tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162482350304935910.post5424782024454114903..comments2023-09-27T15:40:56.529+07:00Comments on Thailand Jumped the Shark: Thais Academics Oppose Multi-Seat Constituencies: They Don't Believe in Representation Based On PopulationUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162482350304935910.post-75734246884547507102007-03-11T16:22:00.000+07:002007-03-11T16:22:00.000+07:00Fonzi said: "This is what I would do. Each provinc...Fonzi said: <I>"This is what I would do. Each province would be entitled to at least 1 MP, regardless of size. I have no idea how the population is dispersed right now between provinces, but I assume some are huge and some are sparsely populated.The larger the province, population wise, the more the MPs.<BR/>I think that solves a lot of problems."</I><BR/><BR/>That's just too sensible & logical to ever be included in the Thai constitution.hobbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04251478382712113226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162482350304935910.post-48540411305326522122007-03-11T14:08:00.000+07:002007-03-11T14:08:00.000+07:00Patiwat-You are right. But I don't know if what y...Patiwat-<BR/><BR/>You are right. But I don't know if what you described could be considered an ideology. What would you call it? Thai Royalist ideology? But then, the other side would also call itself Thai Royalist also just to be trendy.<BR/><BR/>Regardless, I was talking about ideology based as in a liberal/conservative, left/right dichotomy.Fonzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01216772526349523372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162482350304935910.post-849844411012284962007-03-11T13:37:00.000+07:002007-03-11T13:37:00.000+07:00Fonzi: Thailand doesn't have an ideology based par...Fonzi: <I>Thailand doesn't have an ideology based party system, as you have pointed out, so there is no need to protect the minority. </I><BR/><BR/>Thai politics <I>is</I> based on ideology. You have the elite and the aristocracy in Bangkok, and you have everybody else. The system of government must ensure that the position of the elite isn't endangered. A powerful populist government running under a system that gives them great stability is not what they want.anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14409603712598293522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162482350304935910.post-8113477235208033132007-03-11T12:40:00.000+07:002007-03-11T12:40:00.000+07:00hobby-I don't understand why they just don't creat...hobby-<BR/><BR/>I don't understand why they just don't create constituencies based upon population?<BR/><BR/>Thailand doesn't have an ideology based party system, as you have pointed out, so there is no need to protect the minority. <BR/><BR/>This is what I would do. Each province would be entitled to at least 1 MP, regardless of size. I have no idea how the population is dispersed right now between provinces, but I assume some are huge and some are sparsely populated.<BR/><BR/>The larger the province, population wise, the more the MPs.<BR/><BR/>I think that solves a lot of problems.<BR/><BR/>And why does Thailand need 400-500 MPs?<BR/><BR/>That is too many, especially when politics is a means of getting rich quickly rather than serving the people.<BR/><BR/>In the ideal world, I think Thailand should be federalized and power devolved, with the provinces taking more control over their own destiny.<BR/><BR/>Right now, Bangkok has too much power.<BR/><BR/>If the provincials had more democratic say over their own destinies at a local level, I think <BR/>there would be less of a chance of coups in the future, because there would be a local check against the power in Bangkok.Fonzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01216772526349523372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162482350304935910.post-70173096166698673662007-03-11T11:03:00.000+07:002007-03-11T11:03:00.000+07:00OK - I understand a little better now - when compa...OK - I understand a little better now - when comparing the multi seat constituencies with the single seat contituencies we are not comparing apples with apples when it comes to 'constiuencies'.<BR/><BR/>Under the single seat constituencies there are 400 such constituencies, but that 'constituency' is different under the multi seat system.<BR/><BR/>Therefore the constituencies could be larger under the multi seat system, but there would be more MP's representing in those larger constituencies.<BR/><BR/>As a general rule, in 'advanced countries', I prefer multi seat (proportional representation) because it gives minority views a hearing, even if it means weaker coalition governments.<BR/><BR/>However, in Thailand there does not seem to be any real ideology apart from enriching oneself and ones friends, so minority views don't seem to matter in any case.<BR/><BR/>It looks like it boils down to single seat constituencies = stronger parties/government V's multi seat constituencies = weaker coalition governments.<BR/><BR/>It then becomes clearer why one section wants multi seat and the other wants single seat constituencies.hobbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04251478382712113226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162482350304935910.post-28487910514436378032007-03-11T10:17:00.000+07:002007-03-11T10:17:00.000+07:00I don't know what is going on. The article is poo...I don't know what is going on. The article is poorly written and incomprehensible.<BR/><BR/>It is sad that all three of us can't figure it out.Fonzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01216772526349523372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162482350304935910.post-57745937638051818572007-03-11T06:48:00.000+07:002007-03-11T06:48:00.000+07:00"Mahachon Party deputy leader Akapol Sorasuchart s..."Mahachon Party deputy leader Akapol Sorasuchart said his party had no problem with the multi-seat system but that MPs might not be able to take care of their constituents properly, because the constituencies would be larger.<BR/>"The bond between MPs and voters will not be as close as in single-seat constituencies," he said."<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Am I missing something here - how are the constituencies larger under the multi-seat system?hobbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04251478382712113226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162482350304935910.post-86902758213305248992007-03-11T04:37:00.000+07:002007-03-11T04:37:00.000+07:00These academics are shooting themselves in the foo...These academics are shooting themselves in the foot. I can't really believe that they are advocating a system where each province will have equal representation (and they are - just read the rest of the article).<BR/><BR/>Do they really want the rural masses to be able to overpower Bangkok by 75 to 1? Then what's going to prevent a populist like Thaksin from gaining power and beating down the aristocracy like last time? The academics are really letting down the elite here...anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14409603712598293522noreply@blogger.com