DOOM AND GLOOM IN THE LAND OF SMILES

'Government Warned of Mass Protests' screams today's Bangkok Post, and with similar headlines almost every day this week it seems Thailand is once again on the brink of chaos.
The current demonstrations against the government are serious enough, but now there's the prospect of further rallies around the capital, protests from garlic farmers in the north and a threat to block the nation's highways by Thai truckers. Union-backed civil unrest has also been touted.
Aside from the political situation much of what Thailand is experiencing now is being felt around the world. Increasing food prices and increasing fuel prices are not confined to the Kingdom, however much of the reporting seems to ignore that important fact. Thais in general only seem to focus on issues inside the country without looking at the global picture. In the past that wouldn't be such a bad thing but in today's global economy you need to be aware of what's happening around the world.
The Thai government is in for a tough few months and needs to act to appease many different sectors of society. It will be interesting to see how it copes.