Winning hearts and minds in the Big Mango | Bangkok Post: opinion

POSTSCRIPT

In the unlikely event you hadn't noticed, electioneering for a new Bangkok governor is with us again, always a time of festivity, buffoonery and unscheduled mirth. The candidates are as usual full of promises, but a little bit thin on the policy side. Indeed for the next month we are going to hear a lot more promises_ some silly, some daft and some utterly absurd. And be prepared for daily photos of grinning candidates clutching terrified babies, cooking noodles and kissing grandmas.

There's no lack of people who think they can do the job - 18 candidates showed up for registration on the first morning alone, although only two have got a hope of winning. One prospective governor announced he would build toilets at all 4,900 Bangkok bus stops. Just imagine that. For a start, the toilets would get in the way of the motorcyclists and vendors. While Bangkok could certainly do with more public toilets, 4,900 does seem a bit over the top, even for us ancient citizens who tend to get caught short every now and again.

One candidate announced, with a commendably straight face, ''I can solve all Bangkok's problems.'' He definitely sounds like the man for the job. Let's pick him now and forget about the election.