Basically, many will stick to the "rules" if it benefits or meets their desired results, but are ready and willing to discard the rules if it doesn't bring their desired outcome.

And their desired results are, of course continued rule by the 'elite' minority. And that will never be achieved through an election because the majority will never support their own disenfranchisement,

This 'politicians are corrupt business is a red herring'. Democrats like Suthep are as corrupt as they come. When Thaksin goes the Democrat Party will find a new demon scapegoat.

The Democrats really hate and fear the Thai people. But as long as they are going to go through the motions of elections ... they cannot run on that platform. So they designate a stand-in for the Thai people and hate and revile their doppelganger.

The more radical, and truthful, among the Democrats - the People Against Democracy - embrace outright hatred of the Thai people and are pushing to do away with meaningful elections altogether. Their present work, using the Substitutional Court as their hand-puppet, is meant to neuter the parliament and the government, leaving the ammaat and the military, through their courts, in charge.

This cannot go on. The people, in their majority, will not put up with this nonsense forever. The 'elite' seem bent on the total destruction of the system they claim to honor and to protect.

And it is so stupid and senseless of them. If they devoted themselves to investment in the Thai land and the Thai people rather than in the military and in trying to compete with China in manufacturing, everyone, not least their greedy selves, would be better off.

But they've been stuck for a thousand years in their exploitative and extractive mentality and have made it matter of 'honor', apparently, to keep the people down, no matter the costs. No matter that they, too, are paying them.

"The lack of a society-wide consensus about the country's political system is best reflected in the fact that political rule has swung like a pendulum between that of military dictatorships (or junta-appoint governments) to elected governments."

Once again Pravit practices the same insidious dishonesty that you find in the rest of The Nation.

There is a HUGE appetite for democracy in Thailand - turnouts for elections beat pretty much every single more established democracy and Pheu Thai have one of the largest electoral mandates for a single party on earth.

What does Pravit think a "consensus" looks like? A group of octogenerian, corrupt generals and their beneficiaries in the same tiny Bangkok class of minor aristocrats and well-connected elites that is Pravit's world sitting around making deals?

The democratic consensus is already present with a huge number of people in Thailand - that's the definition of "consensus" - not the constant kowtowing to a small number of Bangkok-based rich kids and elites.

When will the coups stop? They don't happen mysteriously but because certain power groups (of which Pravit is a member) benefit - How can Pravit not realise this? My personal experience of Pravit is that he is just as much threatened by members of his class being usurped by the prai as anyone else. In a democracy no-one is going to care much if Pravit was a "chevning scholar", if he to Oxford or didn't or how powerful his father is.

So, once again Pravit fails to present a coherent or even cogent analysis. He should stick to defending ASTV and Manager.

Anne and Tony ought to tie-up (get married). Matching wit and witticisms, offensive styles, unabashed errors in logic added to dismissal of common sense...well, it's a match lit in Heaven.
As to both's posts, they are worthy of an eraser - that is all.

If you are in Thailand there are better ways of being entertained than challenging two of the forum's most prolific wannabees, whether ye be a lass , lassie or lasso.
New Mandala seems to have a semi-monopoly on more serious stuff, but even there it's a bit ego-centric toward what the website's creators and frequent contributors feel is good (their kind of) writing. FACT updates once a week, and despite my own proclivities toward a teeny weeny bit of censorship for the sake of human decency, they tend to be totally 100% anti-censorship.

God almighty. Just when you thought he couldn't get any worse...

He gets worse.

Of course Andrew Walker is dodgy, of course New Mandala is dodgy, but you Tony are in a class of dodgy all of your own. People in glass houses should not throw stones, but I suspect nobody ever told you about the dangers of appearing ridiculous.

Prachatai reported Thai regulars fired "indiscriminately" at peaceful protestors; a tragic, damaging & surely intended deception.

Tony forced Prachatai to admit they're funded by the Soros-globalists, who foment civil wars and atrocities. Prachatai then insulted decency by claiming sponsors don't influence editorial policy.

The disingenuous feigned ignorance of those who pretend democracy is anything other than an insulting 'gift' to vassals imprinted to personality cults, is nauseating. We are feudal slaves; emotionally & intellectually retarded by malicious corruptive deception which is blasted at impressionable children to exploit them for life.

Power needs Slaves to build pyramids for pennies; Soldiers to fight, kill and die in slave wars which 'legitimise' the Protection Rackets of 'Government' and 'Law'; Consumers conditioned to want what we cannot have; and Breeders to raise children to please & ensure the perpetuity of miserable exploitation.

We are powered by pain. We respond only to emotive appeals & domestic terrorism. We fear everything but fear itself. We trust everyone that lies to us. We exploit with the Confidence Trick of love.

We're worse than sociopaths. We wield selective empathy.

I don't know much about geopolitics. I don't know if evil can be defeated. I don't know squat.

I only know what I know, & these Truths are self-evident:
* Humans should not fear Humanity.
* Westphalia 'sovereign' nation-states are a paradoxical illusion created by Holy Evil who made sociopaths into 'sovereigns'.
* States exist to exploit their own.
* States conduct domestic terror campaigns.
* Literally every government on the planet is isn't acting in the best interests of its people. ~7.2 of ~7.3 billion humans will never speak Thai.

Kings love their Treason,
But the Traitor they hate.

I know lies kill billions.

You all claim the moral high ground whilst rationalising your deceit as justified means to various ends. Your intent is as relevant as considerations of mea culpa.

We are in a War for the survival of the species & we are getting obliterated by ~7.3 billion Traitors betraying each other & ourSelves. You imagine you're shrewd & crafty. You optimally play endless games of Prisoner's dilemma.

The Truth is humans suck at game theory. We would not be Prisoners facing endless dilemmas were it not for our Self-defeating deceit.