new2here

Of course, the optics of this look bad… very bad… but.. I think to be fair, we’d need to know context.. Larger employers might have more “wiggle” room to temporarily shift work around to cover .. smaller firms might not… Is the work specialized that only a handful can/do do, or it is generalized? I also think it’s fair to look into her prior attendance record.. Again, I do think there’s room for compassion and understanding.. but.. I have to balance that against business realities .. both sides have needs and in a fair solution, both sides must have some of their needs met.

I think it’s very very situational and dependent on your total financial picture I bought 4 years ago - a former show unit - on Sathorn Road .. as Sathorn is essentially fully developed, there isn’t a lot of risk of a whole lot of new units coming on the market in my immediate area… I got a deal on the price - but also the seller kicked in nearly all of the showroom furnishings (otherwise they’d have to pay to have them removed and taken back to the original seller) - so my purchase kind of became a “turn key” situation. As for profits — the way I looked at it … so long the condo didn’t DEpreciate more than i would have paid someone else in rent, then I’m happy. After 4 years, I’m a little above where I paid - maybe 5% to 10% max if I pushed it - but I cede that had I taken the purchase price of the condo and wisely invested that back in the US and paid rent here, I would probably be ahead mathematically… but for me, that wasn’t the goal per se. I wanted to own so I would control where I live and the issues surrounding it.. but i also cede that with renting, you gain the benefit of having the ability to largely walk away and call a problem “not my problem” whereas owning comes with longer term financial liabilities… and some risks; call me condo boards, surprise assessments etc

I don’t disagree.. but.. they’d have to do worse damage than other competing countries.. and the way I see it - specifically to SE Asia - despite all the negatives that Thailand has or has proposed - they still enjoy a “teflon” like coating… will that remain forever? doubt it.. but i think a lot of other countries will have to make bigger strides forward AND gain more name recognition/credibility.. an advantage that Thailand has enjoyed for a LONG time over their neighbors and regional Asian competitors.

I agree that Thailands direction relative to what I’d call a “value proposition” for retirees is becoming less and less valuable … but… like it is with tourism.. rightly or wrongly.. thailand has had - for a long time - a near teflon coating .. and while they may implement X or Y rules that are clearly a net negative for a retirees, there’s STILL a large number who come.. so… i’d argue, so long as that trend doesn’t stop, there’s simply no incentive for Thailand to make it better…there will still be X thousands who come each year …. plus, another point, retirees don’t vote.. and from a political ends, hitting a non-vote eligible segment of the people is a safer way to extract revenue than a voting segment. Short sighted? perhaps.. but again, it’s one that seems to have worked for Thailand for quite some time .. therefore I’d argue there’s no impending incentive for them to loosen up or change the rules in favor of a non-citizen.

This is true… and there is a reason for this.. PRIVATE carriers like the FedExs and UPS’ of the world MUST pre-notify inbound customs of what’s coming.. regardless of what it is.. they break up shipments into “doc”’or document and “non-doc” shipments … generally doc shipments (commonly letters etc ) can move with no paperwork and clear with minimal fuss and inspection and no fees/duties.. for NON-doc things it can really vary based on the import country, what it is, their tariff schedule etc … Back in the day UPS actually sent a scanned image of actual paper attached to all non-doc shipments electrically from the center where the package was picked up by UPS- so either Louisville, Ontario, Miami or whichever gateway was used could see the docs were in good order AND they were sent onward to the UPS brokerage office at the destination.. and the brokerage arm would work with customs to determine what will pass without inspection, what is dutiable.. that way when the packages actually arrives in country, most of what will happen to what packages is largely known… that’s where the fee comes from.. the brokerage …. With public post, for most non-commercial shipments of small value, there is no formal importation process - thus no need for a brokerage per se.. and if needed it’s included - up to a certain limit… now, if you send a high value shipment commercially, yes, the destination country could deem that a dutiable shipment and may also require a formal entry process - whereby a brokerage would become involved. So.. it’s not so much UPS’ or FedExs fault per se, but more a reflection of the process differences between public post mail and private express couriers..

