From: bunt0003@student.tc.umn.edu ()
Subject: Re: Decentralization = promoting local mafia
Organization: University of Minnesota
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 15:59:21 GMT

In article <1992Oct2.050746.2263@CSD-NewsHost.Stanford.EDU> anuchit@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Anuchit Anuchitanukul) writes:
>In article <1992Oct2.033624.9170@ccu1.aukuni.ac.nz> thanon@ccu1.aukuni.ac.nz (Thanachart Numnonda) writes:
>>Although village Headers and Kamnans are elected by people, but they stay
>>in the positions until retirement.
>
>Right.  They are already local mafias.  Frequent elections will not only
>educate people about democracy but also give them a chance to kick some
>mafias out off the Village Header or Kamnan positions (even though
>it is just a very slim chance).  
>
>>What's wrong if people in Suphan Buri will elect Mr.B as their
>>governor?  If he corrupt, he will bring money away from Suphan Buri.
>>But he is now an elected MP. If he corrupt in the cabinet and bring
>>money back to Suphan, people in Suphan Buri will learn nothing from that.
>
>What an excellent idea!  The best way to teach people how the choice made
>in a election can affect their lifes is to bring the problems (caused by
>the bad people they elected) closer to them.  Imagine, Mr.B as Suphan Buri
>governor, Mr.C as Nakornrachasima governor, Mr.P for Sri Saket, Mr.M for
>Ayuthaya.  (These B,C,P,M are just variables or fictional characters. 
>No intention to refer to any MP who denied to swear not to corrupt or buy
>votes.)  I believe it won't take long for the local people to realize
>how these vampires quickly suck the money (which they spent to buy votes) back.
>
>However, there is one big problem for having local governments.  To run 
>successfully, each local government must have their own way of collecting 
>taxes (and probably set up their own tax rate).  It should reflect and can be 
>adjust to fit the local economy.  Without this, butget allocation for provinces
>will be battle ground every year and perhaps open an easier way to corrupt.
>Without local taxes, people will not feel the effect of corruption. 
>It also provides a way for the local people to messure the performance of
>a governor. 
>
>Another question is to what extent a governor has the authority.  Do
>the local police, fire department, ... report to the governor?  Who funds
>the schools? 
>
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Some big cities like Chicago were sometimes run by a mafia governor. 


I agree that decentralization may offer more benefits than harm.  However,
we should keep most of the basic social services at the national level,
such as, health care, equal rights to basic education and employment,
including what I hope to see more "disability act".

I have a little reservation about electing local governers in some cases. 
A good example is in Prae, my own native town.  If we were to elect our
governer at this time, a person like Khun Narong and his people would
probably be elected with a majority votes  Within ten years, I'm afraid
there will be no forest left in this  province.  My serious concern is
that without proper education, the majority of people in Prae will
continue to  be misguided to believe that cutting trees is the only way
for them to  survive.  I can see this fact because most people in my own
village earn their income this way.  No surprise, Khun Narong remains
their favorite son.

Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai