"Thai people’s sense of moral values seem to be taking a nosedive, according to the latest Abac poll from Assumption University. The survey revealed that more than half of respondents would be willing to put up with corruption within the next government if it means their livelihood will be improved.
About 50 percent of them would consider engaging in a corrupt activity if they considered it was "necessary" to do so while more than 82 percent said they wouldn’t think twice about committing a dishonest act if it meant that they would be missing out on an opportunity.
The survey also concluded that those with an elementary school education had higher morals than those with a university degree or higher."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=123359
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Poll: Thai morals in a nosedive
Started by Dick, Nov 07 2007 04:25 PM
3 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 08 November 2007 - 08:49 AM
QUOTE(Dick @ Nov 7 2007, 04:25 PM) 
About 50 percent of them would consider engaging in a corrupt activity if they considered it was "necessary" to do so while more than 82 percent said they wouldn’t think twice about committing a dishonest act if it meant that they would be missing out on an opportunity.
If 82% of Americans or Europeans said they would not think twice about committing a dishonest act if it meant that they would be missing out on an opportunity, I would guess that at least 17% were lying. By modern global standards, 82% rates morally high.
#3
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Posted 08 November 2007 - 09:59 AM
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By modern global standards, 82% rates morally high.
Where did you take this poll . . . . Sing Sing Correctional Facility ?
Hehehe.....
#4
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Posted 08 November 2007 - 11:25 AM
I have to confess that I wondered what kind of results a poll like that would receive in other countries. Are the Thais just being more candid in their response, while others tend to give the answer that's expected of them by the surveyor.
I also wonder whether the "more than half" of Thais who said they were prepared to accept corruption in government, if it improved their livelihood, are the same people who pine for Thaksin's return. This may be their way of saying that corruption is the preferable price to pay if it gets you competence leadership in making the economy work better.
For better or worse, Thaksin's populist policies are still seen by many Thais as having made their lives far better than the "old ginger" crowd installed by the military. The Thais just assume that everyone will take their piece of the pie, no matter what they say, so having a "what's in it for me" attitude makes good sense. That's why the average Thai seems far more conditioned to accept petty corruption at the lowest levels of government than his western counterparts.
I also wonder whether the "more than half" of Thais who said they were prepared to accept corruption in government, if it improved their livelihood, are the same people who pine for Thaksin's return. This may be their way of saying that corruption is the preferable price to pay if it gets you competence leadership in making the economy work better.
For better or worse, Thaksin's populist policies are still seen by many Thais as having made their lives far better than the "old ginger" crowd installed by the military. The Thais just assume that everyone will take their piece of the pie, no matter what they say, so having a "what's in it for me" attitude makes good sense. That's why the average Thai seems far more conditioned to accept petty corruption at the lowest levels of government than his western counterparts.
