The politically correct way to call Isaan voters stupid
Re: “Khon Kaen deputy governor apologises for letter referring to ‘people’s stupidity’”, The Nation, March 19.
Don’t be too harsh on Suchai Butsara. He was only guilty of demonstrating “political incorrectness” in calling people stupid.
There is a consensus among a certain group in Thailand that Isaan people can’t think for themselves. They don’t pay taxes and they vote for wrong politicians – a situation which, thank heavens, the military has taken the trouble to right, twice in the last eight years. Some snobs in Bangkok have kindly suggested that only half of Isaan votes should be counted. Others are not so kind, suggesting that they shouldn’t be counted at all.
Anyway, Suchai should have used the phrase “incorrigible cognitive impairment” or, better yet, “intellectual developmental disorder”, instead of “stupidity”. Now that is called political correctness.
Somsak Pola
Samut Prakan
