Baerboxer

I vote yes.

Now how do I ensure my right to a dual English/Scottish nationality with two passports?

Whats the point of it?

Free university education for your children.

Easier rules for immigration.

Different tax system.

Better health care.

Getting away from the current British police state.

Do I need to go on .......

Do you in your wildest Dreams think that Salmond can deliver all of these wishes?

Well yes, when he goes to England for a loan. Remember Greece, Spain, and sure more to come.

How can you have a independent Scotland when so many Scots live in England. Will Scotland keep Scots that are on benefits in England, or will that be all worked out by Salmond.

You can be sure of one thing Salmond doesn't come to the negotiating table, only the free Banquet table!

If Salmond gets his dream of an independent Scotland he must remember that, as a new country he will have to apply to join the EU, should he so wish; and demonstrate he can meet the appropriate financial requirements etc.

Not only the Scottish should be able to vote on this referendum. It is splitting up the United Kingdom therefore all parts of the Kingdom should be involved; English, Welsh and Northern Irish as well as Scottish.

Absolutely agree with you. Why should the small population of Scotland be allowed to decide something for the whole of the UK? This should be a UK wide referendum.

I vote yes.

Now how do I ensure my right to a dual English/Scottish nationality with two passports?

Whats the point of it?

Free university education for your children.

Easier rules for immigration.

Different tax system.

Better health care.

Getting away from the current British police state.

Do I need to go on .......

Do you in your wildest Dreams think that Salmond can deliver all of these wishes?

Well yes, when he goes to England for a loan. Remember Greece, Spain, and sure more to come.

How can you have a independent Scotland when so many Scots live in England. Will Scotland keep Scots that are on benefits in England, or will that be all worked out by Salmond.

@Majic

He can't do worse than the current British government.

And how do you define a Scot?

If you are English and move to Scotland, will your pension be frozen.

Will everyone in the UK be given a choice, will it be people who are living there at the time ........... etc.

The current UK government might not be the best or brightest but I assure you Alex Salmond could do a lot lot worse.

If Scotland get there independance, it could be a big blow to are security. Here's a snip-it from my local newspaper.

"It came as former First Sea Lord Admiral Lord West, an ex-commander of a Devonport-based ship, warned Scottish independence could lead the UK to give up its nuclear deterrent altogether, because the cost of replicating the facilities would be too great."

http://www.thisisply...tail/story.html

Another good reason to vote 'yes', the UK doesn't need nukes.

It does if it wants to be able to protect its world interests. Or do you prefer the UK to break up and hope all the future issues that need facing will be settled by nice discussions? The lack of reality and credibility is astonishing.

I wonder if we have to be resident in Scotland to get a vote - I want independence.

And what do you you think independence will give you? Get real.

I just would like to know how many laws you have to break to issue a passport to a criminal on the run

people know my opinions about the case, but he was found guilty, so how can he get a passport?

When will you guys wake up? Taksin is not a criminal by any rational Juristic persons standards other than the system of justice corrupted by the Democrat conspiracy at that time. Everything since Taksin's conviction is orchestrated by Democrat conspirators who continue to hope that Taksin is further damaged or even destroyed. Anyone in Thailand that is copus mentos will know that is irrational. In fact what the Democrats seek woulhat d probably Damage Thailand even more seriously than the damage that they already caused.

He is a criminal until any conviction is overturned by a court with appropriate authority. The issue here is has another law or laws been broken in issuing a passport to a fugitive. If so, the passport must be cancelled and those breaking the law dealt with in accordance with the law.

If you have a truck with square wheels, you could probably bumble on slowly down the road a short distance. At some point though, you'd be smart to change to round wheels - the sooner the better.

Another move might be to put on triangular wheels, this would give you one bump less per rotation.

or oval could be interesting!

BKK is a disorganised, filthy, dangerous DUMP compared to Singapore. So Thailand could only have ranked so high if they excluded those expats who currently live in BKK!!!!!

Singapore might be more clean, safer and more organized.........but is extremely boring to say the least!

