2012 at 05:24 PM34
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Khun bkk-farang #31
Absolutely agreed with what u wanted to convey. Forget about the lies AV administration told and AV’s admission that he was forced to form a coalition government at military barrack. It will take a lot of efforts for a party who supported coup, use PAD as its tools to come to power to convince people that they exist for rule of law, democracy, justice, freedom and equality. A party boycotted GE, and mismanaged political crises resulting in the death of 91. If you are open-minded, you will notice that the media also playing the DEM’s game. Just read the many editorial and provocative headlines. You can critique but the many criticisms were presented in a negative and provocative manner. The DEM could have got the government plan as reported by other media through channels available to them. That is why it is not necessary to entertain the DEM because it has the potential of leading to endless arguments without a solution. Thailand belongs to all Thai coming from all spectrums of societies, not just AV and the DEM. It will be very lengthy to discuss further here. I suggest you create a subject at BP forum to discuss.
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