Yes, We do know who your daddy is

COMMENTARY

Published: 9 Sep 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

When heir to the Red Bull empire Vorayuth ''Boss'' Yoovidhya reportedly hit Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert with his 32 million baht Ferrari while going more than 100km per hour, what did he do? The 27 year old kept driving, dragging the policeman another 200m and turned into his family's estate in Thong Lor.

When superstar Chermarn ''Ploy'' Boonyasak was accused of tax fraud, what did she do? The 29 year old told the public she could and should get away with it because she believes she's above the system.

There's a pattern of behaviour here. The same instinct kicked in for both individuals _ ''I can get away with it.'' Despite any trauma or distress, their initial reaction was that their status in society would ensure the patronage system favouring them in their plights _ and they were correct.

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jonny
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Discussion 52 : 26 Sep 2012 at 03.2452
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Where VV is wrong is in imagining the patrons to be 'winning'. If every one of us had VV's courage, ethics and Understanding, every one of us could be assured of Happiness.

The Patron System's first victim is the patron, who then victimises all of Society. Smashing rocks into faces in road rage, running over or into people, executing cops in public, lording status over inferiors; this is Happiness, is it?

The patrons aren't Winning.
They're just Beating everyone, including themselves.
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StevieC
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Discussion 51 : 19 Sep 2012 at 10.4251
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Thai people are complacent and corrupt. But they go to the temple and give merit everyday... what is that all about?
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nitnoi
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Discussion 50 : 14 Sep 2012 at 16.2850
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Khun Voranai, I love you.Thailand need more people who can think ,have brain that work and eyes that can see true color. Thailand is the product of patronage for thousand years, I read the books you mentioned, great book, should be the book for compulsory reading.
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thaibuzz
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Discussion 49 : 13 Sep 2012 at 14.2349
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And the only way the system will ever change is if the clients reject their patrons.
Likelyhood of that ever happening in a society worshiping their phuu-yai and pii-noong system? Nil.

So first: Toss the poo(phuu)/pii-noong-culture out the window. We are all equally worthy of respect - regardless of age. And are all capable of being rightly wrong and stupid - regardless of age.

Once ppl cherish that all are equally worthy of respect, they will also think all are equally liable under the law, and things will change.
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bern1005
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Discussion 48 : 10 Sep 2012 at 14.0948
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If you look at societies where corruption is most evident, it is where there is a large poorly educated mass of people ruled by a small rich elite. It is only with the rise of a large well educated middle class (who can not be cheaply bought off by populist polices) that corruption is seen as the big problem and only politicians who are willing to deliver real change get elected.
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jcwilcox
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Discussion 47 : 10 Sep 2012 at 13.0547
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Voranai, just one point, it is reported that the police officer was not dragged along as he hit the bonnet and the windscreen before being thrown aside. It is said that the motorcycle was dragged 200Ms.
Any way you are a man of considerable courage and perhaps just the leader Thailand needs for its reform.

Best wishes.
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Aussie John
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Discussion 46 : 10 Sep 2012 at 08.2146
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If Thai law courts can be bought then the law is invalid. This is the reality, so why isn't there any real reform? It just reinforces the message to Thai youth that if your well connected you can buy your way out of any crime. Is this really what Thai 'puu yai' are teaching Thai children...its shamefully immoral and needs a drastic cultural overhaul.
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johninbkk
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Discussion 45 : 10 Sep 2012 at 01.3845
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Of course they are all guilty. They haven't been proven innocent yet:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/investigation/311559/for-wrongly-arrested-it-a-case-of-guilty-until-proven-innocent

Innocence and guilt are decided in a court of law. But, the author argues that the patronage system controls, buys, influences, and manipulates the judges of the courts so that the guilty can be declared innocent. Right? In other words, the controlling patronage system controls the rulings of the court. Can the author explain the implications of this article with the rulings made against Thaksin?
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kaytwo
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Discussion 44 : 09 Sep 2012 at 22.1544
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Khun Voranai,

Did you forget the Ferrari driver who drove a few kilometers with half of a corpse (of his own doing) sitting in the passenger seat with him or are you doing the wing - ten for him? :-)

What happened to him; besides putting a price tag on a life and paying the family of the unfortunate girl? Did he do any time?

They take it for granted because they have seen it happen in the past and there's no reason to think that it won't happen for them when they need a phu yai wing - tenning for them.
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wiseyeti
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Discussion 43 : 09 Sep 2012 at 21.5643
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The stark reality is that we are living in symbiosis with the parasitic diseases (corruption, deception and cowardice) that riddle us. Henceforth, the conundrum is how to rid the society of these illnesses without descending into societal and economic chaos. It would take someone with a vast knowledge, a great wisdom, an unflinching courage and a singular selflessness, in sum, a fearless person, to try. The upshot is that our society is not capable of producing such an exceptional human being. All is well...in a darwinian (sort of) way.
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