Corruption OK if life is good

By Frank G. Anderson
Column: Thai Traditions

Published: October 24, 2008

A “spirit house” in Nakhonratchasima, Thailand, designed to house spirits that will protect the family and bring it good fortune. Figurines in such houses used to hold a sword in one hand and a notebook in the other, but these days they often hold a money pouch. (Photo/Frank G. Anderson)

Font size:

Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Thailand’s well-known Assumption University has come out with a new poll that indicates Thais are overly willing to accept corruption in government. All they want in return is, according to the ABAC poll, a “good life.”

Remember the old saying, “You can satisfy some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time”? Well, Thaksin Shinawatra, the former premier-turned-fugitive, created a separate art form of periodically making sure that some of the people were pleased some of the time. He rotated it from one interest group to another until the Thai people eventually began to believe that everyone had benefitted from the Shinawatra revolution.

But everyone had also ended up footing part of the bill for populist giveaways such as 30-baht (US$0.90) healthcare, 1 million-baht village funds and roads in certain districts that had never seen roads before.

So the ABAC poll’s conclusion that most Thais only want a good life and don’t mind corrupt governments, if that’s what it takes, isn’t a huge surprise. Nearly everyone in the world wants what’s known as “the good life.” But some of us won’t take that step into oblivion that seems to be getting popular these days.

Internationally, politicians are finding it easy to become and to stay corrupt – and stay in office – as well as to deny truths and ignore searching questions from constituents.

The university’s poll on corruption in government was taken from almost 3,900 samplings of people aged at least 18, from 18 provinces. While over 60 percent of correspondents in each age group reported that they would allow a corrupt government if it bettered their lives, the lowest percentage was in the 18-29 age group, suggesting – but only barely – that the younger you are the less likely you are to favor corruption. But the real question is why the percentages are so high, all over 60 percent.

This writer has often pursued the theme of low ethical expectations in Thai society. There are periodic efforts – in the form of knee-jerk campaigns and high-level enthusiasm – to deal with corruption. Then the government changes, corruption makes a comeback, and the cycle starts all over again. Thus the ABAC poll does not really tell us much except that things are still the same, and are not going to change any time soon.

Unlike in the United States, where “change” has been a key theme in the current election campaign, the push for change in Thailand is constantly held at bay, as if change is an insult. In fact, change in Thailand would be a threat to the corrupt political elite that rule the country. Change would mean a lessening of their power, business and social rivals popping out of the walls, and the possible discovery of personal wrongdoing that could lead to embarrassing punishments such as that dealt to Thaksin, who now stands to lose even his royal decorations because of his criminal convictions.

If Thailand has been changing over time, it is unfortunately for the worse. This at least is the opinion of conservative Thai monks who still practice the Theravada Buddhism that Thailand initially adopted. Many of these monks will readily tell you that over 90 percent of monks in Thailand are not monks at all, but merely people dressed in orange. They cite a lack of rigorous practices, personal corruption and wrongdoing, as well as serving local political bosses instead of serving the Lord Buddha.

Monks throughout Thailand today are seen in department stores, shopping centers, video game shops, restaurants and other places, acting almost as if they were members of the general public – which they definitely are not. They purchase things personally although by religious edict they are not supposed to touch money.

If Assumption University could poll those inside and outside of religious circles and ask penetrating questions designed by experts who write tests just to catch liars, we might see an interesting poll result.

It would be fascinating to hear from monks themselves just what they feel about being able, or not being able, to shop or to leave the temple for trivial pursuits. It would be interesting to hear them state whether they personally feel Buddhism will deliver them to the ultimate understanding or whether they feel that Buddhism itself is subject to change to match the pace of modern society.

But for some reason, no one in Thailand is taking such a poll.

(Frank G. Anderson is the Thailand representative of American Citizens Abroad. He was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer to Thailand from 1965-67, working in community development. A freelance writer and founder of northeast Thailand's first local English language newspaper, the Korat Post – www.thekoratpost.com – he has spent over eight years in Thailand "embedded" with the local media. He has an MBA in information management and an associate degree in construction technology. ©Copyright Frank G. Anderson.)