New political parties a better idea

Rather than trying to find alternatives to existing parties or support another coup, you and I should become politically active – then make our party, whichever it is, fulfill its highest potential by following former prime minister Anand Panyarachun’s Seven Pillars of Sustainable Democracy, namely elections, political tolerance, the rule of law, freedom of expression, accountability and transparency, decentralisation and civil society.

For example, we would call on Pheu Thai to follow the rules of democracy by letting she who won the election lead the government, rather than have a self-exiled fugitive call the shots. We would not only allow but encourage freedom of expression, with accountability, by seeking to understand other views before expressing our own. We would call on Pheu Thai to prove that the rice scheme was to help poor farmers – not fat cats – by posting recipient names and amounts on the Web. We would push for direct election of governors, and encourage educational institutions and NGOs to thoroughly research issues of the day and take reasoned stands.

In short, lift your party from the muck and make it live up to its stated ideals.

Burin Kantabutra