zydeco

 

As is often the case, both sides could be fudging on the truth a little.  
 
 

My brother was a cop in a suburb of Memphis whir he was completing his education and before joining the FBI. I represented and got to know a whole lot of cops. Parts of St. Louis, much like parts of Memphis, are a war zone. These kids and gang bangers act like animals. My brother had to respond to a call when a 15 year old beat his teacher to death with a chair while his classmates cheered him on. Grade schools have metal detectors. Even teachers live in fear and there is no respect for any type of authority.

Don't judge cops working in these urban war zones unless you have walked in their shoes.

If he pulled his weapon and shot multiple times, there was a reason for it. He was apparently scared and put in a bad position. Don't mouth off, shove or assault a cop and nothing will happen to you. Easy for most to understand.

Common sense pretty much confirms what happened here.

 

There isn't a policeman in America, white, black or brown, who wants to shoot a black suspect.  They know the mau-mauing they are in for, if they do.
 

Did you need to show your passport?

If Benjamin Franklin hadn't invented electricity things would be so much better - I blame him for progress and all its pitfalls.

And as for the person who invented fire............well don't get me started !

We occupy ourselves with distractions, survival for most people in developed nations is accepted - without the internet we couldn't see and hear live feeds from people who are starving or having their homes bombed.

Life is about priorities, for me the internet is just another one of the "and,s" in life, the same applies to cell phones and TV.

Information is power though but I really don't need to know that someone has bought a new pairs of shoes on the other side of the world.

In answer to the Op,s question a resounding "YES"

Edited for grammatical errors - well most of them.

ben franklin "discovered electricity"? let me guess, youre an american?

Well, at least an American invented air conditioning, without which there would be far fewer Europeans in Thailand.

Nothing, I used to be one.

Still am....use a backpack whenever I travel.....

Keeps your hands free and you don't look like an idiot pulling a leash with a tiny suitcase on wheels. I toured Thailand with a backpack and laptop for one year straight. Easily done.....and had 90,000 baht per month to spend as I wished.

Who wants to tour Thailand, walk through the towns and villages, pulling a suitcase? Backpackers are in good shape. Free to walk anywhere while keeping all your things together. Rather smart.

Wheeled luggage versus backpacks? I have back pack with wheels:

When I was the younger type backpacker's age, I never had the choice in what type of backpack I got. It was an olive drab buttpack given to me for free by my government to explore exotic SE Asia.

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps it is because Thai Immigration has made the  calculation that altering the immigration laws does not benefit Thailand or Thai citizens.  That is all that matters, because immigration laws  exist to  benefit Thailand and not the immigrant.  You may think Thailand is wrong, but Thailand thinks you are wrong, and that is why the law is as it is.
 

 

 

An interesting post, considering Thailand's visa laws already allows hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of foreigners to reside here. 

 

 

Yes, it does, because the law has calculated that they are beneficial to  the country and its citizens, either as expats with specialized knowledge unavailable in Thailand or as individuals who will not compete with or displace Thais from their own economy (retirees).  Look, I have every sympathy with you.  I hope you and other under 50s do find a way to  stay  until  you can hit the retirement age.  But until then, your options, for the sake of Thai citizens are limited to specialists who provide a net contribution to Thailand, people married to Thais, and expats who don't compete with Thais in the economy.  Otherwise, the Thai  Elite  card is there for people who are willing to pay for the privilege of going around those provisions.
 

 

 

Ahhh, so with a Thai Elite Card, which I can afford, but chose not to buy, I am welcome, but without it, I am rejected. 

 

I thought we were talking about "the law" - not a Thai money making scheme.  Then again, the law has always been for sale in Thailand. 

 

No, I really think it's about the law protecting Thailand and Thai citizens.  As has been pointed out, someone with the ability to acquire an Elite card is much, much less likely to abuse or violate Thai labor laws.  Again, I really do have sympathy for you guys.  In fact, I think it's admirable that you are willing to strike out beyond the boundaries of your home country and culture.  You should be rewarded for that courage.  But, as you say, this is a different world.  Things are  and harder and easier than they were when I was much younger.

Easier because:

* ease of travel

* ease of communications

* availability of food, entertainment, and information in your own language

* widespread creature comforts, such as a/c, good roads, transport, and infrastructure

You likely have no idea how it was when you had to make a reservation with an overseas operator to telephone back home.  When  there was no a/c, no English  language TV, no way to import your culture from back home.  And, paradoxically, that is why it is harder for your generation to be able to move around the world as easily as I did, because:

* you are now in direct competition with the locals

* your presence in a foreign country is almost like a "commute" for someone from a rich nation, who is able to subsidize his lifestyle with Western income, and thus enjoying an advantage over people in the local  economy

I never enjoyed an inborn advantage in my younger years--aside from training and education.  I never received a salary or subsidy that separated me from the local people.  Consequently, there were far fewer people doing what I did--and thus not the pressure on  the local economy that your generation is causing.
 

