It is time for the nation to draw a collective deep breath, and stop for a moment to consider where we all stand. For more than a month, people across the country have stated and shown their political opinions. Monday's climactic rally, centred in Bangkok but echoed in many places, showed decisively the desire and the need for change. Clearly, the message was aimed across the board. The public, quite rightly, is tired of politics.
The criticism could not be doubted by any political group. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, faced with stark reality, dissolved the House and called a new election. She was undeniably pushed by hundreds of thousands who heeded the call to show dissatisfaction. For their part, Democrat Party MPs and supporters showed disdain for the arrogance of Ms Yingluck and Pheu Thai in their use of a parliamentary majority.
As of now, the country faces a fresh start. An election campaign can revitalise politics. The polls, just 53 days from now, provide an excellent opportunity for Thais everywhere to demand accountability in exchange for their votes.
Suthep Thaugsuban, arguably the least likely rebel and rabble-rouser ever, deserves much credit for tapping, organising and channelling both the anger and the hopes of his fellow citizens. Mr Suthep's persona of wily politician disappeared as he led popular efforts to prove to Ms Yingluck and her government, over and over, that her only option was to return power to the people.
Mr Suthep's immediate job is now finished. By forcing the government to take notice of the massive public revulsion of its actions, the protesters and their rallies have served their purpose. Democracy demands, above all, that the government be answerable to parliament and citizens, and the demonstrations in Bangkok and upcountry have achieved that.
One hopes that the former Democrat MP and cabinet minister realises he now has gone far enough. Mr Suthep has made demands in recent days that are not only unconstitutional and anti-democratic. They are harmful to any conceivable way out of the political crisis and back on a legal, constitutional track. His strident demands that the cabinet be immediately replaced by an unelected, unaccountable "council" are only another call for a coup d'etat, the overthrow of constitutional accountability, and a return to dictatorship. It is as if decades of coups carried no lessons.
By the constitution, legal precedent and international convention, Ms Yingluck's cabinet will serve as a caretaker government. It is not just an acceptable step, but a familiar one. Being a caretaker brings an extra layer of accountability to the job. The government has no right or public permission to bring in new policies, institute new spending or conduct new international business. The very title "caretaker" instructs the government merely to keep the country running as usual.
In the meantime, Pheu Thai, the Democrats and interested citizens should ponder the call of the business community. They propose forums, where political reform can be both discussed and actually reached by consensus. Without such agreement, future bloodshed is as certain as the sunrise.
Some had hoped Ms Yingluck would take a second step, to call for a constitutional convention. The 2007 charter is partly to blame for the actions of politicians and parliament. The promise that the constitution could be amended has been broken, so a new, sleek charter is necessary for political reform. It could make parliament work, rein in the politicians, and get the country back on a democratic track.