Deep down, I knew that they would never let Move Forward anywhere near the levers of power. But, after the shocking election victory, I let myself believe a little bit.

Maybe this time would be different. Maybe this victory sends a loud enough message. Maybe, just maybe, we can come together and find a new consensus. But of course not, and here we go again.

As I’m writing this, the regime has just wheeled out their most powerful weapon: the Constitutional Court. It’s like our version of the Death Star, a weapon so powerful it can wipe out entire planets. Or, in this case, wipe out an election victory.

Soon, it’ll no doubt wipe out a political party too, and ban any future discussion and amendment of the lèse-majesté law.

Earlier this year, I read Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and ever since, I’ve been thinking about this passage:

The best thing about games is that they could be fairer than life. A good game was hard, but fair. The [real] “unfair game” was life itself.

In games, powerful items and weapons are always imperfect. Maybe they break after a single use, or maybe they dull and become useless over time. Whatever the case, there’s always a hefty cost.

But in Thai politics, we have this powerful weapon that’s been used for decades. A threat to the regime emerges and it gets sliced down by bizarre court rulings. Inevitably, a new threat is born, the court is wheeled out again, and the cycle repeats itself.

And since this isn’t a video game, the weapon never dulls or breaks.

Are we doomed to watch this happen forever?

Every election is an opportunity for change, says Thanathorn. In a way, it is. By voting, we shout in unison, and we get our voices heard.

But in other ways, it isn’t. We can shout all we want, but change comes from within. If the regime doesn’t want to change, we’re shouting into the void.

Despite all this, I don’t think a perfect weapon exists.

Maybe in the past, the court could safely nullify elections and eliminate political parties. But that was in the dark, and you can do unspeakable things when no one’s watching.

Today, their schemes are more shameless and desperate. They’re doing it in broad daylight with millions watching. There’s not even an attempt at subtlety.

If this weapon can ever dull, if the court can ever lose its legitimacy, this is the time.

If society has truly changed, this weapon won’t work again. At the very least, there’s some good news to look forward to.

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow.