There is so much wrong with this article that it really pains to read it.
First of all, Mr. Chantee is not exactly an example of an average farmer, as he spent “spent 18 years working with the Department of Agricultural Extension”. Which means he has far more education than an average farmer.
He may have made a profit of 50 000 per Rai with his herbal product (which one was it please, in a good year an average farmer makes about that from a bigger farm, and not per rai, and i would really like to know how to make more than 10 times of what we make from our farm). He also seems to be able to directly market his produce to department stores and such, which the average farmer can’t.
And as to retiring civil servants taking advantage of the land offered (not exactly the poorest in need of land anyhow) – good luck. Farming life is hard, and i very much doubt that many of them last more than a year. Something that happened in the area where our farm is located – many plots were left vacant soon, and were redistributed.
“The heart of sufficiency farming is moderation and self-immunity to create sustainable way of living. One produces enough supply from his or her own farm to feed one’s family and the rest can be sold to generate income… ”
of course, this sounds pretty cool and all.
but why it is only farmers who are urged to be “self-sufficient” – not all those people who are pushing so vigurously hard for the B400bln loans? one might think that THIS is the time to apply “self-sufficiency” principle and rather than seek borrowed money abroad – employ some internatl resources, no ? or may be borrow from the local companies (as CP group, which is thriving – reported hugs revenues in Q1).
so, all those good fellas who are eager to partake in “cake sharing” (aka “stimulus”, mega-projects, etc) – somehow they either forget the “sufficiency economy” entirely, or ignore its values?
sure, farmers must be “sufficient” – while big shots as Abhisit & Korn are hurridly stuffing their pockets with guap, and helping their buddies and patrons too – while the whole merry fun of “global economic crisis” lasts.
someone has calculated that this B400bln loand will make EACH and every Thai indebted by B80K (per capita) and there is no freaking way that average farmer can ever repay it. I guess that is the way this “Democrat” government is helping farmers to implement the “sufficiency economy”.
and so this article says :
There is perhaps no better time for the sufficiency economy to capture society’s attention than during an economic downturn.
please forgive me, folks, I have an urge to add to that:
“There is perhaps no better time for the STUFFING pockets with money than during an economic downturn” !
and that’s precisely what Dems are doing – while preaching to “stupid uneducated buffalo” peasants the “sufficiency”.
hell ! farmers don’t need to be preached no “sufficiency” – they have got used to their hardships already and learned how to survive against all the odds.
as I said sometime ago elsewhere:
for farmers it doesn’t really matter this whole globla economic crisis, because for them it is ALL THE SAME, generation after generation, during economic crtisis or during economic boom : they see no difference because they still struggle for existence, for survival.
so, perhaps BAM and whoever else rather may look closer and LEARN from farmers how to be truly sufficient !
I have problem with the accuracy and the authority of scholars writing or reviewing about Thailand for the following reasons:
1. The book written by Andrew Walker and others in “Tai lands and Thailand: Community and State in Southeast Asia,” I have question about the book’s methodology. Did they collect any data on the population of those areas to prove that the entire region of those communities are Tai as they claimed? If it is claimed being Tai lands, then why the current government as well as the opposition parties’ decision makers are all Chinese ethnics, ranging from Abhisit Vejjajiva to Army Chief to Defense Minister.
2. The book written by Chattip Nartsupha, “Thai Village in the Past,” I am questioning about the accuracy on its ignoring the technology transferring from the United States to Thailand for its agricultural development during the height of the Cold War period.
3. The books’ reviewer, Craig Reynolds, who had been researching at the Kyoto University before, I have question about how he defines criteria and authority of the writers and the reviewers. Do they have sufficient authority on the subject?
We are now in the 21st Century while information technology has progressed and spread globally, yet the studies about Thailand continues to be manipulated into the hands of the World War II Axis forces in Thailand, Australia and the United States. It is sad to see that this game is still on yet hardly anyone discussing about it. Allowing the continuity and maintaining the underdevelopment of the studies about mainland Southeast Asia is dangerous to the security of the region as a whole. One cannot made correct decision based on inaccurate information. Is it time to overhaul the studies about Siam Thailand to the universal standard level of scholarly work?
there is another important date coming up (June 23rd is mentioned), when certain ceremony must be held which demands his presence. this ceremony can’t be done by someone else.
so, let’s see who’ll conduct this imperative function.
it will be practically within a week from today.
