Erection Day

Today is what former PM Thaksin Shinawatra in a CNN interview once referred to as “Erection Day” , after which “everything will be good.” Apart from that, people in Thailand also cast votes on this December 23. Let’s hope with the same firm outcome.

On this occasion Housewife Somjit Hongthong, 53, told AFP news agency: "I'm glad we're having this election today, so we can hold our heads high to show the rest of the world that we are a democratic country." (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7157829.stm)

From this concludes: a) democracy is a necessity not because it provides better standards of living for the majority, the right for people to express their opinions, equal opportunities, justice and liberties etc. etc. – but because otherwise the “rest of the world” will frown upon you.

b) An election is enough for a democracy. Two things come to mind: firstly, that even the most despotic regimes used elections as legitimization for their grip to power. Secondly, the words of Gael García Bernal: Democracy should be practiced not every six years, but every day.

Hence: One swallow doesn‘t make a summer, one erection not everything good and one election certainly no democracy.

Without pondering on the swallow-erection pun forcing itself on, it can only be hoped the Thai electorate won’t be jerked around too much.