It’s Polling Day in Thailand
But you’d know that, right? The voting hut here in our village has been open for an hour. As I write, no one has yet turned out to cast their vote. Why? you might ask. Is it because the process is too complicated? It looks totally confusing to me, then again, so do most products of Asian logic. My step son had to enlist in the navy because he was turned down by the army on the grounds that he couldn’t swim. You explain that to me.
Are they not voting in response to anti government protesters urging the population to boycott the polls? No, this village is red and always has been. Nor is it apathy that is keeping folks away in their dozens. The simple fact is that not a single candidate has been round with the money. My wife has already picked out the new frock she intended to buy with her 500 baht. ($15 or 10 pounds in proper money.) She is buggered if she will use her democratic right for free.
Now wipe that silly look off your face that seems to say, “What? Vote buying? Disgraceful,” and ask yourself: What happened to the money I was promised for my vote last election? You know what money. The money you were promised. The tax cuts. The lower interest rate for your mortgage. The investment on your behalf for better welfare payments, education, healthcare…Add what you will to the list.
Democracy shows its honest face for a while here in the Land of Smiles. It puts its money where its mouth is and coughs up cash in advance as opposed to promises of payment after it’s too late. My friends here know they’re going to be shit on anyway, by whomever. As too, do you, deep inside.
But you’d know that, right? The voting hut here in our village has been open for an hour. As I write, no one has yet turned out to cast their vote. Why? you might ask. Is it because the process is too complicated? It looks totally confusing to me, then again, so do most products of Asian logic. My step son had to enlist in the navy because he was turned down by the army on the grounds that he couldn’t swim. You explain that to me.
Are they not voting in response to anti government protesters urging the population to boycott the polls? No, this village is red and always has been. Nor is it apathy that is keeping folks away in their dozens. The simple fact is that not a single candidate has been round with the money. My wife has already picked out the new frock she intended to buy with her 500 baht. ($15 or 10 pounds in proper money.) She is buggered if she will use her democratic right for free.
Now wipe that silly look off your face that seems to say, “What? Vote buying? Disgraceful,” and ask yourself: What happened to the money I was promised for my vote last election? You know what money. The money you were promised. The tax cuts. The lower interest rate for your mortgage. The investment on your behalf for better welfare payments, education, healthcare…Add what you will to the list.
Democracy shows its honest face for a while here in the Land of Smiles. It puts its money where its mouth is and coughs up cash in advance as opposed to promises of payment after it’s too late. My friends here know they’re going to be shit on anyway, by whomever. As too, do you, deep inside.