OneMoreFarang

I found it:

Imagine if there would be any honest and competent candidates...

I hope all aspiring nomads read that other thread here from a few days ago when one of those guys asked for a nice coffee shop. Great thread...

Sorry, no, I don't think so. It is one thing to stage a coup and another thing to get away with it. With the last two coups many people, at least in Bangkok, waited for the coups to happen. It was only a question of when and not if. And when the coups happened and soldiers were on the streets many people gave the soldiers flowers and soft drinks. I was in the middle of it. Lots of people did that and it felt like victory. And it felt like victory because the bad guys were removed (and everybody hoped for better times). I think if politicians are popular with the masses, including the tax payers in Bangkok, then coups leaders wouldn't get away with it. Because people would be angry if good politicians would be removed. IMHO Thailand won't have any coups anymore if they have honest and competent politicians. And if not then all options, including coups, are possibilities.

I didn't count the years. Do you remember anything that they tried to improve the education system? I followed the news all the time and I don't remember anything important happening. But to be fair that is some time ago and I don't remember all the details.

At least you found something that shows how you think. So maybe if you think about that long enough maybe you will learn something.

You accuse me of deflection and then what do you do? Deflect! PT could have improved the education system while they were in power, they had 10 years or more time. And what did they do? Nothing! I never read about any study how those tables should work and improve education. It seems the only reason for buying those things was about "commissions". So as usual, if PT wants to tell other how to do things better: Look at what you did or didn't do over the years. And if there is no record of doing anything positive then better shut up.

I don't think the authorities can ban them all, especially if there are no reasons. If fresh politicians follow all the rules then it won't be so easy to remove them. My impression from the future forward guy is that he was a reincarnation of Thaksin. Like: I am rich and I don't need more money. Really? We heard that before. And why would a super rich Thai person enter Thai politics? To help the people? Did he have any track record of helping the people? I don't think so. He had connections to Thaksin. At least for me that is reason enough not to vote for him or support him (that is if I could vote in Thailand).

I get your point and I know it's not easy. But if people have the choice between known corrupt politicians and maybe honest politicians then I think it's a no-brainer to vote for the people who hopefully are honest. Because the alternative are known corrupt politicians. They will definitely not change in an environment like this.

Some people avoid those crackpot. Others marry them...

There are too few details to know what exactly happened here and who is in part or fully responsible for the accident. I ride motorcycle in Bangkok and I find it always sad how many motorcycle riders just see somewhere a (little) part of free road and then they decide that they can squeeze into that space. Why? How many of these riders think about any possible risk? What is described above with a truck happens all the time with cars. I.e. a car is standing or slow moving in a corner to the left and obviously the car has to be kind of in the middle of the lane so that it can turn. But many motorcycle riders just squeeze in the little "free" space. Except that space is not free anymore when the car makes the turn. And if the car makes the turn and there is still a bike there then many riders complain why the car is doing that. They don't even realize that they should never squeeze into that space. It's sad enough if nobody teaches this to riders in riding school but if they have done this a few times one would think they learn from that experience and don't do it again. But no, it seems very few learn from their mistakes or the mistakes of others. I don't know how much is luck and how much knowledge and how much patients, but riding my bike in Bangkok I didn't have any real dangerous situations in years. I think mostly because I look at intentions of others and what could possibly happen. It's just stupid to assume everybody will drive in their lanes and use indicators and follow the rules. That is not reality. Ride careful, be patient, and likely that will extend the life expectancy. Obviously it is impossible to prevent all accidents. But it is possible to prevent some of them.

There is no doubt that Thaksin did some good things for the masses. But there is also no doubt that he was very corrupt and is a criminal. Thaksin was already very rich before he started with politics. He could have worked for the people and not for his own pockets and maybe he would still be in charge. But this is not what happened. Thaksin made huge amounts of money for himself. Yes, he gave money to the masses. Why? Because he loved them so much or because he preferred to spend tax payers money to bribe the masses and not his own money? What many people don't like to see it that there are more choices in Thailand than Thaksin or Prayut. If people would vote for other new honest and competent politicians then they would be governed by other new and hopefully honest and competent politicians. If people vote again and again for the same corrupt incompetent people then there is no chance that things will get any better.

To be sure there is no misunderstanding: This is the case at least since decades, more likely since forever in Thailand. Also previous governments, who some people see as heroes, didn't improve the education system.

That reminds of of those millions of tablets which PT bought with tax payers' money many years ago for the children in the schools. What happened with them? Was the concept thought trough? Did it improve the education? Or was is only another scheme to make a lot of money on "commissions" for the connected PT politicians?

Thanks for your reply. It is one of the very few balanced replies. I have to admit you are right that my respect for the democratic process, not only in Thailand, is not high. All over the world there are populist manipulating lying people who get voted into important positions. And then these often incompetent people do crazy and bad things. And then they use their power to manipulate the masses to vote for them again. All this can obviously only work with stupid and ignorant voters. But unfortunately there are many of those voters. And looking at the news from all over the world this is not getting better. I guess Churchill was right when he said “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” But that doesn't make it easier to watch how idiots vote for criminals, idiots, liars and other scum. And for the record: My comment is not about left or right or politics which l like or don't like. People don't participate in a healthy way in what democracy could be.

I am not your friend and I certainly don't want to be your friend. You have 5 posts and you think you know it all? Or were you banned and try again? If you have so much evidence against Prayut then bring it on. Go forward, post it on facebook, do something! You write a lot and know little. I prefer the people who live in Thailand for some time and know reality, you are obviously not one of them. Maybe read and listen for a while before you try to talk about something which you obviously don't understand.

Great. Now you should put a big poster outside: Experienced builder can build everything! ????

Interesting. It seems the fact that a twentysomething year old guy asking a 54 old woman for sex makes him a pervert. I wonder what our feminists will think about that one.

How much is the sin-sod? And is she still a virgin?

And how many were fired and prosecuted because of criminal activities including organized crime? Or should be assume such officers don't exist?

At least on that cover picture he doesn't show that usual stupid grin. I guess that is progress.

Good that all American and British and Australian and German and whatever guys always behave. Or maybe not?

Thanks. The following is from 1990, a year after the introduction from above. It seems like she didn't follow John's advice about showing off. But then, it was in Spain. ????

That reminds me of one of those [insert nationality] guys who walks around and looks in your eyes and tells you "I can see you are a lucky man". I was in a coffee shop a couple of years ago and he walked to the first table with that game and then the next table and then he came to my table. I told him very loud F@$# OFF! One second silence in the room, then applause for my comment and a few seconds later he was gone. Sometimes it's really not necessary to use so many words. ????

I am sure if anybody at that time would have prophesied "progress" in the modern world nobody would have even remotely thought that could ever happen.