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2 Condemning the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) as a fascist group. They are now a community bonded by a strong sense of conviction. As a civil-society group, the PAD is powerful and unique because its members come from all walks of life. This community is indestructible unless its members decide to disband themselves. The PAD has successfully used Makkhawan Bridge as its headquarters for its "last battle" against the old politics. They are like the heroes of Tha Din Daeng, the famous Siamese stronghold built during the reign of King Rama I in Kanchanaburi at the Thai-Burmese border to stop advancing Burmese troops. A distinction must be made between the PAD's leaders and their supporters, who are more cosmopolitan and forward-looking. The PAD's supporters are a dedicated bunch of people with a high level of volunteer zeal. Without groups like the PAD, Thailand would see "nominee" politics rule run amok.

3 Demonising members of Parliament for their partisan politics. Like football players who have different skills and footwork, politicians too have different colours and creeds. They play politics professionally, which earns them honour or dishonour and in certain cases lots of money. Just ask the Isaan politicians associated with the "Friends of Newin" fan club. Look at the way they scored goals and upped their stakes in the new Cabinet. Needless to say, they also serve their constituencies whenever time permits.

4 Branding rural people as stupid and money-can-buy voters. Their votes are more valuable than ever before in bringing anyone from obscurity - look at Samak's brief stint as prime minister. Their political empowerment has been awoken by precision-targeted incentive-packages by populist politicians with quick access to extra funds, loans, scholarships and mobile phones.

5 Chastising the Thai military for taking a rare attitude of non-interference in civilian affairs. Some say that is intervention by non-intervention, a new political manoeuvre. The armed forces generals have a notorious track record of 18 coups since, making Thailand one of the world's most unpredictable places politically. Under General Anupong Paochinda, the Thai military has disappointed all political pundits near and far, not to mention the PAD, by not using force. Despite a constant chorus calling for them to intervene politically, the military no longer sees itself as a panacea, thanks to the great job done by its 2006 coup de grace.

6 Belittling Thai judges and painting them as the most corrupt officials. Every time the country is in crisis, judges, regardless of which court they belong to, come under the public microscope. These days, they are expected to perform wonders by putting all the bad guys in jail. But in regular times, they are accused of taking money under the table and listening to the power-wielders above them, ignoring the basic rules of the administration of justice.

7 Shamelessly blaming the media for being biased. Thai media are not monolithic and they are relatively free to write and free to think. They are the watchdogs in society, but without others to watch over them from time to time, they - especially a dozen or so "sucker" columnists in vernacular papers - become mad dogs who unleash their fangs and bite politicians as if tomorrow will never come. New trends are emerging with online media taking the traditional media head-on. More diverse and absurd views are becoming commonplace.

8 Brainwashing by TV news programmes and their commentators. Those who prefer government-bashing views can watch ASTV to their heart's delight without being bothered by advertising. Those who prefer pro-government euphoria can turn to NBT - its alleged acronym: National Baloney of Thailand. For all other terrestrial channels, just pick one. Watchers at home will absolutely not miss anything because they have quite similar programmes and content. Thailand is the only country in the world where daily news reports must be read in an overly colourful manner by an ever younger group of sportily dressed newscasters. They put Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" to shame.

9 Adopting the political systems of our Asean neighbours, which enjoy unprecedented political stability and certainty. Thailand is too unpredictable, which is bad for business and foreign investors, who prefer stability to a half-baked democracy. Vietnam and Singapore are the darlings of foreign investors these days. Their political models have been cited as examples of political stability. Investors have poured lots of money into these countries. The Thai people must give their own version of democracy a chance; this is a defining moment in the country's political history. If we survive the political mishaps this time, Thai democracy will make headlines around the world one more time. Like Thai food, Thai democracy will be spicier than ever.

10 Revealing the most important national secret of an elected prime minister a la Thai. Truth be told, even billionaire Thaksin, who has all the money and succeeded in buying virtually everything under the sun, still could not buy one particular item until he was an elected prime minister of the Land of Smiles and Perpetual Political Crisis. Ask former prime minister Samak Sundaravej about his dark secret, if he ever tells you the truth. The exiled leader still misses state banquets given by the countries he visited during his reign of his power.