Yingluck, Yinglove one and all

COMMENTARY

Published: 4 Nov 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Yingluck Shinawatra has yet to succeed, but she's inching ever closer. The Pitak Siam rally last Sunday and talk of a coup show just how nervous the other side is getting.

Bias and prejudice can cloud judgement. She's the sister of Thaksin Shinawatra, and from the beginning the anti-Thaksin brigade dismissed her.

They mocked her usage of English, and even her Thai. They called her a nominee. They laughed at her intellect. The lady has her flaws and failings, no doubt, but Prime Minister Yingluck is succeeding - though not yet a success, the jury is still out on that - in something no one else has been able to do: bringing about reconciliation. This is the exact reason why it was deemed necessary to organise a rally against the Pheu Thai government last Sunday, before it's too late.

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jibber
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Discussion 47 : 09 Nov 2012 at 21.5047
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I fear that unless there is real and genuine reconciliation in the next 2-3 years Thailand could
be heading for a very bad place. From a personal perspective, sadly, I am somewhat relived that I no longer reside permanently in the country and am strongly considering moving my family overseas.Recent reports about attempts to assassinate Thaksin and Voranai Vanijaka's somewhat vitriolic article "Yingluck Yinglove" only serve to increase my trepidation. I firmly believe that a radical new approach is required to move the nation forward which would embody short, medium and long term change.
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OldThaiHand
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Discussion 46 : 06 Nov 2012 at 08.4546
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facts-only

I don't have a readily available source at hand to give you. I just know from years of living, working and doing research here. I'm currently working on a book that deals with aspects of the Thai informal economy.

Most of the people in Isaan fall 'officially' below the minimum taxable income.

But, since large segments of the Thai economy is informal and not recorded through pay-stubs etc. and since the government is very lax in requiring everyone to file tax returns whether they owe money or not, large segments of the population, especially upcountry have never filed a tax return and therefore have never paid tax.

I sho
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facts_only
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Discussion 45 : 06 Nov 2012 at 02.0545
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OldThaiHand 44 - "You also fail to point out that 89% (including 26% from Bangkok) of taxes come from the rest of the country outside of Isaan."
"National tax source: 26% from Bangkok, 11% from Esaan" - my comment in #41

"Very few if any true Lao/Khmer-speaking Isaan natives pay 1 satang of tax."
Please provide source.
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OldThaiHand
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Discussion 44 : 05 Nov 2012 at 10.4144
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Disc. 41

facts-only

You're being very selective.

What you fail to realize is that the 11% of taxes paid from Isaan is from middle and upper income Thais, mostly transplanted from Bangkok and other central and northern regions, who have business interest there.

Very few if any true Lao/Khmer-speaking Isaan natives pay 1 satang of tax.

You also fail to point out that 89% (including 26% from Bangkok) of taxes come from the rest of the country outside of Isaan. Yet, it's Isaan that controls the political landscape through the PTP at the moment.
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domdunnn
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Discussion 43 : 05 Nov 2012 at 08.3143
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amazed D40

VV's point is that she is winning because she is still there and that's a fact.
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Victor
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Discussion 42 : 04 Nov 2012 at 22.4942
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TS ran out of options, so he just picked the smallest target and hope for the best. And she is.
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facts_only
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Discussion 41 : 04 Nov 2012 at 22.4841
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dao 10 - "the one thing he hasnt factored is the hatred that the average taxpayer has for him."
National tax source: 26% from Bangkok, 11% from Esaan
National taxes spent: 72% for Bangkok, 6% for Esaan
Population per region: 17% in Bangkok, 34% in Esaan
- source, The World Bank, 2010
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amazed
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Discussion 40 : 04 Nov 2012 at 21.0940
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@Domdunn D26

Vorani certainly has the right to his opinion. It is very uncharacteristic, however, when he offers an opinion devoid of substance. Lacking the weight of fact and example. I, and apparently many others who have admired his writing talents for a good while, find his comments, on this occasion, to ring hollow and without conviction. He normally does a brilliant job of connecting the dots. Here, he has no dots.
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nitnoi
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Discussion 39 : 04 Nov 2012 at 21.0239
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Obvious evident for Thai young women....HAVE LOOK Will travel!!!.. no need to have ability ,therefore brush up the look not educations is a must. No question that the PM has a look. Yingluck,...,..., and Ying Look! Complexion alteration shops should be encouraged.
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pfc
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Discussion 38 : 04 Nov 2012 at 20.4338
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Definitely very clever article. It seems you have changed your mind a little. But anyway, my sources tells me that today is a special day. Happy birthday to you Khun Voranai. All the best from snowy Russia.
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