Originally Posted by
110pgl
As for my workers, one side has provided many more benefits for them - benefits that may quickly be stripped away. They are in the north and they are not happy that their choices are so quickly taken away.
This is highly speculative and so unlikely to happen unless you're talking about the elevated prices farmers were receiving. But, oh, by the way, you do realize that the mills and politicians were pocketing a fair portion of that money right? And the way to get more money in the farmers pocket is to get a grip on corruption.
Originally Posted by
2lovelife
While I believe that they may be upset about YL, may I suggest their discontent has a lot to do with the current economy? From what I've seen, normal Thai people don't care... if the economy is booming and everyone is making money. They do get really vocal when they are hurting and then it's the governments fault, no matter who is in power.
The economy is crap in much of the north with crime/drug use rampant. This is especially the case outside of the handful of tourist centers and larger provincial capitals.
The people might have gotten (poor) education, a pittance of (poor) medical care and a higher price for their rice but the economic base was never built and there are precious few jobs (that pay little - as in well under 300/day) because there are simply so many unemployed. If accurate numbers could be had of those 15-30 in Issan, those who stay
Originally Posted by
Kalboz
The answer is simple, the greed and corruption that is been going on for generations and the few clinging to power and refusing to share the wealth of the nation with the majority.
You seem to think only one side is corrupt, greedy and power hungry. Unfortunately the side you're backing has demonstrated they are exceedingly good at it.
Originally Posted by
mcdevit
I live and work in the North, which is by all press accounts a solid, hard core Red Shirt area. The fact is that most people in the area feel that the Coup has provided a healthy sort of " time out" to the endless political bickering and that the army might be able to root out some of the crookedness on both sides.
This is the feeling I've gotten as well.
Originally Posted by
110pgl
The teachers are worried about wage cuts, pension cuts and a return to lower wages. (It is ironic, that most the teachers identify with the yellows, despite their largest gains have come from the reds.)
Perhaps because the teachers have an education and see the recent policies as not being good for the coutnry.
Originally Posted by
pansted00
Yes it was started by a corrupt Thai crook by the name of Suthep who has blood on his hands in the 2008 killing of the red shirts . Not exactly your everyday Thai right .
Take off the blinders. I have no love for Suthep but he hardly started this political division. I give most of that credit to autocrat TS, who, by the way, has more blood on his hands than Suthep will ever be accused of.