Karen leader explains reaction by Thai authorities
KNU vice president David Thackrabaw comments on recent border crackdown
“I don’t know the exact details [of the Thai-Burma deal], but I think there may be [price] adjustment depending on the global conditions.
“But whatever, the junta is gaining large amounts of foreign exchange from gas exports.”
Q: You said before Taskforce Four, that’s a purely Thai unit?
A: Yes, it’s purely Thai, a detachment of the Third Army stationed at Mae Sot.
Q: And the Third Army, their territory stretches quite a way doesn’t it?
A: Yes, it goes all the way up to Mae Hong Son and in the south it goes as far as Kanchanaburi, it takes in much of the border line.
For what it is worth, if there was one action that could improve the state of my local farmers it would be learning to do basic maths (i.e.- noting how much they spend on fert. and seed, how much they make, the later minus the former. Also, when the local middle man says, “I buy corn for 3.5bt/kilo and sell for 4, that’s fair, because 50 satang is hardly anything” he is actually ripping you off to high heaven).
Maybe the better way to put it is that, once again (along with the review it did weeks ago of a book about SE in Start-up Companies), the Post is conflating a point (Do your math) with a principle (SE), when the two aren’t really connected at all.
You ask for “More accuracy, more details, more comparison, less assertion without proof, less doctrinaire assertion based on ideological beliefs, is called for.”
While your source is some dinner you have with a Tatler hi-so?
Haha hahahah.
And if you’d read anything at all ever about ideology you’d know that it works at its most effective level when it is works unconsciously.
You seem to be in the grip of various unconscious ideological statements Jon. I’d suggest a little more self-awareness before you start another round of your “I know best cos i play golf with someone” type hokum.
In trying to get my head around this concept, it almost seems like Mr Chantee is saying there is a possibility that if you don’t properly plan a business venture, it could return less money than is put into it.
If I’ve got that right, and an understanding of this could be conveyed to others, it could revolutionize industry, finance and many other fields both here in Thailand and throughout the world!
This is an epoch in economics and I’m thankful the Post was on hand to bring it to light.
before revealing this secret the Thai farming community were subjected to 50+ (250+?) years of schooling in passivity, blind obedience and belief that they must create success for their masters (and mistresses) no matter how brief or asinine the demands made upon them
therefore Royalty expects this description will be applied successfully!
Hmm. PAD set up a party that could arguably be seen as having a negative impact on the Dems vote and then find that their advertisining revenue dries up. Business may have liked the PAD marching around saying up yours to Thaksin, but they probably dont want them jackbooting their way into a few parliamentary seats at the Dems expense. Realpolitik.
Has anyone made any comparisons between Thailand and that other “managed democracy” making headlines these last few days?
In both Thailand and Iran, there appears to be a vibrant political culture and active democratic activities, but the bulk of the power is held by unaccountable elites. On the surface, it seems like some of the conditions are quite similar: controlling the means of power through appointed bodies, banning political parties and actors, inability to scrutinize those at the very top, etc.
Is it s a cultural ‘Asian’ thing for ruling parties here to be fearful of dissent? Or even censoring of differing political points of view? added with Nga’s “Are the reasons for that fear based more on a desire to protect privileges, or a desire to hold the country together instead of splintering apart?”
Perhaps there has been already studies about these attitudes on a macro scale already out there somewhere.
Can someone with true academic knowledge point me out to the available literature, as it is something I am truly interested in….
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Sufficiency brilliance
There is so much wrong with this article that it really pains to read it.
First of all, Mr. Chantee is not exactly an example of an average farmer, as he spent “spent 18 years working with the Department of Agricultural Extension”. Which means he has far more education than an average farmer.
He may have made a profit of 50 000 per Rai with his herbal product (which one was it please, in a good year an average farmer makes about that from a bigger farm, and not per rai, and i would really like to know how to make more than 10 times of what we make from our farm). He also seems to be able to directly market his produce to department stores and such, which the average farmer can’t.
And as to retiring civil servants taking advantage of the land offered (not exactly the poorest in need of land anyhow) – good luck. Farming life is hard, and i very much doubt that many of them last more than a year. Something that happened in the area where our farm is located – many plots were left vacant soon, and were redistributed.