I think that it’s perhaps a fair claim about SkyTrax given they are largely a ratings/review entity.. However, T&L I think is a bit different as they are first and foremost a legitimate travel magazine dating back to the 70s as I recall. So, while I might question yhr .. scope .. of someone like SkyTrax, I think T&Ls ratings are probably based on much more data actual traveler data and from a wider audience. But in the end, any “rating” for things that are not purely numerical and objects in nature, are always going to be both subjective and biased no matter to source

There is already a sworn FBI employee assigned to and physically present in Bangkok. they can of course bring in others from other regional offices who may have larger staff or specialists.

this is exactly how I carry mine. Passport data page, last entry stamp, extension .. color copied, scaled down to credit card size and nicely laminated. In the maybe handful of times that I’ve been asked by any kind of law enforcement entity, it’s been accepted without comment. Of course banks and when applying for any kind of government action (ie immigration matters, work permit matters) you’ll need the original- but for the random law enforcement contact, i’ve never had anyone ask for or demand the actual hard copy document.

I agree.. I think the pay-as-you-go method, while perhaps not the most user-friendly way to go about it, I agree that is limits the chances for any kind of misunderstanding, fraud, etc about accumulated bills. IF there is a problem, better it be found and addressed early on - when the value in question is probably still small compared to an end-of-the-night total … and when perhaps memories and evidence is still fresh.

Sure.. I use the word “contact” in the broadest context.. to include physical presence, verbal interaction etc.

To me, if we’re going to go down this road of direct or indirect state subsidies, then I think the state has the right to have some of their issues also addressed by the carriers. As example, I might say if we’re going to cut the Jet A/A1 tax by THBX per kilo, then I’d think it’s reasonable for the state to mandate a reduction in fares in A, B and C fare classes of equal or higher levels to that of the tax cut. If we’re going the route of direct support - then that’s something else and something bigger, and now I think the state should have a “seat at the table” so to speak in terms of planning and overview management as taxpayers money is now being used by a private enterprise and the state/public has rights to ensure that their assets are used for the larger public good.

I have heard the same.. as i understand it, it’s the formal/classic that evidentially is quite different than that’s modern version that is the hard part.. often my kids say thai class is by far harder than math, sci, bio and all the other usual “it’s hard” subjects

I agree.. I DO think online can SUPPLEMENT a physical presence teacher, but for lower education kids (call me middle school to even high school age) I think they really need that physical “contact” between teachers and students.

I think the hybrid model of education for high schools IS very workable … BUT… and it’s a big “but” …. it requires 1) a significant commitment by the parents to support it, 2) relies on the assumption there is adequate tech build out (ie access to reasonable speedy wifi and related tech) and 3) a student body that has the necessary self-motivation and discipline to study in a larger hands-off environment. I think there are schools where these elements are present and as such, I’d guess hybrid learning is workable.. but… i suspect the vast majority of schools (speaking for public lower level prathom and even upper matthyom level) schools) this just isn’t reality … and that to me outs hybrid learning into a risky scenario.

To me the key here would be to hold the “guards” employee also liable … financially so.. You charge the guard with a criminal act subject to arrest and imprisonment.. natural persons can be imprisoned … at the same time, you charge the employer with a civil offense subject to steep fines and/or seizure of any assets used in the commission of said employees crime .. as you cant really imprison a corporate entity, you go after what they do have - assets … that to me, is how best to tackle it.. go after each parties exposure. I’ve long said, once you start taking away people’s “stuff” from the wealthy, they take notice - because that’s the weak spot.. for those who don’t have large assets, you take the freedom, incarcerate them.

that’s true.. working foreigners are pretty straight forward .. I agree.. my larger point is that the same general idea could be used to address those who have “income” but derived form outside thailand and imported into the kingdom

Here is my GUESS.. For many with Work Permits, one of the various requirements for renewal is that your show your PD 90/91 to Labour before they’ll authorize a renewal (assuming you worked in Thailand in the previous calendar year) So… what I could see is that Immigration adds the mandate that you show a PD 90/91 to them as a part of the overall renewal of stay process… by doing so, they would then be able to see if a foreigner has fulfilled their tax reporting/payment obligations. Again, this is just my guess how Immigration and Revenue might be able to handle the new requirement.. but this only works for those who have Thai-based incomes.. so.. for those who have “assets” that come into thailand from abroad .. I could see Revenue now requiring BANKS to report assets received from out-of-country sources, and paid into accounts held by non-Thais… at that point the non-thai would have to either claim it as taxable under thai law … or show that it’s not subject to taxation due to things like perhaps an applicable tax treaty, failing to meet the minimum number of days in country etc.

I agree. I think before covid and just offer it, places that really were either wholly or substantially tourism driven were tripping over themselves to attract those dollars back into their local economies and government coffers.. but .. i also think that are some point not too after that, the deluge occurred.. and now we see places like Japan implanting “controls”, anti-tourism (which ever way you choose to see this) in hopes to better manage it.. but I do agree in principle that many of these tourism dependent places do have limits to how far they can control it… they may want to better control the “goose”.. but they still need it to lay that golden egg.

