BANGKOK – It’s important for voters to be consulted in a democratic system of government, said Prapan Opsarakarn, a political science professor at Ramkamhaeng University.
An election is a good way for the voice to be heard, although not always the best way, he added.
“Democracies should consult voters when appropriate, but we must not fall into the ‘election trap’ in which we care too much about the poll results,” he told the Thai Studies Conference.
“If, for instance, everyone voted for the country to drown in the sea, does that make it right?” he said. “Votes should be counted and acknowledged, but election winners should only be respected if we like them.”
