Now that’s an easy one Jarrett. The many most urgent tasks have been mentioned again and again. There’s hardly any magic to Thailand’s problems as the problems are so obvious.

Stop back room dealings and shadow plays, respect the constitution (don’t blame the constitution!), assure the courts’ independence, imprison lawbreakers whatever their names, get rid of ridiculously easily available bail for more serious offenses, find a transparent PM who’s not instinctively covering the army (Rohingya) and who walks the talk, prosecute the airport occupiers and the red mob, and have elections; elections that we all know won’t be clean on either side but will be a referendum on the state of the nation.

From what I furthermore hear from business and diplomatic circles is that institutionalized corruption has reached new levels since 9/19. Five percent cuts were the norm pre-coup, now it’s twenty percent upwards because of a complete lack of checks and balances.

The abuses are obvious, but so are the solutions.

As a foreigner you’re powerless. Take good care of your family, that’s it. In more matured societies foreigners could run for public office.

Imagine that here.

Even though outside advice could be utterly needed, that’s a neoimperialistic and arrogant stance.

Still, make people accountable. Everyone. And half of the problems are solved.

BangkokDan

It’s not complaining. It’s the helplessness of these many “friends of Thailand” to witness the slow fall of the kingdom and there’s so much you want to do about but at the same time there is nothing you can do about.

Rather than assuming the mantle of helplessness, nay, victimhood, perhaps its more mature to ACCEPT what is and devote our precious energies to areas that we can have a positive impact.

It would be nice to offer some substantive ideas about how to improve the situation in Thailand, rather than simply bickering about all the problems that exist here. The opposing parties and political shapeshifters have that under control already.

It’s clear that there are fundamental problems within the Thai polity – everyone knows that. But there’s far too little discussion directed at how people might fix them.

Friends of Thailand is the only lifeline for most of us here. You are mirrors that reveal hidden truth that some of us stubbornly refuse to see.

The thing that is so hard for outsiders to see is that we Thais live in Neverland and are never allowed to grow up.

If you publish such thoughts in Thai media those “friends of Thailand” would most probably be denounced as traitors and enemies of the state.

Truth though is people who care about the issues voice the issues.

Your kind words disarm those readers who recommend to better leave the place if one’s depressed and complaining.

It’s not complaining. It’s the helplessness of these many “friends of Thailand” to witness the slow fall of the kingdom and there’s so much you want to do about but at the same time there is nothing you can do about.

Again, the bliss of ignorance is one way out.

BangkokDan