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Thailand has a GDP of 360+ Billion baht a year. The economy will fall to its knees when the OP takes his million baht away with him   alt=cheesy.gif width=32 height=20>  

Please don't forget he is not alone, but have 2/3 friends who will take their one million Baht out of Thailand too  alt=whistling.gif> Pffff

 

I also believe that there are countless falangs who would do the same, a few friends of mine as well....

 

 

This is new world, this isn't the Southeast asia of 20 years ago,  there are plenty of more interesting, happening, open,  hassle free places to reside....where Thailand doesn't necessarily fit into the picture for many folks...

And I'm happy that you have alternatives to Thailand that you think are better.  You'll have every opportunity to build and prosper there and, perhaps, build a place superior to Thailand.  Were I younger, I might indeed do just what you're suggesting--strike out for Myanmar, Cambodia, or even Vietnam.  In my day, actually, the opportunities were in South and Central America, more than SE Asia.  Good luck.  No one is bitter towards you, and I hope you're not bitter towards Thailand.  But Thailand either is or is on the brink of being an emerging economy.  Those other places are still lower on the economic development scale--true Third World places.  But places that should give the adventurous young good opportunities and, as you say, less "hassle."
 

 

 

I am under 50 years of age, single, and self funded, therefore, I am a "visa runner."

 

I have followed this thread, and the various arguments and personal attacks.

 

I will simply say, shouldn't Thailand at least review their visa laws?  They have been the same for so long, yet, the world is changing.  The distribution of wealth is changing.

 

Why is it such a problem for Thailand to add more visa classes for legitimate people living here?  It appears that the longer Thailand does not review their current visa laws, more and more legitimate foreigners are not represented in those laws.  

 

Nothing stays the same forever.  They need to review the current system. 

 

I don't say this as I feel I have a right to live here.  I say it for the benefit of Thailand, and the Thai economy in general.

 

This visa crack down very well may see thousands of people, and billions of baht, rejected from Thailand, simply because they can not meet a visa criteria that does not exist to represent them.  

 

Perhaps it is because Thai Immigration has made the  calculation that altering the immigration laws does not benefit Thailand or Thai citizens.  That is all that matters, because immigration laws  exist to  benefit Thailand and not the immigrant.  You may think Thailand is wrong, but Thailand thinks you are wrong, and that is why the law is as it is.
 

 

 

An interesting post, considering Thailand's visa laws already allows hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of foreigners to reside here. 

 

Yes, it does, because the law has calculated that they are beneficial to  the country and its citizens, either as expats with specialized knowledge unavailable in Thailand or as individuals who will not compete with or displace Thais from their own economy (retirees).  Look, I have every sympathy with you.  I hope you and other under 50s do find a way to  stay  until  you can hit the retirement age.  But until then, your options, for the sake of Thai citizens are limited to specialists who provide a net contribution to Thailand, people married to Thais, and expats who don't compete with Thais in the economy.  Otherwise, the Thai  Elite  card is there for people who are willing to pay for the privilege of going around those provisions.
 

Watch the commodity markets! Russia/Ukraine export significant quantities of Iron, steel, Aluminium, Copper, Nickel.

This could get a lot worse before it gets anywhere near better.

The post by SOTIRIOS is close to the mark. Putin may well be in this up to his neck, but without the undoubted goading by certain Western countries this situation would not exist. The West is playing a dangerous game with the Ukraine. If rumours prove correct and Russia closes Siberian airspace to all European/US traffic flying to Asia etc then that would prove a real issue. Costs of travel will soar, journey times will increase significantly. The West will then impose sanctions on Russian air traffic and boom, get ready to build the wall again and watch for the defence corporations in the US and Europe having the party of the century. It is ALL about money and resources!!!

Yes, please. Let the Russians stay behind their wall. The world was a better place when they did.

I am under 50 years of age, single, and self funded, therefore, I am a "visa runner."

 

I have followed this thread, and the various arguments and personal attacks.

 

I will simply say, shouldn't Thailand at least review their visa laws?  They have been the same for so long, yet, the world is changing.  The distribution of wealth is changing.

 

Why is it such a problem for Thailand to add more visa classes for legitimate people living here?  It appears that the longer Thailand does not review their current visa laws, more and more legitimate foreigners are not represented in those laws.  