If you are excited by Asian women who are beautiful, wealthy, highly educated and speak perfect English, then Singapore isn't boring in the slightest... On the flip side of the same coin, the only Thai women who will be interested in you in Bangkok as a foreigner are perhaps very beautiful too, but are also dirt poor, virtually uneducated and illiterate and with first-grade English skills, and tend to act like spoiled little kids. That makes for a very boring relationship and you even have to pay Thai women for sex too. You don't have to do that in Singapore. You don't need to be the best-looking guy, you just need to dress fairly well, try to be funny and witty, be a gentleman and make the ladies laugh and you can have any number of beautiful, rich Asian women in Singapore who will go with you for fun and excitement, not for money, because they already have plenty of that. What Thai women won't tell you, but is a true fact nevertheless, is that Thai women don't really prefer Western guys in the looks department. They only prefer them because they can get more money from them than they can from Thai men. Give them a choice between an equally wealthy falang and a Thai man and they'll choose the Thai man every time. There's always a social stigma attached to a Thai girl being with a falang man, whether she is a prostitute or not. On the other hand, Chinese girls in Singapore are actually more attracted to Westerners and money is not their primary motivation, because they have money enough. The idea that you as a boyfriend/husband would be expected to support her family in any way would be laughed at and totally goes against their culture. So in short, Singapore isn't boring, it's exciting and unpredictable, and it's Thailand that's crushingly boring because your interaction with women here is so predictable and based exclusively on money, and involves no communication other than the understanding that you will pay them for sex. You can't talk with Thai women except the same way you would talk with a bunch of kiddies in the kindergarten... So you end up feeling like a perv even if the girl is 25 or 30 because her English level or IQ is equivalent to kindergarten. True, there are educated Thais, but they are so snobbish and racist and wouldn't be seen dead with a Western guy. Now how boring is that? Even though I'm not exactly Brad Pitt, I know how to charm Asian ladies and make them laugh, and I have even been wined and dined by Singapore girls at their expense (they actually get a kick out of "wearing the pants" because they are financially strong) and then go back and shag them crazy, for fun, and not ruining it all by having to pay her or fork out for a dying buffalo / sick cousin. Singapore girls win every time!

Wow - an international man of mystery posting on TV! Smooth as silk with the all those nubile Chinese Singapore girls falling at his feet; and such a deep understanding of Thai culture and female psychology, no doubt researched methodically and carefully.

Is it Bond, Powers or a billionaire playboy? ....................... or more probably Richard Head

Every country has its plus and minuses for expats. I have taken part in the HSBC surveys and they don't have questions about the sexual habits of females.

Tantalisingly the survey doesn't say why Thailand came in second in Asia. We are left to assume that it comes in very close after Singapore in terms of earning power, career progression, low commuting time and child safety.

Then I noticed a quote from HSBC's head of retail banking and wealth management in Singapore which makes me wonder. If Thailand ranks so highly in this survey, why has HSBC just closed down its retail banking and wealth management unit in Bangkok and is about to close its credit card division? Perhaps the next regional CEO will have to execute a rapid about turn and re-launch these businesses. However, they will have to try harder next time. By the end the quality of staff and service at HSBC Bangkok was absolutely pitiful.

You beat me to it Arkady! HSBC are restructuring operations all over the place, strengthening in some areas and reducing in others - and presumably have some grand plan. My understanding is the retail banking part of their business in Thailand was very profitable, with a high number of premier grade customers. So they were able to sell this off at a very good price. I thought the wealth management side one of the poorest though.

My experience at the end was a littile different to yours - I got everything transferred and set up with a few minor issues and extra trips. The biggest loss to me is the connection to globalview and free money transfers.

It's nearly impossible to run out of money in Thailand. It's just too cheap and you can make money here under the table. He could hide here forever on that amount.

I can tell you've been here all of five minutes. Cheap compared to where? Thailand has never been as expensive. I guess if you're shacked up in a field eating Mama thrice a day, then yes, it could be cheap.

