wwest5829

If only everyone was mandated to carry guns. They could have helped the officers.

It does not matter the rest of the word has lower gun death rates restricting gun

ownership. We want to do it the American way.

There you go. We won't need to pay no stinkin taxes for police. We can just shoot more of each other, most notably bystanders. Reading about this my gut, emotional reaction was that I wished I could be there to offer assistance to the officers. Huumm,, then I start to think. How would anyone tell if I was the original shooter as I flourished my deadly weapon? How to tell the good guys from the bad guys? Tighter gun control may indeed not stop all but it certainly will help and any help is welcome. By the way, I am an American handgun owner who holds a valid Concealed Deadly Weapon Licence when in the U.S.

Too bad she had the accident....hope she fully recovers and soon. But she "didn't forget" to get insurance....she just didn't want to pay for insurance. Too many young people always feel indestructible/think it will not happen to me.

Not just the young.

An astonishing number of TV members live here without insurance.

True. I do have motorbike insurance (will pay up to 200k). Medical insurance? Cost was too high and excluded pre-existing conditions so... Total bill for heart attack was 441,400 baht (2 angioplasty and 2 stent). Home country policy paid about 175,000 baht. No real choice that I can see.

 

Those of you calling Assange a sleaze ball etc deserve to live in a police state.

For a brief summary read this by John Pilger:

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44138.htm

If you do not know of John Pilger then look him up.

Have a look here at people you do know, namely Julian Assange, Vladimir Putin, Edward Snowden, Wikileaks staff, Russian secret police, Ecuador sleazebag politicians and crackdowns on pro-democracy demonstrators not to mention the CCP Dictators.

http://www.businessinsider.com/snowden-assange-wikileaks-and-russia-2013-8

US Court of Appeals has upheld the federal government in its national security investigation of Wikileaks and Assange as being a state secret. It's even more of a secret however in Russia where Putin is the law in favor of Assange.

Yes, and Congress was pressured by public outcry against such broad gathering on citizen information without any civilian court oversight or court issued warrant.

Nope, I do not favour living in a U.S. who, like China declares security and maintaing of peace trumps (purposeful usage) Constitutional civil rights.

Good on ya fellas. Keep it up and get Australia and others involved. Let the bully boys realize what they are doing is wrong. If they are not stopped here then there will be havoc for neighbouring countries of this regime. Time they get a slappin. [/quote


Let us not talk about, "slappin" as that is a aggressive action. The US, and other nations should simply continue to sail and fly in accord with international law. That leaves it in the hands of the PRC. Any aggressive action on their part should receive the full censorship of signatories of the Law of the Sea treaty (of which China is on one!). Depending on any aggressive action by China, a full equal response would be warranted. Any nation unilaterally declaring sovereignty over territory long claimed by others is to be condemned...here in the South China Sea or Crimea, for that matter.

You're talking about aggressive action (by China) in the conditional or future tense. It's already happening, dude. If I walk in your house and set up a tent in your living room, and take over your kitchen and bathroom, that's aggressive action. It may not be as aggressive as charging into your house waving a sword, but it has the same effect. Every week that the US and Philippines stand by with their hands in their pockets, is another week the Chinese can tear up coral reefs, pour concrete, and move more troops and guns down there. Better to have some military action now, than a lot more intense military action later. It's gonna happen. To any Chinese sleeping on the commandeered islands: wear your hardhat to bed and keep a loaded pistol on the nightstand.

Thanks for the invite but my country already has overstepped militarily speaking. The majority of discretionary spending is already being spent on the military. Regional approach lead with US playing a supporting role. As to our interests, we will continue to sail, fly freely in accord with international law. No, I would oppose any military actio, thanks anyway.

Good on ya fellas. Keep it up and get Australia and others involved. Let the bully boys realize what they are doing is wrong. If they are not stopped here then there will be havoc for neighbouring countries of this regime. Time they get a slappin. [/quote

Let us not talk about, "slappin" as that is a aggressive action. The US, and other nations should simply continue to sail and fly in accord with international law. That leaves it in the hands of the PRC. Any aggressive action on their part should receive the full censorship of signatories of the Law of the Sea treaty (of which China is on one!). Depending on any aggressive action by China, a full equal response would be warranted. Any nation unilaterally declaring sovereignty over territory long claimed by others is to be condemned...here in the South China Sea or Crimea, for that matter.

