The differences between good and bad hopes

As we have witnessed, whatever populist policies are announced by Pheu Thai Party, they would be included in other governments led by other parties. Yes, that is the legacy that Pheu Thai (or Thai Rak Thai) has introduced to Thai society. It is thus easy to conclude that this scheme would resurrect no matter what party comes to power. 

In his tweets, former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij, an executive of Democrat Party, lamented the scheme. During his term, he also gave free cheques to the low-income. For benefits of the doubt, the Democrats’ scheme was launched at a seemingly better time, when the global economy was in turmoil.

Is it healthy to giving this kind of hope, the externally-driven hope? Or, would it be better to invest in the environment, whereby internally-inspired hopes can be born?

To explain this, let me tell you about “Always”, a Japanese trilogy that tells how good and healthy hopes can be originated. (Now, the trilogy is screened at House Rama).

The trilogy focused on a community in Tokyo, thriving after the World War II. In the first two pieces, much was about the construction of the Tokyo Tower. It is unnecessary to explain how suffering the Japanese people were when the war was over, leaving ruins everywhere. But then, with the construction of the world’s tallest structure, the country was filled with hopes. 

The Japanese largely honour Sakura, not because of the beauty of the flower. The flower is the sign of new things, for it blossoms in Spring – the season of liveliness after the tormenting Winter. The Sakura last year blossomed right after the great earthquake and tsunami hit the eastern shore, giving hopes to the Japanese that the brighter days are coming. 

In “Always”, the Tower was meant to work wonder like the Sakura. And it did. A small garage owner, named Suzuki, dreamed of opening the country’s largest garage. His ambition was shared with the female apprentice, who hoped that the prosperity the future would bring would also change her life for the better. 

In the third piece, it came the Tokyo Olympics. When air fighters made the five Olympics rings in the sky, the community was filled with hope. 

Structures and events are the recipes countries worldwide are deploying to raise hopes. British Prime Minister David Cameron was so hopeful as London is close to host the Olympics 2012 in July. To him, the games is the legacy of the world, not just Britain.

Thailand is also bidding against Turkey to host the World Expo 2020. In 2010, people and Shanghai were elated to hosting the international fair, for it demonstrated the resurrection of China – one of the ancient powers. Hopefully, Thais should feel the same if Thailand wins the hosting right. If we win, I believe that one part of Thailand Pavilion would feature the agricultural development. Thailand is not as advanced as some western countries, due to low R&D budget, but adaptation of available knowledge helps a great deal in boosting the output aside from our futile soil.

Shanghai then provided free entrance to the Chinese rural. They looked poor, compared to the middle-income visitors who came in fashionable outfits. But they opened their eyes to what happened in the world, to be inspired of what they and their younger could become. Would Thai farmers feel the same?

Judging from the perception to the expo at this moment, I don’t think so. For now, they are living their lives in the way that their ancestors did, depending on agricultural crops prices. Without the environment that promotes more use of agricultural crops in the industralised scale, the global demand plays a crucial role in dictating their income. 

Now, they see the widening income gap going on. And now, they are hoping that this and new governments would continue with schemes like the debt moratorium one. Such hope is unhealthy, but there are so few to inspire internally-driven and healthy hopes.