We need enriching, in happiness and wealth

COMMENTARY

We need enriching, in happiness and wealth

Published: 6 Dec 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Everyone has dreams. Everyone needs to have a dream, as it is human imagination which lends us the strength to strive and struggle for our betterment and to attempt what we would never imagine possible or achievable.

Ms Yingluck plans to spend 2 trillion baht on infrastructure investments over the next seven years. Thailand’s deep political and ideological divides may prevent her dreams from becoming reality.

Nations are no exception, and it rests with our leaders to envision, articulate and motivate the people in the name of progress. Last week Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra voiced her own dream for Thailand, namely her desire to raise the wealth and well-being for both the country and its people. Her lieutenants offered similar views, with PM's Office Minister Varathep Rattanakorn stressing the need for Thailand to emerge from the "middle-income trap" and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong emphasising the importance for a balance between growth, income distribution and price stability.

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bennu
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Discussion 10 : 06 Dec 2012 at 22.3810
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The two go together, happiness and wealth, but not always.
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drsmith
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Discussion 9 : 06 Dec 2012 at 19.179
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Yingluck will spend 2 trillion baht on infrastructure and we will have 90 baht tolls (the same as Don Muang toll-way) for the rest of our lives. Where exactly is all the toll money going the past few years since we have seen ZERO improvements in infrastructure and the amount of cars has tripled.
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dao
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Discussion 8 : 06 Dec 2012 at 12.548
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Thaksin and the rest of the political divide gang could go to court and all court cases could be fast tracked and finished in months .The fact that they arent is why we are still stuck in this no mans land of shirt colors .
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jwatch
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Discussion 7 : 06 Dec 2012 at 11.237
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I don't see how more roads and train tracks will lead to higher income..but its sure better than none!
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Asian Hand
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Discussion 6 : 06 Dec 2012 at 09.376
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Until the plutocrats are prepared to improve Thailand's education system and apply the rule of law to themselves broadening the opportunities for Thai's to realize their goals will be constrained. As for Thailand having a per capita income of $5200/year you would be hard pressed to find a Thai earning that kind of fund in the northeast and central north and most definitely in the south. Bangkokian's, the other society in Thailand skews the number. As for stating Singapore is corruption free - you must be joking. Go ask the average Singaporean.
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spiceman
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Discussion 5 : 06 Dec 2012 at 09.145
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Khun Eric #4, did Lee Kuan Yew initially rule Singapore with an iron fist, in order to establish its Rules of Law, which was fully demonstrated a number of years ago on the rear end of an American teenager, caught with doing graffiti there? Lee Kuan Yew is without doubt an exceptional leader, a benevolent dictator within his own right, with exceptional vision for the future of his people. So, it seems to him that the Rules of Law must come first, to enable socioeconomic development toward wealth creation and prosperity. And until we have our own Thai equivalence of him rising up to the top of our Govt, nothing will ever change.
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Eric
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Discussion 4 : 06 Dec 2012 at 08.374
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KhunSpiceman dis#2, you are correct to say that only Singapore has achieved developed nation status. Malaysia is still sticking to 2020 developed nation status target while Indonesia and Philipines are moving forward in terms of attracting FDI in form of financial and corporates. Important that countries have political stability to attract financial inflow to develope the infrastructures like transportation, education, telecommunication etc. Singapore back in the 60s was a country plagued with corruption, strikes, criminal gangs, communism etc and absolutely no rule of law. It's through development that they strengthened these institutions.
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pjt
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Discussion 3 : 06 Dec 2012 at 08.063
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Is not the success of Singapore precisely because they did the hard yards on education, tackling official corruption and adherence to the rule of law? They also opened their doors to the world and gradually built hard infrastructure but that was not the only thing. On the other side, its people accepted a measure of elected but relatively authoritarian (and some say untransparent) rule in return for sustainable increases in prosperity. The key was the leader - who understood his (and his families) survival depended on the people being raised in capability and released to earn a measure of wealth and independence
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spiceman
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Discussion 2 : 06 Dec 2012 at 07.492
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Khun Eric #1, among the countries you listed, only Singapore has achieved a "developed country" status, hasn't it? In my humble opinion, Thailand has more similarities to South Korea, than those countries, in terms ethnicity, and religious belief, except the fact that Thailand wasn't totally devastated by a civil war. Indonesia and the Philippines continued to be plagued by corruption, as the Rules of Law bare exists there, just like Thailand. So, to me, what set Singapore and South Korea apart is their ability to establish the Rules of Law more than anything else. And until we can do the same, nothing will ever change.
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Eric
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Discussion 1 : 06 Dec 2012 at 07.161
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Comparing Singapore and Thailand in nation building, there are exceedingly a better chance for Thailand to achieve a developed country status. I recalled Lee KY speaking in tears just after Malaysia throw them out of the Federation. He left with a responsibility of taking care of a 1 M immigrant citizens and a country with zero resources. Thailand has unity bonded by our King, religion, ethnicity and resources. Singapor, Malaysia and recently Indonesia and Phillipines are successful because they have political stability devoid of coups. Investors like that. No coups and electoral democracy, Thailand move closer our developed nation vision.
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We need enriching, in happiness and wealth | Bangkok Post: opinion