In desperate need of role models in national politics

The ongoing political infighting among the two major political parties has been going on for the past 10 years. A deep-rooted ideological divide is just one of the many cracks that rip through our society. The political conflict is not going to end anytime soon. It is a disappointing setback to the kingdom’s long and painful struggle towards some form of democracy. Our constitutional democracy is not making much progress. Yet there’s a useful lesson that must be learned: our political world, increasingly dominated by politicians of the 1950s and 1960s generation, simply lacks inspiring role models. 

Increasingly exposed to politics played out on television, our children are growing up watching unsavoury characters caught up in the relentless material pursuit of power, uncontrolled extravagance, influence and wealth. 

Thailand is still stuck in an era in which politics remains a family business. There are dynasties out there waiting to carve out their piece of the cake. It’s a domain where young people with education and the intent to better this society cannot thrive on their own merit, with their own ideologies, commitment and good intentions.

 We see these well-educated, well-groomed politicians from well-known families bowing to the allure of power, wealth and prestige. They are focusing less on ideologies and policies and more on personal political clout and connections. They feel they need to belong to a political clique, a faction, or a vaguely defined political movement to thrive and achieve their own ends.

Look around the political landscape and the picture is murky. We have a national leader who doesn’t seem confident leading the kingdom on her own terms; a former prime minister who’s on the run from jail; banned politicians about to re-enter national politics; convicted former ministers who go into hiding in neighbouring countries to escape corruption charges; and greedy politicians too busy jostling for top posts. Now we have a general who was behind the 2006 coup, telling us in his ironic capacity as chairman of the National Reconciliation Committee to forget everything in the past as part of the reconciliation process.

And that’s just one area. Beyond this, a top civil servant is accused of amassing unusual wealth; narcotics-suppression officers rounded up for doing drug deals; and double-dealing businesspeople who bribe politicians for their own ends. In academia, attempts exist to stifle outspoken members. We are so disappointed with the 1950s and 1960s generation. They are outdated and drag down our democratic ideals. They refuse to show us that they can serve as good examples to society.

We need to show kids that there are good examples out there to follow and count on. Instead they see animosity, hatred and anger growing in Parliament and on the streets.

If a role model is the epitome of goodness, then this is what our country is lacking. We need change. But change begins with a change in thinking. All of us need to raise the moral tone of society by imparting the ethics of truth, integrity and common purpose at the highest and lowest levels of society.

 The educationally privileged need to see that they share a responsibility for social improvement through individual exertion. They need to consider that there’s purpose and self-fulfilment to be found in distributing national wealth evenly and in ministering not just to the economic, but also the moral needs of the downtrodden. Together we need to develop mutual assistance and solidarity.

The point is, we need people who can communicate moral truths across the political and economic spectrum. By integrating moral rights and ethical principles into national politics, society can tackle social ills and further the Thai democratic ideal in the longer term.

What we need is to eradicate greedy capitalists from political life. To develop that kind of society, both the well-to-do and the less fortunate need to come together to connect and engage and develop a pervasive liberal and moral political culture in mainstream politics that is fair to all.

The country’s political path rises and dips. But the privileged and downtrodden alike need to understand that only they, not any short-lived undemocratic force, can pull themselves up by the bootstraps, in an effort to develop constitutional democracy. 

The problem is that the intellectual elite has little contact with the less fortunate in society, and ignores the economic wellbeing of the less advanced majority. Where’s that vibrant community spirit that once drew village folks together to lend a helping hand during the harvest season? Where’s the Thai adherence to the liberal culture of Ayutthaya, where anyone was free to choose their own religion and career? Where’s that freedom of spirit that arrived during the Fifth Reign as slaves ceased to exist and men lived as equals? 

We need public moralists who can communicate moral messages, a vibrant atmosphere of thought and a body of ideas that will at once provide unity and direction to our society.