bedouin1990

These people could not produce a good wine if a thousand French and Italians were advising them.

Polls are polls. Others show Romney the winner. I do not know how the election will turn out there. Regardless of who achieves power, and the circumstances (which Party controls the House and Senate) no quick change is likely to occur. The US, once the giant of the world economy, is in trouble, and so is the rest. America has been grid-locked for several decades now, and shows no promise of changing soon. I watch Thai politics and see that they are not better in my homeland. Until and unless the welfare of the citizens is placed above contentious partisan squabbling, the skies remain grey.

As a former long range motorcyclist in the US, I can tell you that the importance of a good brain-bucket is paramount. But there is more to consider. Riding one as a driver or passenger in typical clothing we wear here is also dangerous. My feeling is that this culture respects cyclists more because there are so many of them. If you have even a minor accident here-wearing shorts and T-shirt you will suffer major skin loss. I always, even in hot weather, wore leather pants and a jacket to minimize this. But in the climate here, that is not practical. The fact will always remain, you are far safer in a car/truck than on a motorized cycle. But we all cannot afford this. My only suggestion is that we drive defensively and carefully. For all the fun and joy of the freedom of a motorbike, we take an inherent risk.

I speak as an American who lives here. I challenge any reader to show an instance where dual pricing for public facility use is charged there. I will leave it to ethicists to determine if Thailand's policy is moral. If I wish to enjoy some facility, I simply pay the difference. I do not like it, and do not think it is encouraging of tourism. We can moan and whine all we wish, but it is what it is here. I have been charged a farang price in many things besides the Parks. I do not say it is right or justifiable, but it is simply the cost of living here. With my pension I still live a lot better here than in my country of origin. I am personally exercised by far greater frustrations in living here than this. I had a haircut yesterday for the cost of $1.3 which was better than I previously paid $18 in the US. Life is that way here- on some things we are better off, some not so.

One definition of Hell would be having to watch Thai soaps all day as a censor.

Soaps in every country I have visited are just pablum for those anesthetized from the neck up.

May I extend this topic a bit? I am coming to the LOS next month on a double entry Tourist visa. I plan to marry my fiance' soon afterwards. May I then, of course with proper documentation, convert the Tourist to a Non-O IN Thailand, or must I make a visa run? If it can be done within Thailand, can it be done at a district Immigration office, or the main office in Bangkok?

I would personally rather be governed by the first 200 people in the telephone directory than Obama.

My Kindle DX was dropped and broken but out of warranty. Called Amazon in the US and was told there are no repair facilities for Kindles anywhere but in the US. You might be better off purchasing a new one. They are now being sold in T'land and for same price as in the US. There was an article in ThaiVisa just a few days ago giving merchant names.

The US is the only major nation to tax the earnings on its citizens working and residing in a foreign country (above a certain threshold amount). Now they require that all citizens report ANy deposits in a foreign bank above an aggregate of $ 10K. http://www.forbes.com/2010/07/26/offshore-bank-accounts-irs-ubs-fbars-personal-finance-robert-wood.html. This is the so-called FBAR.

Beginning next year or in 2014 (this is unclear at this time) banks in foreign countries will be pressured by the IRS to report deposits of US citizens. http://www.americanthinker.com/printpage/?url=http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/../2011/11/fatca_a_ticking_time_bomb_for_the_economy.html. This is FATCA.

For a more detailed discussion see: http://www.aca.ch/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=457&Itemid=95#sdendnote6anc

Note that you will NOT be taxed for having a foreign account, only that you must report it, and that your bank must do likewise. There is a presumption that you are somehow suspicious for keeping money or having invetments overseas. The greatest fear is that many foreign banks will simply cease giving accounts to US citizens to avoid the paperwork drill and the threat of potential fines. One wonders why the Feds want all this information. Once again expat Americans are embarrassed by the political and governmental approach of trying to kill a mosquito with a shotgun.

But there is more. Under the Bank Secrecy Act, American banks must file a SAR ( Suspicious Activities Report) to the IRS on any individual who transports more than $ 10K out of the country. Or on individuals who transport it into the US. Here again, expats are brought under scrutiny.

You read above the furor over a former Facebook founder. A little known amendment to the National Transportation bill already passed in March of this year by the US Senate provided that the IRS may demand the State Department revoke or refuse to issue passports to citizens who the Tax boys claim owes more than 50K in back income taxes. This may affect some expats who are living abroad because they cannot afford to pay their taxes from times past.

It concerns this writer that, if these trends continue, expartriation will someday be disallowed or prohibitively difficult. In a government headed slowly toward insolvency, the pols are digging for all the data and money they can find.

The Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C. is notorious for not answering phone calls or emails. Moreover, for reasons not explained, they will not issue a double entry Tourist Visa which can be extended for a total of 6 months IF the holder leaves and then re-enters the country after the first 90 days. The best you can obtain from them is a single entry which, with a 30 day extension will allow you to stay 90 days.But if you exit to go to Viet Nam then you visa is used, and you will require another visa to return to Thailand.

Your best bet is to apply for another single entry Tourist Visa while you are in Viet Nam at the Thai Embassy there.

