The usual suspects

A year ago a reputable British newspaper announced the winner of the latest US election was...Goldman Sachs, same as the previous seven elections. I was reminded of this by hearing the same old arguments between supporters of “evil” Hillary or “dumb” Donald even after all this time. It was masterful manipulation to let the voters think it really mattered when in fact either winner was already in a pocket through party donations and the legal form for bribery, influential lobbyists. The face presented to the public didn’t matter, made obvious by the previous elections campaign by “big change Obama” who in fact could have been confused for Bush Junior.

That got me to thinking that maybe things here in Thailand are being manipulated in some way by corporations, banks and mega-wealth to get a similar outcome. Gen Prayut is fast losing popularity but still at the helm of a government mired in problems of its own making. Any election on the horizon, however, looks like it will be contested by all the old unfavourites from Pheu Thai, the Democrats and the odd-ball collection of faces that change party as often as they do jackets. Just like the US we could be looking at an election where the least disliked gets the vote and the nation goes on unreformed and as corrupt as ever to avoid rocking the wealthies luxury yachts. “Change, real change” looks a forlorn hope. LUNGSTIB