http://home.vicnet.net.au/~lao/laostudy/kaysone.htm

I wonder why all the smart people left at that time?

There are two further reasons why the present regime is in no danger of collapse that need mentioning. One has to do with the nature of Lao society, and the size of the Lao educated elit�; the other with the nature of Lao politics. Because 90% of educated Lao fled the country after 1975, the few who remained constituted a tiny elit�, mostly comprising members of the LPRP. The Lao urban middle class was decimated. It is now increasing again, but only slowly. There exist no professional organizations to lobby governments, no civil society of the kind essential to a functioning democracy. It took the vastly larger Thai middle class a long time to challenge the exercise of political power by the Thai army: it will take the Lao middle class even longer before it is large enough or influential enough to challenge the combined power of the Party and the army. At present the new Lao elit�, based on wealth and education that has grown up under the new regime, is more inclined to compromise with the Party than challenge it.

Many people believe that in the present stage of Lao social and political development the country is best ruled by a single party, rather than allowing a number of parties to compete and become instruments of foreign influence as happened before 1975. Because people believe this, few are agitating for a multiparty system.

As the Lao economy modernizes, and Lao society becomes more sophisticated and complex, political changes will occur. They may entail conflict, or they may occur peacefully. But they will be brought about by those who live in the country, not by those looking on from outside. Nothing the west did brought about the end of communism in Russia and Eastern Europe. No-one in the West even foresaw it. The people of those countries were alone responsible. So it will be in Laos, when the time is ripe. In the meantime, we in Australia can watch with sympathy and understanding, and help where we can when we are asked to assist those inevitable forces of change that are already at work.

Vietnam is too much in control of Laos.  Imagine, if the current government/people decides to break ties with Vietnam, I personally think there will be Turmoil/Chaos between the two sides.  To be honest with you, every country that surrounds Laos want the peace of the territory if even given a chance.  People don't protest because it tends to lead to more violence and beyond. Remember, Laos population is 5-6 million, that could easily be wiped out from the face of this Earth in minutes because of the technology we have today.  The only thing we can do is continue to support our people in any shape, or form in a non-violent manner.

It's not so much as being lazy, it's the fact of who's in control.  In certain rich residential community of Laos, homes and streets are gated.  Only the rich or person of importance are allowed access.  I'm sure there are some lazy asses that spend so much time partying and drinking that can careless about anything else.  What about those that farm, fish, just to put  food in their mouths?  A lot of our people are also very uneducated as well.  The people with money are the ones that should stand up and speak out for the community...they don't because of greed or they are linked to the corrupt government.  The country opened the doors to the world, this is an opportunity for all of us from the outside to go in and educate our people.  I'm sure some of us are hot air (all talk) but a majority still wants to make a difference either by going there personally or funding organizations that is already there to help.