Pomp and the taxpayer

Self-crowned

The Bangkok Post recently editorialized that pomp and ceremony are inefficient and unnecessary, declaring that Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt shows how “when leaders prioritise pragmatism over pageantry, the public wins.” Chadchart, it says, “has captured the public imagination, weary of superfluous bureaucratic fanfare.” His understated approach to getting things done “demonstrates a profound respect for both time and taxpayer money.”

The editorial concludes: “It is time for the rest of the bureaucracy to step up and adopt this new normal. Stop the pomp and start showing results.”

Of course, a place to begin with this better respect for taxpayer funds and the elimination of unnecessary ceremony cannot be mentioned. The monarchy guzzles taxpayer funds to propagandize for itself in thousands of ceremonies that are full of pomp but mostly pompous and enforced upon the citizenry.