Comments on: The vote of the poor http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/ New perspectives on mainland Southeast Asia Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:10:35 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Roxy V http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-409262 Roxy V Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:24:31 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/#comment-409262 This IS a very fascinating study! At VoteSizing.org, we feel that the poor should be given a stronger vote... and that money/power needs to be separated to keep the balance. What do you think? This IS a very fascinating study! At VoteSizing.org, we feel that the poor should be given a stronger vote… and that money/power needs to be separated to keep the balance. What do you think?

]]> By: Srithanonchai http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-197576 Srithanonchai Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:48:45 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/#comment-197576 Rural voters are not at all ignorant -- much to the contrary: "Most of those who sold their votes, or their souls, to the likes of Thaksin knew exactly what they were getting themselves and the country into. The problem is, they did not care whether Thaksin would cheat or steal as long as they got to keep the crumbs under the table. To cynical voters, all politicians are corrupt, and these people made a conscious choice to vote for the devil they knew." The Nation, Oct. 17, 2007 As shown in this quote from the editorial, people at The Nation are working hard to increase their degree of ignorance to a level where even the tiny rest of credibility this paper has left is used up. Of course, the editorial doesn't fail to mention that most of the votes Thaksin got in the elections he won were bought by him. It is sort of a conscious self-destruction of a previously respectable paper--quite amazing. Rural voters are not at all ignorant — much to the contrary:

“Most of those who sold their votes, or their souls, to the likes of Thaksin knew exactly what they were getting themselves and the country into. The problem is, they did not care whether Thaksin would cheat or steal as long as they got to keep the crumbs under the table. To cynical voters, all politicians are corrupt, and these people made a conscious choice to vote for the devil they knew.”

The Nation, Oct. 17, 2007

As shown in this quote from the editorial, people at The Nation are working hard to increase their degree of ignorance to a level where even the tiny rest of credibility this paper has left is used up. Of course, the editorial doesn’t fail to mention that most of the votes Thaksin got in the elections he won were bought by him. It is sort of a conscious self-destruction of a previously respectable paper–quite amazing.

]]> By: Col. Jeru http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-191628 Col. Jeru Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:58:41 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/#comment-191628 I stand chastised . . . and ignorance of Swiss politics I certainly admit am I. I stand chastised . . . and ignorance of Swiss politics I certainly admit am I.

]]> By: Srithanonchai http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-191553 Srithanonchai Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:03:31 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/#comment-191553 Col. Jeru: As nganadeeleg remarkededin a different context: "Dumb & dumber." Maybe, you will soon get moved to an inactive position... Col. Jeru: As nganadeeleg remarkededin a different context: “Dumb & dumber.” Maybe, you will soon get moved to an inactive position…

]]> By: nganadeeleg http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-191533 nganadeeleg Fri, 12 Oct 2007 08:45:09 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/#comment-191533 You are being a bit hard on Thaksin and his supporters. Voting for ultra-nationalist/racist policies is worse than selling your vote, and requires a different sort of ignorance. You are being a bit hard on Thaksin and his supporters.

Voting for ultra-nationalist/racist policies is worse than selling your vote, and requires a different sort of ignorance.

]]> By: col. jeru http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-191424 col. jeru Fri, 12 Oct 2007 07:40:49 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/#comment-191424 Srithanonchai (#17) Oct 12, 2007 at 3:43 pm - you really will go to ridiculous lengths to place Thaksin Shinawatra on top of a pedestal! But maybe you are into April fool jokes late October . . . A Swiss politiciain BUYING Swiss votes a-la-Thaksin? Srithanonchai (#17) Oct 12, 2007 at 3:43 pm – you really will go to ridiculous lengths to place Thaksin Shinawatra on top of a pedestal!
But maybe you are into April fool jokes late October . . . A Swiss politiciain BUYING Swiss votes a-la-Thaksin?