Here’s my take.. and it’s not a compete “pass” nor a condemnation either… I think when you’re taking about changing an entity like “education” in Thailand - that’s absolutely massive.. consider all tens of thousands of people that it encompasses, the various major divisions (ie OBEC,OHEC,OVCE,etc) and the overall top-down vertical structure that it currently operates under. Anything with that size, scope, breadth and diversity is going to be hard to change and any change that does come, will most likely be incremental and gradual. The other thing that I myself don’t see enough of is direct parent involvement.. Yes, I recognize that in many cases the local teachers and school directors hold a great deal of explicit and implicit power - and that can make openingly questioning them a socially difficult thing to do.. but I really do think change will also require parents to have a “seat at the table” as for any change to really take hold will require their buy-in so to speak. I do think it can be done.. but as it is with making an aircraft carrier size vessel turn a 180 turn, that’s going to take time, may make some uncomfortable during said transition as new norms are formed and others must come to the table to give input and support.

I agree.. I DO however think that they should retain the right of innocent until proven guilty.. So to me, I’d be a fan of removed from active duty and placed on administrative leave with pay - yes, with pay… I’m just not a fan of this “reassigned” thing that seems to be the norm. If he is subsequently convicted, then any pay starting from the point of the criminal act going forward is then forfeited. obviously if he happens to be cleared or found not guilty, then he retains all rights to pay etc and returned to service.

Yes, I don’t recall - from arms length - there is anything that explicitly says that property used in the commission of a crime isn’t subject to judicial action (call me a seizure etc) even if the “owner” isn’t or wasn’t a direct participant. Now, to be fair, I’m sure the judicial would look at to what extent did the actual owner have - ie did they know or have reasonable expectations to know .. or were they essentially “blind” to its use.

This is the part that I myself don’t like.. I don’t think the ability of the accused to “settle” with the plaintiff then somehow ends the states obligation to bring the appropriate criminals charges. In end the, yes the accused “settled” (at an assumed fair amount to the plaintiff) but that still doesn’t extinguish the reality that there was an alleged criminal act committed and IMHO, the state has the onus and obligation to file charges accordingly.. sure the judicial can take into account the fact that the accused settled- but settling should not end the process.

I would agree that it’s long over due… but… given that there are some consumer prices that are around the sub 15 baht level, that makes it somewhat hard if there’s a discount of say 10% … but in totality, I think the overall monetary and banking system would be better served without them.. or at minimum, take the 25 satang out and leave the 50.. at least then there’s some relief for small change purchases where I think the BoT got it right was moving to a polymer based B20 note as the lifespan far far exceeds traditional paper-based notes despite the initial higher print costs. I’d wonder if perhaps the B50 could be phased out and keep it as 20,100,500,1000 only

to me there’s a somewhat easy fix . Mandate that any account that is used for purely immigration purposes (ie holding X baht for visa issuance/renewal basis) be done so at Krungthai Bank … and concurrent with that, mandate that any Krungthai bank will open accounts for any foreigner IF said account will be used for his/her immigration purposes. Id choose Krungthai as they are the defacto state bank for retail and institutional affairs (but also true they are also partially publicly held and whose shares trade on the domestic equity exchange) and the one most integrated into the governments business. for consumer protection you could add restrictive language like these accounts must earn a minimum of the BoTs BIBOR (or some other consumer based rate) and that it is liquid to the extent required by Immigration. That way there is little financial downside to holding your funds at Krungthai, you’re assured that you be an actually get an account and that they account type meets the immigration rules. Two upsides.. As Krungthai is largely a SOE you’re essentially providing capital to a SOE.. and #2, you’d essentially kill off that catch-22 of needing an account to get your long term visa/renewal, but can’t get an account until you have that long term visa/renewal.

I’ve used Sombat before and, on the whole, would agree that they are a reliable and reputable firm.. Nakorn Chai Air would also fall into that category for me as well. That said, what I worry more about is less to do with Sombat or NCA, it’s busses or staff, but the proverbial “other guy” as thailand has a fairly poor (IMHO) road safety and driving load compliance history.. So while Sombat or NCA may be fine, it’s the other guys who are out there that to me is where your larger risk is.. But I agree that for bus travel goes I’d gladly take Sombat or NCA over the US’ Greyhound (or any other mid size regional carrier) any time.