The sluggish economy tops the list of issues that the prime minister should address, according to a survey by the National Institute for Development Administration, or Nida Poll.
The poll was conducted in 1,266 people aged 15 and over of various occupations and levels of education throughout the country on Sept 18-19 to ask what they would ask the prime minister to do first to cope with the many problems plaguing the country.
Asked which issue the prime minister should address first,
44.95% cited economic problems
15.80% said they had no demands for the prime minister
13.35% cited problems from natural disasters
4.35% the fight against illegal drugs
3.63% economic disparities
3.55% wanted him to resign
3.24% cited corruption, the bureaucracy, welfare for the elderly and disabled, unemployment and other issues
2.92% called for government payouts to relieve their hardship
2.29% cited low prices of farm products
2.21% injustice in society
1.97% called for amending the constitution
1.50% cited the problem of informal loans
0.24% were uncertain or had no comment
Respondents were also asked to comment on the prime minister's remark that people are used to handouts, regardless of whether they're deserved or not, and as a result they keep demanding more from the government. A total of 52.84% said they totally disagreed with the statement, saying the people have the right to ask the government for help if they have problems, while 15.09% said they partially disagreed with it, reasoning that people's problems differ and some may really need help, while others may not.
On the other side, 28.91% said they agreed with the prime minister, saying some Thai people demand too much from the government without helping themselves. Only 3.16% were uncertain or had no comment.
Those who agreed with the prime minister's remark were then asked why some people keep demanding more. A total of 32.76% said they are used to handouts without trying to help themselves; 24.38% blamed populist policies of past governments; 13.79% said some people have too many problems to cope with by themselves; 12.07% said the government is uable to solve every problem completely; 10.35% said government officials do not perform their duties fully, causing people to turn to the government for help; and 6.65% were uncertain or had no comment.