]]> By: Srithanonchai http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-191109 Srithanonchai Fri, 12 Oct 2007 04:43:06 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/#comment-191109 Switzerland and Thailand -- time for a comparison? In a few days, Switzerland will see an election, and the campaign is "Blocher ok pai". Blocher is Switzerland's Thaksin -- a rightist, populist billionaire with rough electoral habits who can buy up as much advertising space as he wants and put election posters whereever he wants . And the voters love him (though not as much as they loved Thaksin). Which poses questions of whether Switzerland has that many desperately poor people who are easily swayed by populist promises, whether the average Swiss voter is so politically immature that he cannot be trusted to vote "right" (remember, we thought that Switzerland was the archetypus of a mature western European democracy), and whether there will be a coup to prevent Blocher's advance. There have already been violent demonstrations. Switzerland and Thailand — time for a comparison? In a few days, Switzerland will see an election, and the campaign is “Blocher ok pai”. Blocher is Switzerland’s Thaksin — a rightist, populist billionaire with rough electoral habits who can buy up as much advertising space as he wants and put election posters whereever he wants . And the voters love him (though not as much as they loved Thaksin). Which poses questions of whether Switzerland has that many desperately poor people who are easily swayed by populist promises, whether the average Swiss voter is so politically immature that he cannot be trusted to vote “right” (remember, we thought that Switzerland was the archetypus of a mature western European democracy), and whether there will be a coup to prevent Blocher’s advance. There have already been violent demonstrations.

]]> By: serf http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-174564 serf Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:44:06 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/#comment-174564 By the way, did I ever actually say I was a Socialist? I just like being able to vote socialist if and when I feel like it. I'm against SE because it is IMPOSED by someone who really isn't all that clued up. By the way, did I ever actually say I was a Socialist?

I just like being able to vote socialist if and when I feel like it.

I’m against SE because it is IMPOSED by someone who really isn’t all that clued up.

]]> By: Ex-Ajarn http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-174056 Ex-Ajarn Wed, 26 Sep 2007 08:56:47 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/#comment-174056 I am not quite sure what all these comments about socialism have to do with democracy and poor people. I haven't read the book but I assume I would agree with the general concept that poor people are not necessarily stupid when it comes to using their (or if looking at my bank balance, maybe I should use "our" instead of their) vote. The coup in Thailand or the military dictatorship in Burma or any other form of non-democratic government is based on the concept that the poor are too stupid to know what is good for them and it is up to the "elites" (leftists, rightists, socialists, academics, etc…) to decide what is best for the “lower” classes. The extremely strong correlation between democracy and improvements in the quality of life of the poor as measured by infant mortality, life span, and income levels are proof to all but the most die hard supports of dictatorships that the poor do a better job of improving their lives with their votes within democracies than the elites do in dictatorships. I am not quite sure what all these comments about socialism have to do with democracy and poor people. I haven’t read the book but I assume I would agree with the general concept that poor people are not necessarily stupid when it comes to using their (or if looking at my bank balance, maybe I should use “our” instead of their) vote. The coup in Thailand or the military dictatorship in Burma or any other form of non-democratic government is based on the concept that the poor are too stupid to know what is good for them and it is up to the “elites” (leftists, rightists, socialists, academics, etc…) to decide what is best for the “lower” classes. The extremely strong correlation between democracy and improvements in the quality of life of the poor as measured by infant mortality, life span, and income levels are proof to all but the most die hard supports of dictatorships that the poor do a better job of improving their lives with their votes within democracies than the elites do in dictatorships.

]]> By: Dickie Simpkins http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-173990 Dickie Simpkins Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:55:08 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/09/24/the-vote-of-the-poor/#comment-173990 Grasshopper: Gotcha. Love the satire. Serf: Read what Grasshopper wrote again. He's just making fun of the whole system of a living god. Also, how can you be against Sufficiency and for Socialism? They are the same ideology wrapped in different clothes. Grasshopper: Gotcha. Love the satire.

Serf: Read what Grasshopper wrote again. He’s just making fun of the whole system of a living god. Also, how can you be against Sufficiency and for Socialism? They are the same ideology wrapped in different clothes.

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