We don’t need more ATM machines or credit cards. But we do need a more equitable social welfare.
No, Ms. Sinpeng, Thailand does not need more equitable social welfare. What Thailand, and the rest of the world, needs is more equality of opportunity.
Politics is quite often alienated from economic reality and “redistributive politics” is just that, politics; a politics driven by class envy and ignorance of how wealth is created.
While Dr. Suwanmala is absolutely correct in arguing that the informal sector needs to be integrated into the formal sector, this will not be accomplished by heavy-handed govermental interference in the market through misguided “wealth redistribution”. As Hernando de Soto has proven in The Other Path and his work with the Institute for Liberty and Democracy, the way to accomplish greater equality of opportunity is to remove the top-down barriers to recognition of property rights and allow entrepreneurship to build social mobility and provide economic opportunity from the bottom-up.
I am always amazed at the extreme hubris of public sector and academic technocrats in thinking they can accurately model and manipulate something as complex and chaotic (in the true mathematical sense) as the economy, a system built up of an innumerable individual actors, each with their own priorities and motivations.
I can see no evidence to support talk above of “landslides.” Neither PT nor the Democrats will win more than 55% of seats. They will have to enlist support from smaller parties, Newin’s in particular, and this will determine who forms the next government.
The most sinister aspect is the meeting between Prem and the Chairman of the Election Commission on May 22 reported above. Are redcards already being printed?
From my personal observation on the ground in the Land of Smiles, there are many Khun Ying’s who relish the chance to abuse any and all prai in their vicinity, whether verbally, psychologically or physically. It’s part of what makes their engine purr.
Perhaps out of suppressed rage at their errant husband’s constant romantic entanglements with the very same prai they so despise.
– I fully support the inheritance tax and land tax. The concentration of wealth (look at biggest landlords as well as the fact that less than 5% of depositors own more than 80% of bank deposit balance) is even worse than concentration of income (60,000 individuals paying half of personal income tax and the other half by about 1.5 million people)
– although personal income tax is progressive and looks high when compare with other comparable countries (top rate is 37%) where the highest rate kicks in is much higher (4 million baht) than neighboring countries favoring the “very rich” if you take into account the tax deductions allowed which gear towards favoring the wealthy (tax saving investments like LTF RMF) it becomes even more favorable to the wealthiest
– there s no simple and quick fix but I would think I would start first with those sitting on rent seekers sitting on piles of cash and lands, most of rent incomes for these few individual aren’t taxed at all
Mr. Damage, I doubt it is the welfare state which created the financial crisis in the west but the contrary. in my opinion it is the gready banking sector, which redistributed billions and billions if not trillions which have to be paid by others now, because it had been earned without creating any real value for the society.
And it is the group of big multinational companies believing, that 20% net profit might not be enought to keep people working for them.
And may be look at the cost of the wars which had been initiated by people who are the contrary of welfarestate-protagonists.
No, Mr. Damage, the contrary is true. We can see that a sort of welfare state can lead a country to unbelieveable success and can create economic miracles. Just look at Germany after the war. We not only had some sort of welfare state, but also a system which required the workforce to agree to decisions of the board of directors in the heavy steel and coal industry in Germany.
And such system can well be reformed when failing. Look at Sweden. they made mistakes overstretching the welfare system, they reformed it and now they are stronger then ever before but still have a welfare state.
Has she presented anything in the way of Policy apart from the return of her convicted, corrupt brother?
Does Pui Thai have any policy other than this?
Sorry John, “standard journalism practice” these days seems to be “Make the news” not “Report the News”
Unfortunately, the title of ‘Journalist’ these days seems to imply honesty, respectability and impartiality.
Sadly not the case, as so often evidenced here on NM.
Welfare states eventually lead to bankrupt economies when the credit pumping runs out of legs, just look at the mess the West in currently in.
These little gems usually come from those who will happily quote Ayn Rand at you. And yet when they are allowed to run the major economies as they have the last thirty or so years, we do end up in the mess we are in.
1. Increasing corporate tax from 30% does not work. It is already higher than competitor countries and even higher than UK. Cut from 30% to 28% for two years and see what happens in terms of new investment.
2. the top 37% rate of income tax should be abolished
3. Inheritance tax should be introduced. 30% flat rate of the market value of all property transferred on death. The threshold can be determined taking into account small ans medium families
4. Property tax should be revised and introduced particularly on unused/undeveloped land
5. Taxes arising on transfer of land to be based on the consideration changing hands not the ‘official’ land value which is considerably lower than market value.
