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The essay could not have been more
appropriate in timing. I view the current economic situation not as a
sad story but as an opportunity for us to step back and look deep within
ourselves for understanding. Any changes that we decide must be that of
our own. The sun will rise and set, but what we choose to do within that
time we have control over.
My next point, Thailand and the age
of consumerism. Consumerism has impacted Thailand with such force that
changes can almost be seen instantaneously. No need to plot it on a graph,
no need for a committee to study it, no need to pay the foreign consultant
to analyze it.
Some of the key point of my discussion
here are the educational system, hiring practice of Thai and non-Thai
companies, and behavioral change. We as Thai people have a basic mentality
problem where we tend to focus out rather than in. Witness the enormous
exit of students whose parents have decided to send them abroad to study.
I pose this question to the member of the Thai educational system. Why
is it that the parent of the student be compel to unilaterally decide
to send their student abroad to study? Is it because the Thai education
system is so bad?
I pose this next question to the
parents. Doesnt the educational system offer good enough curriculum?
Is good not enough? Have they tried to make the change for the better?
Money into the education aboard constitute out flowing of currency into
another economic system, hence, money leaving Thailand. These type of
outflow does more damage to Thailands economy than designer gifts purchased
abroad.
I challenge those who argue that
this is has nothing to do with economy. It has everything to do with our
economy, right down from bath to the satang (smallest Thai denomination).
These outflow hard currency that does not benefit Thailand, it benefits
other nation. I ask again, what is so wrong with our educational system
that we have to go abroad to study? Does the system need to be overhaul
so that ours can be best in class, prestigious enough so that people from
abroad would rather come to Thailand to study? Are we better off with
$30-50,000 or more investment in an oversea educational system and coming
home and finding a $10-15,000 a year job? Some may argue yes, but please
be reasonable in your explanation. It just doesnt add up.
The cost of living continue to soar
while real wages continue to decline. The only people able to afford to
live in Thailand are the foreigners!! The other overwhelming injustice
that our socio-economic-educational system has cause is that many foreign
company doing business in Thailand preferred to hire foreign nationals,
usually from their own country or Thai employees with education from abroad.
What does this create? It creates the system of the have and have not.
There has to be some law or regulation in place that protects the countrys
most valuable resource, its people. I dont care how much anyone want
to argue this point but Thailand has not reach the point where it can
be considered a free market system. In the system of socialist/monachy/military
you cannot have free moving economy. Someone somewhere is on the take.
Robbing from the poor and giving to the rich. These authorities robs their
own people of their mind, suppressing their beliefs and discard the very
fiber of the maintain the unity of Thais culture.
Back to the business culture. Thai
companies must view their own people as capable, hard driven and result
oriented. Foreign companies in Thailand must hire more Thai national,
promote more Thai managers into area of responsibility, improve compensation,
etc. This is good corporate policy, good business and good for Thailand.
Behavior change is one of the most
difficult task for anyone. Our resistant is stronger the older we are.
It is not too late for most of us, the 20-40 something. We are old enough
to understand, to comprehend the changed that are necessary for the greater
good beyond individuality. Do without the brand name, wear that jean a
little longer, eat the 10 bath noodles from the street vendor, do what
we do best and learn from our elders.
Perseverance is one of the best medicine,
learn it and live it. We are never known to be a complainer as people,
rain or shine we can take it. In conclusion, we as Thai must re-think
why we must go abroad to study. Can we get the same education here at
home at lessor cost? Can we impact the educational system and demand that
improvement be made relevant to skills required by the country.
If the country needs doctors we should
not be graduating more business people. The same goes if we have problem
with providing basic medical care we should not graduate heart surgeons
but rather more practitioners. If there are no war we should cut military
personnel and equipment spending. Invest more in infrastructure, improve
highways, rural roads, communications, medical care, public transportation,
etc. Graduate more industrial engineers, mechanical engineers, environmental
engineers, safety engineers, human factor engineers. Useful skills that
continuously improve the quality of life for our people.
Thai and foreign business must be
monitored to ensure that the status quo are enforce in such a way that
Thai nationals educated in Thailand are given the same opportunity to
be hire and advance. When the ratio of Thai and foreign nationals fall
below the quotas the government agency or independent must step in to
ensure that the level playing is in the best interest for Thailand. Why?
If a company choose to haul off profits from Thailand they must be sure
that the economic of profits flows both direction.
As for behaviors, save what you can,
invest when you can, give when you can and visit the Temple often. Work
hard, and know that for every bath you labor to earn you should spend
it where it matter the most, in Thailand. The be successful, we must instill
within ourselves a sense of urgency to save what we earn, thank our parents
for their sacrifices, and practice sound personal financial principle,
dont spend more than you make.
Attapong
<changmai007@hotmail.com>
from 149.25.69.143 on Friday, January 16, 1998 at 06:24:48
Right now Dec'97-Jan'98, in Thailand
there are campaigns setup to let people donate money in attempts to help
the government pay the huge debt. These campaings are collectively organized
to be government-led "Thais help Thai". Although it is very clear that
this tiny amount of money (at level of few millions baht) from these campaings
is insignificant, at least it shows that Thai people are still have Thai
mind. The people who should really help Thailand are rich-rich bankers
e.g. Sophonpanich family. Sure way to solve the crisis is to bring in
foreign money, and the clear method is from exports. Right now, exporters
seriously have liquidity problems because big banks refuse to provide
them short-term loans that they (exporters) need for producing products
to serve the orders they have. About "BUY or NOT BUY" things, my strongly
suggest that we have to have clear idea. What we really need to do is
to "NOT BUY IMPORT STUFFS", not to "NOT BUY EVERYTHING" Since Thailand
need BOTH to increase exports and to reduce imports. But now many people
misunderstand and think that everyone should buy nothing even products/services
from our own Thai people. Being too economical makes things worse since
the liquidity (money flow) will slow down or even stop at some part of
the economic system and this will make some businesses die. Thai economic
itself still need flow of money. We should buy as normal (if we have money)
but stop or much decrease buying import stuff. This will keep the system
worl! Sorry, I have no more time to describe..... I'll next time when
I have... Bye, AmeriThai
AmeriThai
<Somewhere@Mozart.Thailand>
from truppp544.inet.co.th on Sunday, January 04, 1998 at 09:48:24
Everyday we wake up, and everyday
we make choices. I CHOSE to get up this morning and go to work. Did anyone
force me? No, I did it as a choice. I CHOSE to read these articles; no
one help a knife to my throat and said "READ THIS!" My choice. You ask
if you have a choice to "buy nothing." As with anyone else, you have the
choice. Let's examine your choices: A) Don't listen to the "Help Thai"
campaigns, and go out to the malls and buy that Gucci purse or wait...also
that Versace dress oh, and that pretty DKNY blouse. Consequences: Thailand's
economy plunges deeper into turmoil because money is going to foreign
countries. The poor people of Thailand suffer even worse because there
is no internal money circulating...But, hey, you just can't sacrifice
those luxuries, could you? So much for Thai patriotism. B) Do nothing.
"I'm such a small part of the economy." So, instead of having positive
influences, you just wallow in mere regularity, doing your everyday things.
Your actions do not hurt but yet do not benefit the nation. C) You follow
the "Help Thai" Campaign, and you urge others to do so also. So you have
Thailand-made clothes...who is going to know? Are your friends going to
yank out your shirt tag to see what brand it is?...and if so, perhaps
they are not your friends after all. Money stays inside the country. And
slowly, but surely, with the proper government actions and help of all
Thais, the economy will begin to heal itself. Your choices. No one forces
you to buy nothing. But are you willing to deal with the consequences
of the choice you make? Let's hope so. Sincerely, Dararat Payattakool
Dararat Payattakool
<Dararat27@yahoo.com>
from panther.gsu.edu on Thursday, January 01, 1998 at 04:08:11
You ask "Can one person really make
a difference?", and my answer to you is this: YES, of course one person
makes a difference. A difference is made by those small parts coming together,
to stand strong with each other for one cause. For those of you who think
this "buy Thai, help Thai" campaign is senseless: SHAME ON YOU! It is
people like you who put the nation where it is
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