I was:-I wasn't living here during the Thaksin years but depending who you talk to, he was either the great benevolent reformer or just another manipulative politician corrupted by power.
In 2000 onward the people living North of Korat had minimal if nothing in the way of infrastructure, which, in a very short period of time improved expodentionaly. When on R&R from Chevron I had to goto a shop in Ban Dung to borrow their telephone line just to get a 56kb connection for critical email. No mobile phone. Roads were crap and power hit and miss. Etc. Etc. Etc.
Sure he was corrupt but by far the best of VERY poor options.