From the back seat of a red taxi

COMMENTARY

Published: 20 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Last Tuesday evening, after being rejected by the shaking head and waving hands of one cabbie, a second took me in and I was ever appreciative. From Wat Phra Si Maha That temple in Bang Khen to my home in Lumpini, it was to be a long ride, but an educational one. There was silence at first, but after a few minutes the cabbie, an elderly yet robust man, turned on the radio. We caught the last few minutes of a talk show; the topic of discussion was the Bangkok governor race.

One caller lambasted the Democrat candidate as a corrupt member of the elite who knows nothing and does nothing. Another caller lamented on how her son, and others like him who live and work in Bangkok but are not residents of the capital could not vote - otherwise the Pheu Thai candidate would win for sure.

There were a couple livelier and more passionate callers invoking the need to vote Pheu Thai and win Bangkok for the sake of the people and true democracy. The host, also passionate and lively, wrapped up the show by saying Bangkok needs a good man as governor, a true man of democracy, and that man is the Pheu Thai candidate.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Forum

Your comments

faceless
Post : 234
Send message

Discussion 51 : 26 Jan 2013 at 11.1151
Post this to my Facebook
facts_only, I guess you're doing your best to educate the ignorant followers of "facts other than those you choose to submit".

But, the selective choices that you make with your submissions makes clear your political bias and kinda undermines any credibility that you may be aiming for.

If you want to hang your hat on the "facts only" hook why not take a broader look?

And just because you read something somewhere and submit it here does not necessarily make it a fact.
Like dislike 1 people liked / 6 people disliked this comment
DONHUAN
Post : 333
Send message

Discussion 50 : 25 Jan 2013 at 01.4550
Post this to my Facebook
People from all sides of the politically spectrum can be manipulated / brain-washed if lies are repeated often enough and multiplied through words of mouth. But whether one is a fool or an intellect, every man is the architect of his own fortune. Then again, there will always be some issues that can never be a clear cut right or wrong; only time will resolved these knots. In a democratic country such as Thailand, there will always have protagonists around to rouse the populace to their causes; it’s the people who are either with us “here” or with them “there”.
Like dislike 3 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
kena
Post : 574
Send message

Discussion 49 : 23 Jan 2013 at 08.5249
Post this to my Facebook
I have hill triber friends up here in Chiang Rai who voted 'red' for just Bt.200 each vote. I asked, "why don't you take the money, and vote for who you want?." They said, "the Pu Yai Ban knows how every individual votes." Thailand is to fair elections what Somalia is to swimsuit beauty contests.
Like dislike 21 people liked / 3 people disliked this comment
RedFairy
Post : 1
Send message

Discussion 48 : 21 Jan 2013 at 18.5848
Post this to my Facebook
When will be the time that the Thai people will not cry anymore in the country they were and start to make the new one ? Right now the politic is this country that I cherish is like a giant joke..
Like dislike 22 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
egon
Post : 398
Send message

Discussion 47 : 21 Jan 2013 at 10.2547
Post this to my Facebook
This proves my experience living in the centre of the Isahn:red supporters are gullible,believe all red propaganda and cann,t think independently even if they were allowed or capable to do that but they aren,t as the pressure of the village is simply too great.
Like dislike 34 people liked / 4 people disliked this comment
KYS
Post : 8
Send message

Discussion 46 : 21 Jan 2013 at 08.0946
Post this to my Facebook
Thais are very well trained, it is showing how effective and successful their leaders are, because the leaders know too well about their natives, or else why so many were attracted to either side of the same coin? Why concern about the paint? If your life is a canvas, why need someone to paint your background if it is yours? Imagine you can have your own colorful life of yours, then you wouldn’t want to pick any.
Like dislike 4 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
ubuntu
Post : 252
Send message

Discussion 45 : 21 Jan 2013 at 04.4945
Post this to my Facebook
Disc 22

"Anyway, I think this may be one of the reasons I like Thailand, the red shirts make me, an average guy, feel like Einstein "

Perhaps, but even more daunting is how a significant % of the farang population make the average Thai seem like Einstein.......
Like dislike 29 people liked / 8 people disliked this comment
nitnoi
Post : 574
Send message

Discussion 44 : 21 Jan 2013 at 00.2444
Post this to my Facebook
A friend of mine lives in The US for many decates, sadly when she calls me which was not so often the main subject is how rich our beloved golden axe land full of oil. When asked how the heck she knows all of this she said I act like an ostrich listen to the red radio/website the way she does will lighten me up. So we got into argument .The end of conversation we donot know how our family doing,how are our health holding up. too sad that the rumor could sabatage your friendship your health etc.
Like dislike 31 people liked / 3 people disliked this comment
nns
Post : 198
Send message

Discussion 43 : 21 Jan 2013 at 00.1843
Post this to my Facebook
And they say the exact same thing about oil and gas in Thailand on ASTV. Now I'm confused as to who the real villains are.
Like dislike 20 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
ricefield
Post : 2,378
Send message

Discussion 42 : 20 Jan 2013 at 23.4042
Post this to my Facebook
Good article all in all but it's a bit far fetched for someone with just enough food on the table to survive and a thin tin roof over their head to "rape and pillage selfishly for profit".
Like dislike 4 people liked / 18 people disliked this comment