This is more complicated than most non-medical people understand. Suffer me to share some thoughts as a retired American Orthopedic Surgeon. No matter how much bureaucrats and bean-counters like it, the medical phrase "emergency," is not easily definable A bad cold is not an emergency in a normally healthy person, but it is for someone with an underlying serious medical condition. A broken finger is different as an emergency from a fractured femur. Anyone who is sick or injured naturally feels their problem is an emergency. So would most of the readers.

Here, as in America and the rest of the more advanced world, physicians must practice triage-assign the seriousness of what comes before them on the basis of the where their ministrations and technology can provide the greatest good for the most people. No governmental system is capable of substituting their "rules" and "standards" over the educated judgement of trained doctors. Systems no longer trust doctors, and that is the fundamental problem. They throw the bottom financial line out as the standard of care. Budgets, stockholder interests above patient care.

I sympathize and empathize with Thailand on this issue. It is a country of limited resources, and practical necessity forces them to draw lines. It is good medicine to allow emergencies to go to the closest hospitals. But can the government truly reimburse the private facilities for their care? I doubt it. Even in the world's wealthiest nation-the US- Medicare and Medicaid paid me only 20-25% of my usual fees, and even less to the hospitals and Clinics.

So..... what is the answer? I certainly do not have it! When I retired after 31 years of practice, my accountant said I gave away 1.5 million dollars worth of free care ( 450 million . That's almost as much as Thaksin makes a month on his investments. No matter. When I graduated from Medical School, I swore an oath. To use my knowledge and skills for the betterment of mankind. I was true to my oath.

Am I looking for sympathy or praises of nobility for doing it MY WAY? S**T no. The first responsibility of a doctor is to give the best care. That-not money is what it is all about. In all countries.

Virtually every time this man makes a statement-of any sort- he further demonstrates his lack of intelligence, his greed, his defiance of logic. He reminds me somewhat of a famous American evangelical who described the cure for rape in castration of those convicted. No matter how many people are executed, the demand for drugs will go on, and there will be other sources for them. Every nation has learned this. Drug dealing should be a crime, but Chalerm is taking the approach of Saudi Arabia to the problem. Severe, even barbaric, but it will not make a dent in the ongoing problem.

Shades of America! As a (prematurely) retired surgeon, I smell the malodorous "dumping syndrome." Hospitals, and their medical staff-some of whom have a financial interest in the hospital- will obfuscate and lie to get money-losing patients onto the referral hospitals. What is often forgotten is that healthcare businesses, like other businesses, have to at least break even and preferably make a profit to fund wage increases, overhead increases and the purchase of the latest technology. The great advances is medical technology in the last 40 years has been extremely expensive.They are both saving yet prolonging life so more expenses will be incurred in the future. It is a never ending upward spiral.

Thailand has a 2 tiered medical system (as does America). Yet it has far fewer resources to fund some type of Universal Care. From the information given, I think the government has taken the right approach here. Those who take the guaranteed sum per patient, are obligated to live with it. Or opt out. Just look at what Medical Tourism has become in Bangkok-wildly profitable.

Can someone please clarify something for me? Are these 3 hour q's to enter or depart Thailand? Or both?

Thanks

Who are we-strangers in this country to judge? The girl may have a legitimate gripe, and maybe not. I have given up trying to understand this culture. I am weary of the griping and whining. So, come the end of this month, I will go back to a culture I understand somewhat. I sure as hell do not understand this one.

I well understand the position of the Japanese. But Thailand and it's people desperately need the jobs these companies provide. While I have little faith in the Thai government, for the sake of it's people, I hope they plan better for the future.

My country of birth does not grant passports to convicted felons who avoid prison sentences. And it is utter Leftist soft brain thinking to believe having one is a "human right." But now what will he do with it? Return? Doubtful for the time being. I suspect the only way he will try it is if he gets complete control of the Army. And, last I recall, they are NOT his friend.

When all is said and done, if the man comes back it will be all the excuse the Army needs to assume power again. My Liberal side thinks that would be wrong, but my Conservative side keeps telling me who did a creditable job managing the floods. I remind myself that I am a guest living here at the sufferance of the government. And of what Thomas Jefferson said: I ignore what does not break my bones, pick my pocket or degrade me.

Dysfunctional and wacko people like him make me ashamed to be an American living peacefully here!

It is an egregious insult to man's best friend to be compared to the ruling government of Thailand. Watching how the PTU operate is like watching 5 monkeys trying to fornicate a football.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can. And the wisdom to know the difference. - Prayer of St. Francis -

I do not know about the rest of my farang colleagues, but I am sick to death about hearing about Thaksin and Thai politics. We live here largely immune to it all. WE do not influence the politics here, THEY do. So long as they are not running us out of the country, why care? Live and let live.

The King is a trained engineer, and has over the years devoted much time to trying to show people, especially in rural areas, how to use these principles to better their lives.His comprehensive plan for flood control goes nowhere. Ignored. Just as the advice to the government by water experts who came to Thailand to offer their assistence-free of charge and with no ulterior motive- during the present floods.

It is really a great verity that, the major difference between intelligence and stupidity is that,at least intelligence has limits.