Fairer welfare threatens the status quoHundreds of people wait at a Krungthai Bank branch in a city superstore to register for financial aid under the Rao Chana scheme. Thai people already enjoy a number of social welfare programmes of a more permanent type. To put it coarsely: what deserves more money -- welfare or weapons? As I see it, the real obstacle to a more humane welfare system is not money. Because a humane welfare system is a threat to the patronage system as it necessarily leads to reduced inequality and a fairer society.

Source: Bangkok Post February 19, 2021 23:48 UTC