Bangkok is in fact very cheap compared to other capital cities, such as London. Almost everything here is a small fraction of the cost of London. The rest of Thailand is even cheaper. I have no idea why anyone would think it's not cheap. One example - one stop on BTS is 15 baht. One stop in central London on underground is 200 baht. Plenty of examples like this. I live well here and on a small fraction of what I spent in London. Bottle of Heineken here 75 baht, London 200 baht. Postage - cheaper to post a letter from Bangkok to Manchester, than from London to Manchester. Property prices - much cheaper here. Food - much cheaper here. What exactly do you find expensive about Thailand?

What exactly do you find expensive about Thailand? Having a Thai wife and children!

They catch someone and then there are posts on TV talking about corruption? <deleted>!

How can anyone automatically jump to the conclusion that he bribed officials to enter the country - that is just pathetic. More likely he entered on a 'clean' passport which he obtained because he was involved in a corruption dispute with a rival mafioso, so it is pretty obvious he was 'connected' in the German underworld. It riles me when some people immediately make assumptions that the problem stems from Thailand all the time. Grow up!

Agree with you. The German authorities were somewhat lapse allowing a prisoner on medical leave to sell his house and abscond with the proceeds. Maybe they need to look closely at what happened in Germany. He enters Thailand, get his tourist visa, then lays low. Not the only one doing this. German police get a tip-off and pass a request to RTP who arrest him. He has overstayed his visa so they can deport him without extradition. Looks lke a German problem.

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of negative and cynical comments. Look, who on earth can predict a; 'Major Tropical Storm' look Rome was not built in a 'year'. Stop the negitives and start praising. Well done to all who have worked during the last year to help alliviate the problems of; 'excess rainfall'. Thailand is Thailand not Holland, not US, stop gripeing. If you all feel that bad move back to your counrty of birth.

3 posts and you're telling people to go home?

That's right, don't comment on the political corruption and inept actions of a government more concerned with scams and pocketing money than actually doing anything positive. Were you here throughout last year's floods? Why do you think there are discussion forumns on socail media? Or are you just a new troll on the block?

I really hate saying this, but I think the academics should really do what they are trained for. Teach and improve the Thai education system not get involved with government pollocies that are not deally with education.

Academics = research = improvements. Not all about teaching. Get it?

It is truly amazing that a country with such a dismal education system and so such academic standards have so many academics that are take seriously by the press. I would advice Thai academics to go to work and increase their own performance to at least Cambodian standards.

You have sound research to back up your assertions that the level of academic standards and education is higher in Cambodia than Thailand do you?

In my opinion the whole system needs a complete make over. It can not be done over night. They could start out with giving a raise to the teachers. Also raise the bar on qualifications to become a teacher. This in it's self will take several years to bear fruit but it will. They could immediately start failing students who can not or in all likely hood won't do the work required. This would hurt many students but it would teach them and send a message to all the students that school was where you come to learn. Teachers are teachers not baby sitters.

In my opinion there is to much emphasis put on learning English The reality is that at the most only 10% of them will ever need it. The classes that do teach it should have qualified teachers. When I say qualified I mean able to teach not have a piece of paper. Nothing sadder than buying a product from a Thai seller that can get through with their English but need a calculator to make change on a 39 baht item when you give them a 100 baht note. Mathematics is the one subject that they will all be able to use in their life yet people think English is more important. Teach them a little History out side of Thailand. Here in Chiang Mai we had a whole school think that the Nazi's were the good guys.Teach them a little bit about the world outside their village. Show them that there is more to life than just their village or Town.

I do not know but It would not surprise me to hear that they know very little about Thailand outside their area be it a village or Bangkok.

edit

Forgot to mention they have to stop using education as a football first. Do what they have to do to find a man capable of doing the job and leave him in the position. Even if there is a change of government.

English language ability is key if they want to enter higher education, work for MNC's, or pursue education or employment outside of Thailand. Why do you think there are more people in China learning English than the population of the UK? It's the language of business, science and education. The reality is that all of them need it to stand any chance of bettering themselves. Limiting it to the small top % helps keep the feudal society intact. English and mathematics are key enablers.

