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.

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upena
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Discussion 11 : 20 Jan 2013 at 08.2011
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Did you call 1584 and report the taxi for not picking you up and report the taxi that did pick you up for turning on his radio? Both are violations of Thai law, but, this is Thailand.
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ronniec
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Discussion 10 : 20 Jan 2013 at 07.5510
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Thailand is in an unfortunate position. Like every other country, in order to make the now necessary positive change happen, the people must demand it, as those who have, and those that are in power want things to stay the same. Every government is focused on a 4-year plan to get re-elected, so just tinker with the margins.
In Thailand's case, very few people seem to be able to 'wake up and smell the coffee', 'see the wood, for the trees', choose your own metaphor. This love of country and past valiant endeavours is a very effective hook to keep the masses docile...........
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ggh
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Discussion 9 : 20 Jan 2013 at 07.349
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I believe the birth of the PAD and UDD is the beginning of the end of the defeatist attitude of Thai people. As the younger and better educated move into positions of social leadership this will change. Demands will be made of the system. The unchangeable corrupt system will be forced to change!
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Victor
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Discussion 8 : 20 Jan 2013 at 07.288
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May I suggest that the writer find some time to take a bus and talk to a few passengers as well?
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musashi
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Discussion 7 : 20 Jan 2013 at 06.577
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“..being raped and pillaged selfishly to profit "them".”

When draconian laws cease to be the veil that covered the eyes of the masses for decades, Thais will get to see who “they” are, and how amazingly wealthy “they” are.

For now, the masses can keep their hearts and minds happy by following sufficiency principles, while “they” rape and pillage the country with hypocrisy and limitless appetite.
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 6 : 20 Jan 2013 at 06.446
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Education would help, but these criminals are obviously not interested to educate the masses.
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felixqui
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Discussion 5 : 20 Jan 2013 at 06.185
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"Don't laugh, but when the Education Ministry announced more than a week ago that close-cropped hair is no longer compulsory, ending more than 30 years of control by humiliation, it was perhaps one the most progressive things any Thai government has ever done."

The saddest thing for Thailand is that this is so very true.

And when might critical thinking be decriminalized so that false beliefs about Thailand's history and reality at least stand a chance of correction? The control here continues draconian.
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spiceman
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Discussion 4 : 20 Jan 2013 at 06.124
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"Thailand has more oil than Saudi Arabia?" That's shockingly untrue! It is said that the strength of any Democracy depends directly on the quality of the voters. So, I know now why Thai Democracy has always been weak and fragile. Or why people believe that tugboats can speed up the flow of a river. What have our teachers been teaching their students these days?
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ploydonut
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Discussion 3 : 20 Jan 2013 at 05.423
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We must working together, and love each other because our father and their father for thousand years make Thailand what it is today, from the time of Suriyothai, to Bangkrachan Village, to Prah Naresuan . They all fight and die for us to living in the best country in the world today.
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bkkmatt
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Discussion 2 : 20 Jan 2013 at 05.092
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Both sets of supporters are brainwashed into who "they are", where as anyone with half a brain and prepared to do their own investigating and research would be able to form their own opinion. The difficulty is with getting Thai's to form their own opinion. The group mentality has been taught from an early age. The beauty with Thailand is the people are easily bribed and brainwashed and will follow blindly without checking facts.
However I think most educated and well read people really know who "they" are, what they do and how damaging they are to this once beautiful land.
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