But a far greater problem is non registration and under declaration of tax.
And the wealthy would not spport for 3, 4 or 5 – turkeys do not vote for Christmas.
Anonymous Thai: try searching for “р╕Ър╕▒р╕Ур╕Ср╕┤р╕Х р╕Ир╕▒р╕Щр╕Чр╕гр╣Мр╣Вр╕гр╕Ир╕Щр╕Бр╕┤р╕И”. According to the very first link that pops up, he’s a professor of political science at Ramkhamhaeng University, author of two books on Thai constitutions, and a columnist for Wipasa magazine.
given that the stories produced by the Thai government are usually proven false or ludicrous or worse it seems that actually knowing the source of stories can be helpful in verifying the lack of bona fides of a story
in this case perhaps the story helps verify the bona fides of the source rather than the other way round
I am 99.99% suspicious that anything very crooked involving ‘public land’ requiring ‘military’ enforcers at the land of Buriram would be Newin Chidchob family-inspired.
There are many Google links in Thai for the company names but if just as well could say from anyone. I can’t find anything on them in English search.
Some explanation and amplification is standard journalism practice before citing a report from any non-globally recognized organization.
As it appears they don’t have a website under their own name – in either Thai or English – the question isn’t “who is Dr Bandit Chanrojanakit?”, but “who is Marginalised Monsoon Group (р╕Бр╕ер╕╕р╣Ир╕бр╕бр╕гр╕кр╕╕р╕бр╕Кр╕▓р╕вр╕Вр╕нр╕Ъ)?” and “who funds it?”.
Until the organization is proved, any report is just writing on paper.
It’s a big sheet of plastic with some bright colors on it. What can it possibly tell us about the depicted person’s qualities? Let us now consider what she has ever done to help this country other than help herself in the usual Shinawatra style.
Welfare states eventually lead to bankrupt economies when the credit pumping runs out of legs, just look at the mess the West in currently in. Also as the welfare state evolves so do the perpetual recipients who milk the system.
That is not to say the elite should be spared paying reasonable taxes or that some equity in society can’t exist, limited safety net welfare is affordable if it is kept as limited. Thailand has a ridiculous inflated bureaucracy that should be pruned but never will as it is also a voting block, somewhat like Canberra or Washington.
How can there be any doubt that alien Bangkok is an invasive, aggressive, occupational force in Thailand?
How can there be any doubt that the Bangkok Military is the greates enemy the Thai people have?
Viliawaan ended up on the hood of one of the trucks,” Nobnom says, “then one of the military men pulled her by the hair onto the ground and told the truck to drive over her.”
After using force to push through Kao Baat villagers, this group of outsiders moved into a neighboring village where they captured nine monks and burned down the local temple.
“The company does not want to let go of the land and will do anything to hold onto it. If the company comes then the government makes money. If the villagers stay, then the government gets nothing,” Phaitoon explains.
The ‘government’ is a crime family.
I hope that the Thai people are one, able to defeat the military in the upcoming election; and two, then able to regroup and to develop the ground-up political machine they will need in the next election to take control of their country from the grifters and grafters in Bangkok.
Image is important in running for high office, for men too. Men are judged all the time, and by women. I heard many times from girls/women that Abhisit was handsome. I didn’t really notice actually. It’s foolish to discount sex appeal in a candidate as it’s a serious aspect of likability whether we more high minded like it or not.
Are not men judged every day all day on certain characteristics by women? Men judge, women judge. Stop with the “sexism” crap.
Any leader running for high office is under a microscope and we expect certain things from these leaders, whether consciously or unconsciously. There’s nothing wrong with a woman not being feminine I’m sure for some men, but for the vast majority I would assume that looking at Yingluck’s photograph while driving a motorcycle taxi or pulling rice from a field in the hot sun or pushing a cart or getting paid 200 baht a day to build luxury condos is probably the high point of their day.
I certainly had no problem looking at her. There’s just something terribly sexy about her in that poster in that business suit all dignified.
I wouldn’t vote for her just because of this, but I’d certainly make space in my day to listen to her!
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Thailand can afford equitable social welfare
We don’t need more ATM machines or credit cards. But we do need a more equitable social welfare.
No, Ms. Sinpeng, Thailand does not need more equitable social welfare. What Thailand, and the rest of the world, needs is more equality of opportunity.
Politics is quite often alienated from economic reality and “redistributive politics” is just that, politics; a politics driven by class envy and ignorance of how wealth is created.
