Trump is just another Thaksin
Donald Trump surprised the US media and the world when he won the US presidential election over his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, on Tuesday.
World-class media such as the New York Times and the Economist made fools of themselves by backing the wrong horse.
This presidential election has also exposed several major flaws in America’s democratic system.
First, the lack of checks against individuals gathering huge wealth means people can buy their way into the White House.
Second, white-collar Americans felt they had been left behind for too long and wanted to voice their frustration
Third, the American system, despite encouraging the easy acquisition of wealth, fails when it comes to educating its people how to save the money they have earned.
Outspoken American expatriates in Thailand could have learned all this long ago. We experienced the rise of Thaksin Shinawatra 15 years before you got Trump.
And for us, Trump is just another Thaksin!
Vint Chavala
