Well, recycling is part of the moderate, reasonable and wise use of resources, no? My recycling-minded old mom in Germany, reflecting the overall approach there (which took some time to implement), sure would be apalled to see how careless Thais are in this respect. Why, for example, could they not bring their own washable cloth bags to buy their groceries, but rather let them be put in innumerable plastic bags? Why don’t customers have to pay for the plastic bags? Why don’t supermarkets actively push for a changed behavior but rather encourage waste (while the cashiers wear yellow shirts)? One really doesn’t need HMK’s advice to see that this is not reasonable. Yet, no progress has been made on simple issues such as this during the past 15 years or so (I still recall the “this-crazy-farang” look when I presented my used plastic bag to the cashier for putting my stuff in there). Apologies for this eurocentric appropriation of HMK’s ideas on self sufficiency. But, then, his ideas do sound quite European.
nganadeeleg: Nice quote — full off nice-sounding words (just as is Thai practice). A commentator in another post quoted her Thai teacher as interpreting the King’s idea of sufficiency economy as wanting to make the Thais more farang. This quote nicely supports this interpretation.
Some guidance from HMK: “Sufficiency Economy is a philosophy that stresses the middle path as the overriding principle for appropriate conduct by the populace at all levels. This applies to conduct at the level of individual, families, and communities, as well as to the choice of a balanced development strategy for the nation so as to modernize in line with forces of globalization while shielding against inevitable shocks and excesses that arise. “Sufficiency” means moderation and due consideration in all modes of conduct, as well as the need for sufficient protection from internal and external shocks. To achieve this, the application of knowledge with prudence is essential. In particular, great care is needed in the utilization of untested theories and methodologies for planning and implementation. At the same time, it is essential to strengthen the moral fibre of the nation, so that everyone, particularly public officials, theorists and businessmen, adheres first and foremost to the principles of honesty and integrity. In addition, a balanced approach combining patience, perseverance, diligence, wisdom and prudence is indispensable to cope appropriately with critical challenges arising from extensive and rapid socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural changes occurring as a result of globalization.”
It’s a very sad state of affairs isn’t it. My Thai teacher here in Bangkok tells me she won’t vote this year because they have removed her choice. She also tells me however that she believes that the sufficiency economy is a good idea. Her interpretation is that sufficiency economy means that Thai people should be more like Farangs and not buy expensive mobile phones because even rich Farangs don’t necessarily have flashy things. I thought this was an interesting take on it, many of her teaching colleagues appear to take this view too. I think it is important to remember that however clear cut and politically aligned these ideas may seem to outsiders, many here do not see any inherent contradiction between supporting the so-called “sufficiency economy” and being pro-Thaksin
So basically, the junta is no better than Thaksin? Then I think we should all march in the streets and demand that the King replace the government. It is, after all, his government.
There is nothing wrong with reasonableness, moderation & immunity. Neither is there anything wrong with happiness, beauty and safety. But without a bit more of an explanation, they are hardly useful principals for guiding an economy. They also have very little to do with the BMA project described above.
When a governmnet calls TRT policies evil, then just changes the name to sufficiency policies which makes them good, it becomes clear that sufficiency is just ideological veneer.
At a slogan level just about any economic policy sounds good. What is wrong with “Juche” or self-sufficiency in North Korea? Nothing. What is wrong with the North Korean economy? Everything.
Nothing inherently wrong with these principles. What is wrong with “sufficiency economy” as a policy is that (i) sufficiency economy has been implemented by a dictatorship installed by a military coup, ie. through force; and (ii) the right to criticize and, if necessary, reject sufficiency economy is denied to the Thai people because it would violate the lese majeste law.
If sufficiency economy were introduced by a democratically elected government, and everyone had the right to freely discuss and criticize it, I would be the first to welcome debate about the theory. But not before.
[…] head providing a nice touch of royal authority. I’m not sure if Thai cultural guardian Ladda Tangsupachai would be impressed with this cross-border appropriation of Thai national […]
I was absolutely stunned to read that taxpayer money was used to send civil servants into Bangkok’s ghettos to stop the poor from joining a protest rally. Even more mind-boggling, the residents of the 1,700 slums were asked to stay away from anti-coup rallies because that would somehow violate His Majesty the King’s sufficiency economy principles.