Will Bernie give them stuff too?

Like Obama on steroids. If you are poor and don't mind killing the Golden Goose for your kids, Bernie is your man.

I'm not poor by any measure. I do have children and I do pay US taxes and I currently reside in the US. Lots of people commenting in this thread have and do none of those things.

I don't like paying taxes but I don't mind so much if I can see that most or even some of it is put to use that enhance the society I live in and lessen some of the burdens for the majority of the people that live in it. and

Frankly, I can't see how perpetual war and massive subsidies and tax breaks to Fortune 500 corporations and financial speculation firms is helping my society. I can't see how individuals who make massive income shouldn't pay a disproportionate share of the burden seeing as how they use a disproportionate amount of resources and earn a disproportionate amount of the national income.

I didn't always feel this way, but then once upon a time risk takers were the sole entities that could profit or lose from the risk they undertook. Now, the downside risk has been socialized(if you will) and the upside is taxed lightly or not at all.

FWIW, I'm upper middle class, I fully expect my children will be the same. They and I will pay more, and that's OK with me. I am getting zero return on my tax dollars as things stand now.

Thank you! I find myself in much the same frame of mind. My situation is different, however. While I have a Master's Degree + and retired as a Professor, I find that my $2400.00 monthly income certainly goes further in retirement here in Thailand. My judgement is that I cannot afford to live in my home country as well, or of at all due to expenses. While I too pay my taxes, they are rather small due to limited income. Still, I view our country as, E Pluribus Unum, not its everyone for themselves.

Looking at the pictures no doubt which way the article leans to. this kind of media crap is why Trump is popular and will be the next president. Americans are tired of this.

Are you saying Americans are fed up with leaders who have actual government experience and know how it works?

Half of what Trump promises to do can not be done by a President and must be done by the legislative of judicial branches of the government.

Trump is an entertainer, not a leader.

He doesn't have a clue about government in the U.S.

P.S. I am not a Hillary supporter, but I do know a little about government.

Agreed but that previous experience is working against candidates due to the current disfunction of government. We might well agree as to reasons for this disfunction but it is the elephant in the room. I am hopeful that the groundswell of frustration will continue to build behind Sanders.

HRC the anointed heir of the Democrats, who should get the nomination...if she is not indicated. Who are the dems fooling? Even if criminal charges are not brought against this witch how could Americans vote for an airhead that left America's top secrets unsecured.

Dems are scrambling as Bernie just might end up being their nominee. Bernie an Independent allowed to run as a Democrat as he was thought of as no threat to HRC's coronation.

As for the Republicans as least they do have many choices to choose from, any of which is far better than Hillary or Bernie.

Yes, in your humble opinion. IMHO, I hopeful of the masses voicing their displeasure by supporting a challenge to the status quo will by support the candidate who is proposing real steps to address the ills which have grown since the Reagan "trickle down". Trump is also giving voice to this frustration and anger but it is only appealing to emotions. " I will build a wall and Mexico will pay for it", " I will stop all Moslems coming to the U.S.", sounds great....now let's deal with the issue of immigration reform and terrorism, the wealth gap, balancing the citizen's needs versus spending so much blowing people up around the globe...

Don't see this historical citation as newsworthy and a shortened misleading headline! The economy, international relations and political stability in LOS are a powder keg right now... Articles like this bring bowl & spoon to mind.

On the contrary, it is a bit of history few Thais are taught and is an important part of the development of S.E Asian relations to this day. Brief but conciese article.

Agree but, as an American, I would have enjoyed seeing the article include the refusal of the Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C. to deliver the declaration.

Fox news is the top rating news program in the world.

Ah ... I think the word is popular or, perhaps most watched (and that limited to the U.S.. Top rated....in the U.S., top rated for inaccuracy and the kindest, most lies at the most direct by those rating accuracy.