 

Nothing stays the same forever.  They need to review the current system. 

 

I don't say this as I feel I have a right to live here.  I say it for the benefit of Thailand, and the Thai economy in general.

 

This visa crack down very well may see thousands of people, and billions of baht, rejected from Thailand, simply because they can not meet a visa criteria that does not exist to represent them.  

Perhaps it is because Thai Immigration has made the  calculation that altering the immigration laws does not benefit Thailand or Thai citizens.  That is all that matters, because immigration laws  exist to  benefit Thailand and not the immigrant.  You may think Thailand is wrong, but Thailand thinks you are wrong, and that is why the law is as it is.
 

Are you a Zeta?

I remember when authorities promised there would be no significant flooding in Bangkok in 2011. They promised.

A lot of nice people on holiday paying the price for the actions of their leaders.  Pretty typical, unfortunately.

Yes, so nice.  All of them.

Free Tibet.

such as monitoring foreign tourists who could be carriers of the deadly virus

Sort of vague, to say the least.  I assume they'll be monitoring Thais, too, especially Thais who live, work or visit the West African countries effected by ebola.  Yes?  Yes?? Yes???

 

More health care workers are now wearing protect suits and their OWN OXYGEN supply as more and more suspect virus can be airborne. Over 100 workers who believed virus could only be transmitted by bodily fluids are dead! Germany now using Oxygen supplies along with protective suits. They are burning suits every 3 hours. What virus isn't spread airborne? Droplets that hang in the air can penetrate the eyes! Can cling to fingers and then we rub our eyes, mouth and nose.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/10998367/Ebola-Germany-accepts-infected-patient-for-treatment.html

Borders and air travel need to be shut down in high risk areas of Africa.

 

If Ebola is spreading this easily among medical professionals in biohazard body suits that supposedly keep any air from touching the skin, what chance are the rest of us going to have if this virus gets out into the general population?
 

 

cnn interviewed the president of LIberia and she said her country had closed the borders, quarantined the villages, and closed the markets, and it wasn't enough.  It didn't stop ebola.  If this gets into a big third world city, with  poor sanitation and spotty to no public health services, what will happen?  What would happen in Bangkok???
 

 

The workers, at least one of them, is not being taken to the CDC per se but, apparently, to a CDC affiliated university hospital at Emory.  This is all sounding rather hubristic to me.  Too much arrogant thinking about being in total control.  http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/american-ebola-virus-patient-u-s-article-1.1887776

 

 

RAW VIDEO:Emory officials speak about Ebola patients coming to Atlanta

 

 

 

http://www.wsbtv.com/videos/news/raw-video-emory-officials-speak-about-ebola/vCmD3P/

 

Listening to that guy go on and on about his facilities and the supposed safety only underscores how dangerous this virus is.  He kept saying these aid workers "deserved" this level of intensified treatment because they were "humanitarians" who had volunteered to help others.  In this situation, I am forced to say, the price of humanitarianism should be to stay in the infection area instead of importing the virus into virgin territory.

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As many people have pointed out, the issue is not only the stealing but more importantly the rudeness. I was at all times polite and calm so it was completely uncalled for. Thanks to those who provided contact details. It's certainly worth a 5 minute phone call.

That five minute call to the US is going to cost you a lot more than the 9 baht in stamps you didn't get.

Anymore?

Have you guys had enough? Lame bunch of sheep. Sure criticize the op for cheapness, donating stamps, what have you? Others have already said it, was it really necessary to repeat for 7 pages? Feel proud of yourself don't you? I give credits to the OP, one man with a principle standing against a whole crowd of sheep.

There used to be a time, when real men stood up for those who were in need. When it comes to calling to the US, everyone starts to mention time and cost. When it comes to insulting, everyone was readily available for donations of dirt cheap stamps and changes. Do it then. Donate to the OP, don't talk without actions.

It's about being a man and standing for what he feels should be right. Doesn't matter today if the staff was a girl or a boy, what age, what class. It doesn't give them the immunity from doing wrong. If today there was no monetary value mentioned in the stamp, more people would have given the topic as righteous or not. Just because it's below 50 baht, does not make it immune to a big deal. Most posters here are not even financially independent yet. Even 1 baht I will respect, it's what made millions for me today.

OP, you have my full support. Go do the right thing. It's people like you who seek justice in this corrupted world.

Bahtless in Bangkok. Who would have ever imagined it?

The workers, at least one of them, is not being taken to the CDC per se but, apparently, to a CDC affiliated university hospital at Emory.  This is all sounding rather hubristic to me.  Too much arrogant thinking about being in total control.  http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/american-ebola-virus-patient-u-s-article-1.1887776