Thai Election

On Sunday, 3rd July, Thailand has its national elections. Political posters are everywhere, polluting one's view of the environment which is polluted enough already.

By observing these posters, there seem to be 33 possible political parties. The two major opponents remain prominent - the Democrats and Pheua Thai. There is a lot of propaganda. I would even say more strongly that the political story is not being told as it is. There is no facing the real issues and no dealing with the pain felt within a society divided and still bleeding after the events of robust protests managed by both sides over the past five years. The policies of the parties seem to centre on running a huge natioanl jumble sale. Basically, vote for me and I will give you for the mere price of one vote ...........

The posters of Party 16 say it for me. They show the body of their candidates but they have no face. Where there is supposed to be a face there is a circle cut out of the poster. So anyone can put their face into the hole made and become that candidate for that moment.

This really speaks to me about the nature of this election.

I wonder if democracy really works. I believe in it but I see it being used as a front by many forces throughout the world. How often do we hear -
This is about democracy
or
We are about democracy
or
Democracy has spoken.

Amidst it all, I feel for the ordinary people, the little people. Do they benefit from what is happening or are they being used and just continue to suffer their lot?