While Dr. Suwanmala is absolutely correct in arguing that the informal sector needs to be integrated into the formal sector, this will not be accomplished by heavy-handed govermental interference in the market through misguided “wealth redistribution”. As Hernando de Soto has proven in The Other Path and his work with the Institute for Liberty and Democracy, the way to accomplish greater equality of opportunity is to remove the top-down barriers to recognition of property rights and allow entrepreneurship to build social mobility and provide economic opportunity from the bottom-up.
I am always amazed at the extreme hubris of public sector and academic technocrats in thinking they can accurately model and manipulate something as complex and chaotic (in the true mathematical sense) as the economy, a system built up of an innumerable individual actors, each with their own priorities and motivations.
Perhaps, one day, you will realize this.
Yingluck on the streets
I can see no evidence to support talk above of “landslides.” Neither PT nor the Democrats will win more than 55% of seats. They will have to enlist support from smaller parties, Newin’s in particular, and this will determine who forms the next government.
The most sinister aspect is the meeting between Prem and the Chairman of the Election Commission on May 22 reported above. Are redcards already being printed?
Yingluck on the streets
Soonuk Dum – 34
I think her water resource management scheme is the one that I like the most out of every other candidate.
Khunying face slapper
From my personal observation on the ground in the Land of Smiles, there are many Khun Ying’s who relish the chance to abuse any and all prai in their vicinity, whether verbally, psychologically or physically. It’s part of what makes their engine purr.
Perhaps out of suppressed rage at their errant husband’s constant romantic entanglements with the very same prai they so despise.
Yingluck on the streets
Tukkae c31
Please don’t accuse Khun Nattavud of colluding with Thai authorities in targeting NM and ANU unless you have empirical evidence.
Thailand can afford equitable social welfare
– I fully support the inheritance tax and land tax. The concentration of wealth (look at biggest landlords as well as the fact that less than 5% of depositors own more than 80% of bank deposit balance) is even worse than concentration of income (60,000 individuals paying half of personal income tax and the other half by about 1.5 million people)
– although personal income tax is progressive and looks high when compare with other comparable countries (top rate is 37%) where the highest rate kicks in is much higher (4 million baht) than neighboring countries favoring the “very rich” if you take into account the tax deductions allowed which gear towards favoring the wealthy (tax saving investments like LTF RMF) it becomes even more favorable to the wealthiest
– there s no simple and quick fix but I would think I would start first with those sitting on rent seekers sitting on piles of cash and lands, most of rent incomes for these few individual aren’t taxed at all
Thailand can afford equitable social welfare
Mr. Damage, I doubt it is the welfare state which created the financial crisis in the west but the contrary. in my opinion it is the gready banking sector, which redistributed billions and billions if not trillions which have to be paid by others now, because it had been earned without creating any real value for the society.
And it is the group of big multinational companies believing, that 20% net profit might not be enought to keep people working for them.
And may be look at the cost of the wars which had been initiated by people who are the contrary of welfarestate-protagonists.
No, Mr. Damage, the contrary is true. We can see that a sort of welfare state can lead a country to unbelieveable success and can create economic miracles. Just look at Germany after the war. We not only had some sort of welfare state, but also a system which required the workforce to agree to decisions of the board of directors in the heavy steel and coal industry in Germany.
And such system can well be reformed when failing. Look at Sweden. they made mistakes overstretching the welfare system, they reformed it and now they are stronger then ever before but still have a welfare state.
Yingluck on the streets
Has she presented anything in the way of Policy apart from the return of her convicted, corrupt brother?
Does Pui Thai have any policy other than this?
Shoot to kill
John L – 3
Sorry John, “standard journalism practice” these days seems to be “Make the news” not “Report the News”
Unfortunately, the title of ‘Journalist’ these days seems to imply honesty, respectability and impartiality.
Sadly not the case, as so often evidenced here on NM.
Thailand can afford equitable social welfare
Mr. Damage – 6
Welfare states eventually lead to bankrupt economies when the credit pumping runs out of legs, just look at the mess the West in currently in.
These little gems usually come from those who will happily quote Ayn Rand at you. And yet when they are allowed to run the major economies as they have the last thirty or so years, we do end up in the mess we are in.
Thailand can afford equitable social welfare
Delete last entry!!
1. Increasing corporate tax from 30% does not work. It is already higher than competitor countries and even higher than UK. Cut from 30% to 28% for two years and see what happens in terms of new investment.
