Success now comes with a degree in degeneracy

COMMENTARY

Success now comes with a degree in degeneracy

Published: 5 Feb 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Thailand is not a failed state by any stretch of the imagination because the primary institutions of the state _ such as the military, the legislature, and the executive and judicial branches of government _ seem to be, on the surface, functioning well enough.

But underneath this thin coat of varnish we're actually witnessing a country in a state of decay and on our way to becoming, in my view, a "failed society".

Thailand, if we're not careful, might be reaching a tipping point where the terms "public service" or "law enforcement" are rapidly becoming oxymorons.

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Eggmeng
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Discussion 19 : 05 Feb 2013 at 20.4819
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@discussion 18

"I have yet to see one reporter expose any criminal identity in Thailand in the 18 years I have been coming here."

Probably because of the defamation laws. Defamation is a criminal act in Thailand and defamation does not have to be false, it (just) has to be damaging.

And if the courts don't get you, a bullet just might.
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isanfarang
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Discussion 18 : 05 Feb 2013 at 18.4918
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Please be careful Khun Songkran next you will actually be putting names to the people you are describing in your more than accurate article.I have yet to see one reporter expose any criminal identity in Thailand in the 18 years I have been coming here.We know why as the likes of Kamnan Poh and those even higher up the ladder of crime and corruption are all too ready to hire a fleet of motorcycle hitmen to silence those that speak out.The elite/politicians and the Generals are not interested in "education" as keeping people poor and stupid means they are easier to buy off and control.
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peterl
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Discussion 17 : 05 Feb 2013 at 18.2517
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This article deserves to be taken very seriously. A lot of people are saying the same thing. One survey found that the largest corrupt organization in the world was the Thai police force. However, it takes two to tango, so its not just the police. When the brightest and the best don't want to commit themselves to public service because their perception is that the whole system is based on nepotism, then that system is unsustainable in the long run. Thailand is not alone in having that problem, but awareness of it is a small but nevertheless necessary step towards overcoming it.
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waters
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Discussion 16 : 05 Feb 2013 at 14.5116
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The only force more powerful in Thailand than the government is a fearless free press that has the courage to expose the corruption, cronyism, and nepotism that prevails in government. The media can do more than just print a few facts and quotes. It can start by doing some real investigative reporting on the miscreants that rule us.
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jwatch
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Discussion 15 : 05 Feb 2013 at 14.4615
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Why people want to reward a police officer with governorship is beyond me

these are the same people that complain how much they hate police officers
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sibley
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Discussion 14 : 05 Feb 2013 at 13.5514
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You are right Thailand is not a failed state yet but it is failing fast, I have lived in Thailand for 6 years now and I can honestly say their is not a lot changed for the better, education, corruption, scams to name a few are all the same or if not worse than 6 years ago, an article a few days ago made me smile the Thais are going to invite French children to Thailand to teach some students French now what's that all about? should it not be English, maybe instead of asking rich Thais what they think of Thailand as some farlang who have lived hear for a few years and I bet everyone has a story to tell.
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massein
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Discussion 13 : 05 Feb 2013 at 13.0213
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I wonder it these spot on articles every appear in a Thai language news source
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massein
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Discussion 12 : 05 Feb 2013 at 12.5912
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I wonder it these spot on articles every appear in a Thai language news source
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phaethon
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Discussion 11 : 05 Feb 2013 at 12.3211
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It's interesting that the first listed (and thus, in the authors mind, foremost?) institution of state is 'the military'...
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joe_blow
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Discussion 10 : 05 Feb 2013 at 12.1610
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I'll never forget my first "shake down" by the highway police at a roadblock in the northeast province of Surin. It forever changed my attitude about the values, ethics and morals of Thai society. Even more sad was the reaction, or rather lack of reaction, from my Thai wife. Who seemed resigned to the fact that this behaviour by a police officer was normal and couldn't be changed or stopped. Needless to say, I grudgingly paid the bribe, but not without a large measure of shouting and cursing.....Thai people.....don't give up without a fight. It doesn't have to be this way, the whole world isn't like that. Look outside the box
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Success now comes with a degree in degeneracy | Bangkok Post: opinion