Came twice in 2009 and 2010 for a month each stay. Traveled around Thailand a bit but Chiang Mai felt right. Rented a house in a moobaan for the first two years. wanted a secure home "nest" while I learned some language, how and where to get things done. I cashed out of the U.S. in 2011 and moved to Chiang Mai at age 64 !/2. Budget half S.S. and half retirement funds brings my budget to about 65,000baht (exchange rate currently results in 71,000 as monthly transfer comes in to my Bangkok Bank account from my U.S. financial institution. I find it comfortable. In December I had a heart attack, followed by a TIA (light). The bill was 144,400baht at RAM. Ouch! My heart was a pr-existing condition so insurance does me little if any good. BC/BS Seniors is to pay me up to $5,000USD, I'm waiting... I go to Chiang Mai Expats as there I can find answers to questions and perhaps answer other's questions.

WRWest

Sorry, but how can Obama be blamed for this. According to new reports, one boat became disabled and drifted into Iranian waters. I guess it's because Obama isn't a good mechanic?

His fault if his boats aren't equipped with an anchor. Basic boating stuff that is, when the engine is rooted throw over the anchor and remain in situ - not just drift willy-nilly or it could lead to problems...

They are not "his" boats, if you are an American, they are "our" boats and as citizens it is we who are ultimately responsible for what we are paying to support, including sending young men and women in harm's way.x

"...claimed waters." Things will clarify over the next hours as to what happened but the details are irrelevant. At a certain point no one gives a crap about another song and dance apology tour by the Left defending Iran and praising Obama's deft diplomacy with the Persian Theocracy. It is now an endless stream of increased Iranian "smoke" over the last months. At some point people will have to concede there is "fire." As [we] have said here on TV months ago, the failure of the false agreement directly and as a measure of any improved relations will reveal itself "sooner rather than later." Here is one more sooner. Expect Iran to be involved in all sorts of exciting new year adventures. Expect all of Obama's new buddies to make lots of new and bold changes, before the dolt leaves.

It is truly amazing. I cannot imagine a real world fool that could so consistently screw up every single thing touched as Obama does. He is like the Anti-King Midas.

Thanks for kick starting my heart rate with humor this morning. It's Obama's fault! He, no doubt was on both of the small boats involved in the training exercise. Keep up your head of steam, you will have plenty to complain about after Bernie takes office....ha! Or yes, if Trump goes in as a bull in the china shop.

I like Americans, but the whole process of elections particularly presidential elections, really makes me embarrassed for them.

What other country is so transparent about it? There aren't any backroom deals here nor is any important group's "boy" getting an advantage. It's all in your face, American style.

Trump certainly personifies "in your face" but you overplay the hand claiming that there are no back room deals nor various advantages being in play. I am judging from historical findings in American politics.

I'd love to see the UAE go broke.

Uderstand the feeling, however, at the cost of increased political instability?

had to be the result as they simply returned fire after they were shot at by the reds and black shirts. People want to blame someone look no further than thaksin, the ptp and reds, they are the ones that were on stage/screens and called for the violence and their terrorists then started shooting, bombing and burning Bangkok but that simply doesnt sit well with their apologists.

Damn those poor, the world over anyway, they will just not stay in their place and follow instructions by their betters. What was it Mr Dickens just reminded me of? The Spirit of Christmas Present, "beware ignorance and want". There can be no peace unless there is some balance of economic and judicial fairness.

'Wealthy westerners'.

Most backpackers I have met live on a shoestring budget.

I agree, however, the view here is that if you can afford the roundtrip airfare, and time spent, you are indeed much wealthier than the majority of Thais.

I do no know if that is a valid conclusion but perseption is reality,

Why all this Trump bashing ? He is not in power (yet) and has no say in this matter. Most of the things he says are things that the great majority agree with, and the sad fact is that whatever enjoyment there was in flying has been largely destroyed by a bunch of animals. For them to have caused this situation and then cry foul citing discrimination is highly ironic. Reap what you sow

For them to have caused this situation? This family? Really? Any citation of fact? Or just more of condemning all Muslims?

