Futility at finish line in race for governor

COMMENTARY

Futility at finish line in race for governor

Published: 17 Feb 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Baseless, directionless, clueless, senseless and hopeless is the Bangkok governorship.

The problem is the messy organisational structure of not just Bangkok, but Thailand as a whole, which fosters gross inefficiencies and allows for far too many hands in the cookie jar.

Proposals to solve traffic congestion comprise a major part of candidates' platforms, but the roads aren't even under the jurisdiction of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). They belong to the Transport Ministry. Meanwhile, the police control the traffic, but the Royal Thai Police force answers directly to the prime minister. So who's actually in charge when it comes to traffic?

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O000o
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Discussion 22 : 17 Feb 2013 at 22.3822
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"The core problem is the messy organisational structure of Bangkok" Cities are the ultimate expression of urban societies and BKK is one of the best examples I've even seen seen.The core problem is the thai mentality
Abasic concept as the set back for new construction:a private developer gives to the city(society) an small percentage of private land in exchange of the right to build higher (more sqm for sale).So, the city gets a wider public space in exchange of the possibility of a good business for one of its members. Easy isn't it? MAI DAI. BKK style: you set back and you build a wall on the boundary line, nothing in exchange. nothing kru
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ricardofel
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Discussion 21 : 17 Feb 2013 at 19.0621
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Sorry, but this country is so dysfunctional it will never change...only the constant inefficiency, ineptness and dysfunction will remain. I can't wait to leave in a few months and I don't even live in BKK!!!
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D1063N35
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Discussion 20 : 17 Feb 2013 at 18.0020
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These problems are not particular to Thailand. Although Mr. Voranai does a good job explaining them to the uninformed, solutions are always lacking. Parallels can easily be drawn, and lessons learnt from other countries. This obviously entails a more pro-active media, besides the tragedy of Thailand having lost a left wing tradition serving as a true opposition, which just now the red shirts are fulfilling, albeit inadequately.
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boontong
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Discussion 19 : 17 Feb 2013 at 15.1719
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shopwow #18 - You comments were bias, full of assumptions, suppositions and without basis. You need to highlight actual incidents before you can try to convince.
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shopwow
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Discussion 18 : 17 Feb 2013 at 14.5118
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Voranai, thanks for the report it is quite true. However my take is quite simple, we have the elections early March. Once the results are out, we can either have the P.T or the Democrats win. If the P.T wins, the government will have NO EXCUSES and will have to deliver results. Knowing their past, they will most likely keep blaming the 'previous' governer for any promise that they cannot deliver. If the Democrats win, it really means that the educated capital and also financial nerve of the country, is still strongly for the opposition. Will the P.T gracefully accept that. In either case, I see the P.T capable of creating the rumpus.
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boontong
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Discussion 17 : 17 Feb 2013 at 14.3717
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blobber #16 - The solution I suggested, which is only one among many, is to have a Governor and a BMA that can work 'seamlessly' with central government and VICE VERSA. Although it is idealistic, but I think is far better than your one-sided approach that is only good for the sack of argument. Whatever that Thaksin said is not my problem here. I read his remark in the context of the circumstance from which he made it.
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blobber
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Discussion 16 : 17 Feb 2013 at 14.0216
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Discussion 15. Or another solution is to have a government that works with the governor no matter what party he is. A government that works for all the people. We all know that won't happen with this current government. Remember Thaksin's comment that he would not help areas that did not vote for him?
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boontong
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Discussion 15 : 17 Feb 2013 at 12.5215
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One of the solutions is to have a Governor and a BMA that can work 'seamlessly' with central government and vice versa.
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bkposter
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Discussion 14 : 17 Feb 2013 at 12.0014
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RE: D1. If Pongsapat does win, which from the polls looks likely, he should have no excuses for not fulfilling the bulk of his promises. Seems in recent years that the local politicians blame the national ones....if they are the same then they can only blame themselves. Does anyone expect much change regardless of who wins? I certainly do not, and it will a case where the rights to get control of the thievery just changes hands. Seems to me both parties just want to get control of the purse strings because that is where the money is.
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ubuntu
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Discussion 13 : 17 Feb 2013 at 11.5713
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Another good article. After living in Thailand I have seen one particular job description that is all too common "consuming oxygen"
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Futility at finish line in race for governor | Bangkok Post: opinion