Liam...it's a good observation. I don't think there is a single aspect of Thai government that is not problematic for me.

In terms of economics...the new gov't proposed 5 year plan declares that the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy is the basis of Thai development. And yet, it is not clear that anyone in the government outside of the King's Crown Property Bureau understands what Sufficiency Economy is. (Most of the people in that bureau don't either, I don't think.)

The distribution of wealth n Thailand is very lopsided. (Pretty comparable with the US) Government in Thailand has always be structured so that those who are governing get rich. When they start getting too rich, there is a coup in order to share the wealth. (between the businessmen, technocrats and military)

I don't think this view of wealth distribution is very Buddhist. It is very capitalist. It is very greed driven which is distinctly not Buddhist.

Buddhist Economics is not the driving force behind Thai policy of any kind. Except where it is advantageous to appease the King (as in supporting the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy in some token way).

That is not to say that any of it is bad. What is the old Christian maxim? "Only in their own towns and in their own homes are prophets without honor." It holds in Buddhist countries too.