America is a false prophet of democracy and trade
World history shows there have been no quick fixes in establishing democracy. Thailand is still at an early stage that all established democracies have been through.
But these days democratic development everywhere is under pressure from the United States, which poses as the only power that understands democracy. The US demands it pronto, and according to its own dictates. No process, no stumbling step by step, because Washington already has the holy book as a guide. It’s an evangelistic missionary.
Naturally, Washington’s man in Thailand is spouting democracy. But from the other side of his mouth we are getting the US-led Trans-Pacific Trade agreement. The contradiction is breathtaking. The TPP is anti-democratic, because signing it entails giving away sovereignty to foreign countries and even to foreign trading companies. And how democratic and transparent has the creation of TPP been? Any true democrat who googles the details of TPP will get goose bumps.
Under this trade deal, Thailand’s democracy would be strangled in its cradle by US-forged laws and US companies. Instead, it should use common sense and refuse the American evangelists who think they know better. History has taught us again and again that “people who know better” are dangerous.
A Johnsen