Huh? First, is there anyone who understands sufficiency principles better than those who daily struggle to survive in the slums of Bangkok?
And what is the relationship between sufficiency economy principles and free expression of political will at a public demonstration? How does protesting a military government violate sufficiency economy principles?
How about holding a seminar for the arrogant Bangkok powers to explain principles of civilian rule, or principles of non-arbitrary rule of law, or principles of providing essential services? How about principles of sidewalk repair or principles of trash collection?
Roger, I think we are in general agreement. I have no doubt that many aspects of social, political and cultural life have an “ethnic dimension”. Nor do I doubt that in some contexts, ideas like “Tai”, “Lue”, or “Sipsongpanna” have salience and can signal certain sentiments of belonging. What I am arguing is that “ethnicity” needn’t provide an overarching organising framework for the way we understand the region. What might an alternative approach look like?
I don’t agree with making it compulsory, but one good reason to wear yellow is it’s a simple way to rub up people with views similar to Republican’s (a silent protest against their malice).
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Reasonableness, moderation and inanity
р╣Ар╕лр╕ер╣Йр╕▓р╣Ар╕Бр╣Ир╕▓ р╣Гр╕Щр╕Вр╕зр╕Фр╕Йр╕ер╕▓р╕Бр╣Ар╕лр╕ер╕╖р╕нр╕З
Well, recycling is part of the moderate, reasonable and wise use of resources, no? My recycling-minded old mom in Germany, reflecting the overall approach there (which took some time to implement), sure would be apalled to see how careless Thais are in this respect. Why, for example, could they not bring their own washable cloth bags to buy their groceries, but rather let them be put in innumerable plastic bags? Why don’t customers have to pay for the plastic bags? Why don’t supermarkets actively push for a changed behavior but rather encourage waste (while the cashiers wear yellow shirts)? One really doesn’t need HMK’s advice to see that this is not reasonable. Yet, no progress has been made on simple issues such as this during the past 15 years or so (I still recall the “this-crazy-farang” look when I presented my used plastic bag to the cashier for putting my stuff in there). Apologies for this eurocentric appropriation of HMK’s ideas on self sufficiency. But, then, his ideas do sound quite European.
The sufficiency fig leaf
nganadeeleg: Nice quote — full off nice-sounding words (just as is Thai practice). A commentator in another post quoted her Thai teacher as interpreting the King’s idea of sufficiency economy as wanting to make the Thais more farang. This quote nicely supports this interpretation.
Reasonableness, moderation and inanity
Is there a Thai phrase for “The pot called the kettle black”?
The sufficiency fig leaf
Self-sufficiency is fine, except when it is applied by politicians and bureaucrats.
Reasonableness, moderation and inanity
р╣Ар╕лр╕ер╣Йр╕▓р╣Ар╕Бр╣Ир╕▓ р╣Гр╕Щр╕Вр╕зр╕Фр╕Йр╕ер╕▓р╕Бр╣Ар╕лр╕ер╕╖р╕нр╕З
Old wine, in a yellow-labelled bottle
Reasonableness, moderation and inanity
see post #7
http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala/2007/06/18/the-sufficiency-fig-leaf/#comment-105427
The sufficiency fig leaf
Some guidance from HMK:
“Sufficiency Economy is a philosophy that stresses the middle path as the overriding principle for appropriate conduct by the populace at all levels. This applies to conduct at the level of individual, families, and communities, as well as to the choice of a balanced development strategy for the nation so as to modernize in line with forces of globalization while shielding against inevitable shocks and excesses that arise. “Sufficiency” means moderation and due consideration in all modes of conduct, as well as the need for sufficient protection from internal and external shocks. To achieve this, the application of knowledge with prudence is essential. In particular, great care is needed in the utilization of untested theories and methodologies for planning and implementation. At the same time, it is essential to strengthen the moral fibre of the nation, so that everyone, particularly public officials, theorists and businessmen, adheres first and foremost to the principles of honesty and integrity. In addition, a balanced approach combining patience, perseverance, diligence, wisdom and prudence is indispensable to cope appropriately with critical challenges arising from extensive and rapid socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural changes occurring as a result of globalization.”
Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship protests, Bangkok
It’s a very sad state of affairs isn’t it. My Thai teacher here in Bangkok tells me she won’t vote this year because they have removed her choice. She also tells me however that she believes that the sufficiency economy is a good idea. Her interpretation is that sufficiency economy means that Thai people should be more like Farangs and not buy expensive mobile phones because even rich Farangs don’t necessarily have flashy things. I thought this was an interesting take on it, many of her teaching colleagues appear to take this view too. I think it is important to remember that however clear cut and politically aligned these ideas may seem to outsiders, many here do not see any inherent contradiction between supporting the so-called “sufficiency economy” and being pro-Thaksin
The sufficiency fig leaf
“…offering one million baht to communities that can demonstrate their self-sufficiency!!”
The way it is worded it sounds like they aren’t going to allow people to be creative.
Allowing creativity would be nice.
The sufficiency fig leaf
By the way, I also like Nourish, Replenish and Grow. Nothing wrong with them either, except they comprise the slogan for the Fertilizer Institute.
http://www.tfi.org
Blocking Blogspot and more…
So basically, the junta is no better than Thaksin? Then I think we should all march in the streets and demand that the King replace the government. It is, after all, his government.
The sufficiency fig leaf
There is nothing wrong with reasonableness, moderation & immunity. Neither is there anything wrong with happiness, beauty and safety. But without a bit more of an explanation, they are hardly useful principals for guiding an economy. They also have very little to do with the BMA project described above.
When a governmnet calls TRT policies evil, then just changes the name to sufficiency policies which makes them good, it becomes clear that sufficiency is just ideological veneer.
At a slogan level just about any economic policy sounds good. What is wrong with “Juche” or self-sufficiency in North Korea? Nothing. What is wrong with the North Korean economy? Everything.
The sufficiency fig leaf
Nothing inherently wrong with these principles. What is wrong with “sufficiency economy” as a policy is that (i) sufficiency economy has been implemented by a dictatorship installed by a military coup, ie. through force; and (ii) the right to criticize and, if necessary, reject sufficiency economy is denied to the Thai people because it would violate the lese majeste law.
If sufficiency economy were introduced by a democratically elected government, and everyone had the right to freely discuss and criticize it, I would be the first to welcome debate about the theory. But not before.
Spot the Thai national dress
[…] head providing a nice touch of royal authority. I’m not sure if Thai cultural guardian Ladda Tangsupachai would be impressed with this cross-border appropriation of Thai national […]
The sufficiency fig leaf
From Today’s Bangkok Post “POSTbag”:
Sufficiency unrelated to free expression
I was absolutely stunned to read that taxpayer money was used to send civil servants into Bangkok’s ghettos to stop the poor from joining a protest rally. Even more mind-boggling, the residents of the 1,700 slums were asked to stay away from anti-coup rallies because that would somehow violate His Majesty the King’s sufficiency economy principles.
Huh? First, is there anyone who understands sufficiency principles better than those who daily struggle to survive in the slums of Bangkok?
And what is the relationship between sufficiency economy principles and free expression of political will at a public demonstration? How does protesting a military government violate sufficiency economy principles?
How about holding a seminar for the arrogant Bangkok powers to explain principles of civilian rule, or principles of non-arbitrary rule of law, or principles of providing essential services? How about principles of sidewalk repair or principles of trash collection?
RURAL MANGO
Rethinking Sipsongpanna
Roger, I think we are in general agreement. I have no doubt that many aspects of social, political and cultural life have an “ethnic dimension”. Nor do I doubt that in some contexts, ideas like “Tai”, “Lue”, or “Sipsongpanna” have salience and can signal certain sentiments of belonging. What I am arguing is that “ethnicity” needn’t provide an overarching organising framework for the way we understand the region. What might an alternative approach look like?
Blocking Blogspot and more…
I miss Fonzi (Tosakan)
Will Thaksin join Jufer on lèse majesté charges?
I don’t agree with making it compulsory, but one good reason to wear yellow is it’s a simple way to rub up people with views similar to Republican’s (a silent protest against their malice).
Sufficiently out of tune
Why not turn the ITSC into a sufficiency TSC?
The sufficiency fig leaf
It’s time, I think, to call a spade a spade – the “sufficiency economy” concept is a piece of lazy ideological madness
Or, HMK will ultimately be proven to be very wise, and such an ideology will be seen as the only way to sustain the planet.
Andrew, is this another one of your distortion attempts?
Again, I ask what is wrong with the sufficieny economy principles of reasonableness, moderation & immunity ?