Sufficiency brilliance
BAM project spreads sufficiency economy message
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/18506/putting-idle-land-to-work
“The heart of sufficiency farming is moderation and self-immunity to create sustainable way of living. One produces enough supply from his or her own farm to feed one’s family and the rest can be sold to generate income… ”
of course, this sounds pretty cool and all.
but why it is only farmers who are urged to be “self-sufficient” – not all those people who are pushing so vigurously hard for the B400bln loans? one might think that THIS is the time to apply “self-sufficiency” principle and rather than seek borrowed money abroad – employ some internatl resources, no ? or may be borrow from the local companies (as CP group, which is thriving – reported hugs revenues in Q1).
so, all those good fellas who are eager to partake in “cake sharing” (aka “stimulus”, mega-projects, etc) – somehow they either forget the “sufficiency economy” entirely, or ignore its values?
sure, farmers must be “sufficient” – while big shots as Abhisit & Korn are hurridly stuffing their pockets with guap, and helping their buddies and patrons too – while the whole merry fun of “global economic crisis” lasts.
someone has calculated that this B400bln loand will make EACH and every Thai indebted by B80K (per capita) and there is no freaking way that average farmer can ever repay it. I guess that is the way this “Democrat” government is helping farmers to implement the “sufficiency economy”.
and so this article says :
please forgive me, folks, I have an urge to add to that:
“There is perhaps no better time for the STUFFING pockets with money than during an economic downturn” !
and that’s precisely what Dems are doing – while preaching to “stupid uneducated buffalo” peasants the “sufficiency”.
hell ! farmers don’t need to be preached no “sufficiency” – they have got used to their hardships already and learned how to survive against all the odds.
as I said sometime ago elsewhere:
for farmers it doesn’t really matter this whole globla economic crisis, because for them it is ALL THE SAME, generation after generation, during economic crtisis or during economic boom : they see no difference because they still struggle for existence, for survival.
so, perhaps BAM and whoever else rather may look closer and LEARN from farmers how to be truly sufficient !
Review of Chatthip
I have problem with the accuracy and the authority of scholars writing or reviewing about Thailand for the following reasons:
1. The book written by Andrew Walker and others in “Tai lands and Thailand: Community and State in Southeast Asia,” I have question about the book’s methodology. Did they collect any data on the population of those areas to prove that the entire region of those communities are Tai as they claimed? If it is claimed being Tai lands, then why the current government as well as the opposition parties’ decision makers are all Chinese ethnics, ranging from Abhisit Vejjajiva to Army Chief to Defense Minister.
2. The book written by Chattip Nartsupha, “Thai Village in the Past,” I am questioning about the accuracy on its ignoring the technology transferring from the United States to Thailand for its agricultural development during the height of the Cold War period.
3. The books’ reviewer, Craig Reynolds, who had been researching at the Kyoto University before, I have question about how he defines criteria and authority of the writers and the reviewers. Do they have sufficient authority on the subject?
We are now in the 21st Century while information technology has progressed and spread globally, yet the studies about Thailand continues to be manipulated into the hands of the World War II Axis forces in Thailand, Australia and the United States. It is sad to see that this game is still on yet hardly anyone discussing about it. Allowing the continuity and maintaining the underdevelopment of the studies about mainland Southeast Asia is dangerous to the security of the region as a whole. One cannot made correct decision based on inaccurate information. Is it time to overhaul the studies about Siam Thailand to the universal standard level of scholarly work?
Rumours, rumours
watching the news right now .
sis was shown, spouse too – not him.
there is another important date coming up (June 23rd is mentioned), when certain ceremony must be held which demands his presence. this ceremony can’t be done by someone else.
so, let’s see who’ll conduct this imperative function.
it will be practically within a week from today.
Government of the Union of Myanmar: Irony of the week
Karen leader explains reaction by Thai authorities
KNU vice president David Thackrabaw comments on recent border crackdown
“I don’t know the exact details [of the Thai-Burma deal], but I think there may be [price] adjustment depending on the global conditions.
“But whatever, the junta is gaining large amounts of foreign exchange from gas exports.”
Q: You said before Taskforce Four, that’s a purely Thai unit?
A: Yes, it’s purely Thai, a detachment of the Third Army stationed at Mae Sot.
Q: And the Third Army, their territory stretches quite a way doesn’t it?
A: Yes, it goes all the way up to Mae Hong Son and in the south it goes as far as Kanchanaburi, it takes in much of the border line.
http://www.danielpedersen.org/articles-about-burma/knu-vice-president-david-thrackrabaw-comments-on-recent-border-crackdown/
Sufficiency brilliance
For what it is worth, if there was one action that could improve the state of my local farmers it would be learning to do basic maths (i.e.- noting how much they spend on fert. and seed, how much they make, the later minus the former. Also, when the local middle man says, “I buy corn for 3.5bt/kilo and sell for 4, that’s fair, because 50 satang is hardly anything” he is actually ripping you off to high heaven).
Maybe the better way to put it is that, once again (along with the review it did weeks ago of a book about SE in Start-up Companies), the Post is conflating a point (Do your math) with a principle (SE), when the two aren’t really connected at all.
Sufficiency brilliance
Who would have thunk at the heart of the mystery and brilliance of sufficiency economy is to have a business plan.
You want to know the secret of my no fail sufficiency diet?
Wait, you have to bestow deity status upon me, wear Fonzi t-shirts for months, and overthrow the government before I share my wisdom with you.
Forget it, here it is.
Don’t eat too much. If you do, make sure you exercise.
Maybe I can market this as the royal diet and make millions.
But then, not too many royals practice sufficiency diet, just like they don’t practice sufficiency economy.
Sufficiency brilliance
Sufficiency economy… easy to preach all that when you have squandered $35 billion USD.
How insulting.
Farmers may be uneducated but are not stupid.
Thai political and social analysis unleashed
Fernquest,
You ask for “More accuracy, more details, more comparison, less assertion without proof, less doctrinaire assertion based on ideological beliefs, is called for.”
While your source is some dinner you have with a Tatler hi-so?
Haha hahahah.
And if you’d read anything at all ever about ideology you’d know that it works at its most effective level when it is works unconsciously.
You seem to be in the grip of various unconscious ideological statements Jon. I’d suggest a little more self-awareness before you start another round of your “I know best cos i play golf with someone” type hokum.
Sufficiency brilliance
In trying to get my head around this concept, it almost seems like Mr Chantee is saying there is a possibility that if you don’t properly plan a business venture, it could return less money than is put into it.
If I’ve got that right, and an understanding of this could be conveyed to others, it could revolutionize industry, finance and many other fields both here in Thailand and throughout the world!
This is an epoch in economics and I’m thankful the Post was on hand to bring it to light.
Sufficiency brilliance
to the benefit of those that matter…..
Sufficiency brilliance
before revealing this secret the Thai farming community were subjected to 50+ (250+?) years of schooling in passivity, blind obedience and belief that they must create success for their masters (and mistresses) no matter how brief or asinine the demands made upon them
therefore Royalty expects this description will be applied successfully!
PAD tries a political party
Hmm. PAD set up a party that could arguably be seen as having a negative impact on the Dems vote and then find that their advertisining revenue dries up. Business may have liked the PAD marching around saying up yours to Thaksin, but they probably dont want them jackbooting their way into a few parliamentary seats at the Dems expense. Realpolitik.
Thai political and social analysis unleashed
Has anyone made any comparisons between Thailand and that other “managed democracy” making headlines these last few days?
In both Thailand and Iran, there appears to be a vibrant political culture and active democratic activities, but the bulk of the power is held by unaccountable elites. On the surface, it seems like some of the conditions are quite similar: controlling the means of power through appointed bodies, banning political parties and actors, inability to scrutinize those at the very top, etc.
Thai political and social analysis unleashed
To Nick, Andrew and other anthropologists here:
I repeat:
Is it s a cultural ‘Asian’ thing for ruling parties here to be fearful of dissent? Or even censoring of differing political points of view? added with Nga’s “Are the reasons for that fear based more on a desire to protect privileges, or a desire to hold the country together instead of splintering apart?”
Perhaps there has been already studies about these attitudes on a macro scale already out there somewhere.
Can someone with true academic knowledge point me out to the available literature, as it is something I am truly interested in….
thank you in advance.