Nobody can comment on the rightness or wrongness until the full details are exposed, if ever.

It could be discrimination, or it could be a member of the family was flagged for some real reason.

If the latter, why stop the entire family?

You are on point concerning finding out the reason. In the creeping police state the reason will not be divulged as a matter of security. Welcome to security Trumping freedom. No charges, no trial or justice oversight....

Dear Prime Minister,

It was the traditional peaceful nature of Thai culture that, in part, attracted me to retire in Thailand. I had considered other countries but have found a home here. I can understand your frustration with the position you have chosen to place yourself. Democracy is a messy business and constantly changes. In my humble opinion, Thailand is not alone in the stress within its society. If there is to be peace there must be basic economic and legal fairness and that is lacking. Again, Thailand is not alone in this issue in today's world but if Thais want political peace, this is what must be changed. Those with power must give more power to those who are economically disadvantaged.

Those with power will never give it up as long as their backsides point to the ground! That has been their way for 100's of years and it will not change anytime soon (unless they learn from Singapore).

And the leadership will continue to tell the ordinary Thai citizen "we are doing this for your benefit and happiness" - oh, really? Unfortunately the disadvantaged buy it! Corruption goes unchecked and until that is changed no amount of differing Government styles (democratic or otherwise) will advance the rights and aspirations of the ordinary citizen.

Sorry, as an American, I am inclined to remember revolutions...

Online poll where people self select? Meaningless.

Of course Sanders speaks well for the democratic base.

He's unelectable as president. Just face it.

Sanders is the most electable of all those seeking the Presidency on either side. That is, if candidates are judged on their long standing records as elected officials. Unfortunately, currently in the U.S., what you read about are those who are motivated most by their emotions. The majority, nationally have not spoken. We will see. It will take a groundswell but it certainly is not impossible.

Dear Prime Minister,

It was the traditional peaceful nature of Thai culture that, in part, attracted me to retire in Thailand. I had considered other countries but have found a home here. I can understand your frustration with the position you have chosen to place yourself. Democracy is a messy business and constantly changes. In my humble opinion, Thailand is not alone in the stress within its society. If there is to be peace there must be basic economic and legal fairness and that is lacking. Again, Thailand is not alone in this issue in today's world but if Thais want political peace, this is what must be changed. Those with power must give more power to those who are economically disadvantaged.

"In order to comprehend the situation in Thailand, we have to look into the past to understand the present and see a clear future. Consider the country, not just the people. Don't just believe me, but study the situation more," Deputy Government Spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak quoted Prayut as telling Russel.

Twenty-odd military coups since Thailand became a democratic monarchy suggests that if we study the past then we see continuous military interfering in the democratic process. I'm pretty sure that's the conclusion that the US will draw from studying Thailand's history.

This is a very strange remark. "Consider the country, not just the people".

If you take "The people" out of the equation then what of substance do you have left? In most countries the answer would be "very little", because the country and the people are almost synonymous. Why does Thailand think it is somehow special because of its past?

I think that the comment, "consider the county, not just the people" brings to mind the emphasis in the west on individual rights (some would say overemphasis). Not surprising to see the military government, putting more focus on security (control) takes the similar focus we see emphasized in China and elsewhere in Asia. The state is paramount, individual rights secondary. I think I denote a move in this direction in the U.S. trying to be justified in the name of security. I feel much the same as you seem to, what are you securing?

Quite a few of us Kentucky Colonels around the globe today. Not equal to a Royal British honorary title but, hey, for a nation not recognizing nobility it's still an honor.

The reason President Obama, a self-proclaimed Constitutional Legal Scholar, can get away with dictating policy by executive order...is that he knows that if the Congress cries foul and takes him to court...he has the Justice Dept. and Supreme Court in his back pocket and does not fear his rulings being overturned...

Obama would love to play the victim and get political mileage out of a battle with Congress...Congress knows this also...and are just biding their time until America's first elected authoritarian leader leaves office.

Good bye and good riddance...

Funny