2. the top 37% rate of income tax should be abolished
3. Inheritance tax should be introduced. 30% flat rate of the market value of all property transferred on death. The threshold can be determined taking into account small ans medium families
4. Property tax should be revised and introduced particularly on unused/undeveloped land
5. Taxes arising on transfer of land to be based on the consideration changing hands not the ‘official’ land value which is considerably lower than market value.
But a far greater problem is non registration and under declaration of tax.
And the wealthy would not spport for 3, 4 or 5 – turkeys do not vote for Christmas.
Shoot to kill
Anonymous Thai: try searching for “р╕Ър╕▒р╕Ур╕Ср╕┤р╕Х р╕Ир╕▒р╕Щр╕Чр╕гр╣Мр╣Вр╕гр╕Ир╕Щр╕Бр╕┤р╕И”. According to the very first link that pops up, he’s a professor of political science at Ramkhamhaeng University, author of two books on Thai constitutions, and a columnist for Wipasa magazine.
Shoot to kill
given that the stories produced by the Thai government are usually proven false or ludicrous or worse it seems that actually knowing the source of stories can be helpful in verifying the lack of bona fides of a story
in this case perhaps the story helps verify the bona fides of the source rather than the other way round
Violence erupts in Buriram
I am 99.99% suspicious that anything very crooked involving ‘public land’ requiring ‘military’ enforcers at the land of Buriram would be Newin Chidchob family-inspired.
http://205.188.238.181/time/asia/magazine/2001/0108/thai.elections.html
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2053773,00.html
Shoot to kill
Valid point Anonymous Thai.
There are many Google links in Thai for the company names but if just as well could say from anyone. I can’t find anything on them in English search.
Some explanation and amplification is standard journalism practice before citing a report from any non-globally recognized organization.
As it appears they don’t have a website under their own name – in either Thai or English – the question isn’t “who is Dr Bandit Chanrojanakit?”, but “who is Marginalised Monsoon Group (р╕Бр╕ер╕╕р╣Ир╕бр╕бр╕гр╕кр╕╕р╕бр╕Кр╕▓р╕вр╕Вр╕нр╕Ъ)?” and “who funds it?”.
Until the organization is proved, any report is just writing on paper.
Khunying face slapper
This KhunYing is mean and heartless. She has no right to physically abuse other people.
Yingluck on the streets
It’s a big sheet of plastic with some bright colors on it. What can it possibly tell us about the depicted person’s qualities? Let us now consider what she has ever done to help this country other than help herself in the usual Shinawatra style.
Thailand can afford equitable social welfare
Welfare states eventually lead to bankrupt economies when the credit pumping runs out of legs, just look at the mess the West in currently in. Also as the welfare state evolves so do the perpetual recipients who milk the system.
That is not to say the elite should be spared paying reasonable taxes or that some equity in society can’t exist, limited safety net welfare is affordable if it is kept as limited. Thailand has a ridiculous inflated bureaucracy that should be pruned but never will as it is also a voting block, somewhat like Canberra or Washington.
Violence erupts in Buriram
How can there be any doubt that alien Bangkok is an invasive, aggressive, occupational force in Thailand?
How can there be any doubt that the Bangkok Military is the greates enemy the Thai people have?
The ‘government’ is a crime family.
I hope that the Thai people are one, able to defeat the military in the upcoming election; and two, then able to regroup and to develop the ground-up political machine they will need in the next election to take control of their country from the grifters and grafters in Bangkok.
Yingluck on the streets
Native Thai @30,
Image is important in running for high office, for men too. Men are judged all the time, and by women. I heard many times from girls/women that Abhisit was handsome. I didn’t really notice actually. It’s foolish to discount sex appeal in a candidate as it’s a serious aspect of likability whether we more high minded like it or not.
Are not men judged every day all day on certain characteristics by women? Men judge, women judge. Stop with the “sexism” crap.
Any leader running for high office is under a microscope and we expect certain things from these leaders, whether consciously or unconsciously. There’s nothing wrong with a woman not being feminine I’m sure for some men, but for the vast majority I would assume that looking at Yingluck’s photograph while driving a motorcycle taxi or pulling rice from a field in the hot sun or pushing a cart or getting paid 200 baht a day to build luxury condos is probably the high point of their day.
I certainly had no problem looking at her. There’s just something terribly sexy about her in that poster in that business suit all dignified.
I wouldn’t vote for her just because of this, but I’d certainly make space in my day to listen to her!