Try conducting a 'happiness' poll in the rural areas
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A recent poll by Suan Dusit that showed more than 80 per cent of the country is satisfied with the government's performance should not be cause for any complacency on the part of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
If the same poll were conducted in the rural North and Northeast – where most voters live in abject misery over their lack of opportunities – the results would likely be very different.
Likewise we might ask Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva why his party has failed time and again to win votes in deprived areas of Thailand.
The answer could be that government leaders who live in Bangkok and focus their attention there never get to grips with the plight of those who live in remoter regions, much less win their hearts and minds – or their votes.
Vint Chavala
Bangkok
