Posted on May 5, 2008 in Thailand
I just come across this video I took of my mate having some friendly banter with a Thai taxi driver on Christmas Eve (2007) discussing Taxin and Thai politics. The taxi driver was a cool guy, but obviously wrong with his predictions.
He was correct that a lot of Thaksin’s support was an illusion. Money politics has a long history in Thailand and Thaksin was better at it than most. People are paid to vote and paid to protest – on all sides of politics.
Thaksin was smart in harnessing a western style of grass roots polling before his first election to determine what the rural people wanted. He then created enough favourable rural schemes to ensure his popularity next time around. At the time no-one questioned the government giving 1 million baht to each village. Thaksin then set up AIS sellers in each money to sop up the money into his company.
Politics …
Hi mate,
Long time ago we’re not enjoy together.
Don’t forget your old friend na krub :)
Hehehehe