The whole school system from the bottom to the top is corrupt. Thailand can forget about having "qualified" teachers here unless they're in international schools. At least 95% of the population can't afford the real international schools. Private schools won't improve because it's easier to hand the ministry an envelope than it is to have a real inspection and make improvements. Note that international schools are inspected for accreditation from western board. Many dedicated teachers teaching at government and private schools struggle to do their best while fighting the admin for improvements. At many "prestigious" private schools you will struggle to find reading material for the students in the classroom. Teachers can forget about taking their students to the library. It's not allowed. I put very little blame on the teachers.Schooling is big business in Thailand and many people could lose a lot of money if there was a real overhaul. Not failing students, lack of materials, lack of freedom to teach, too much testing, no organization, corruption and lack of a decent curriculum are just some of the things teachers are dealing with.

Your comments are inconsistent - "can forget about having "qualified" teachers here unless they're in international schools" and "Many dedicated teachers teaching at government and private schools struggle to do their best while fighting the admin for improvements".

I know many Thai teachers, some teaching in government shcools, some in private schools. The vast majority are hard working, concientious teachers who chose teaching for all the right reasons. It's their profession and they struggle against the "system" as indeed do teachers in many other countries. Of course there are some below par teachers, but again the same is true in all the countries I've lived in. Sending your children to an expensive or international private school does not guarantee the performance of indvidual teachers, in my experience.

The problem really lies with the MOE and policies which are not designed to provide higher education for the masses. Add to this the various levels of corruption and bureaucracy. Massive orverhaul needed - and there are lots of lessons learned from other countries which could be really useful. But, there has to be the politcal will and we all know the reality there.

Would China care in the slightest what Yingluck or her relatives in government think? She has more than enough problems at home to occupy her full attention.

Yes, but PM Yingluck drew attention to it in a UN speech. Her predecessors didn't.

No - the US Labour Department report drew attention to it.

It seems to be every other day these news. A foreigner murdered by a local(which in this case it is not proven, but if it is 'the usual business' , I assume it is the case.)

Very sad the way thailand is going down the drains,also because they rely so much on tourists and foreigners economically.

I once wished to go to thailand to live, but after reading this forum, I would never do it. In fact , I would not even go there on holiday, I think.

It seems like a society gone mentally ill.

On one hand they do anything to appear white, on the other hand there is a real hatred for foreigners.

Now, if i was male, I would NEVER marry a thai, because how can you be really sure?

Don't know what the attitudes towards white females are, but there sure are a lot of attacks on those, too.

Luckily, Asia is large and there are plenty other countries to choose from. As it is now, Thailand would be at the very bottom of my list. Such a beautiful country, but such ugly mentality. Really sad.

What nonsense! Looks like you've made your mind up you don't like Thais or Thailand so presumably you'll be looking for another site to troll on.

So, a completely correct decision requiring integrity and a conscience ................ coming from a PTP member who previously has removed to budge on many occassions. Whilst I am absolutely delighted.......what's the catch ????

A very good question you ask.....

Maybe he hopes this will all simply die down now and fizzle out.

It seems to me like an attempted face-saver before the event:

If it floods it's due to the worst rains in 100 years; nothing they could have done;

If it doesn't what a great job they have done preventing flooding despite the worst rains in 100 years.

Yes - that's about the size of it. More concerned with political posturing and face-saving rather than trying to do anything about it.

Hope it improves the Asian beers. Heineken is a much better beer than Singha, Chang, Tiger or Leo, but unfortunately that is reflected in the price.

That's your opinion! It's all a matter of personal taste. I'd sooner have virtually any beer than Heinken which I find bland, tasteless and p/poor.

I don't think reporting the names hurts - after all - it is what it is. The victim likes ladyboys and the lady boy team are crims. The location - Pattaya -

Now just suppose that the German man is married, or that he doesn't want everyone to know he likes ladyboys ?

No respect for privacy that's what it is. He didn't commit any crime did he ?

Yermanee

Ganz genau! He is the victim of a crime and now his personal and private behaviour becomes public knowledge.