soalbundy

I don't even care what happens in the UK let alone Thailand. Interference can get you into trouble here and it isn't appreciated by Thai citizens whatever colour shirt they wear. Thais must sort their own problems out and these can't be that big otherwise they would have done so by now. Yes there have been political protests, mostly half hearted and not very long lasting mostly because when all is said and done the Thais generally have an agreeable life and society functions in a Thai way they are accustomed to, god forbid we should have situations as in Myanmar. Europe needed 200 years of political reform before we have the standards prevalent today led by galant souls protesting against unspeakable exploitation and poverty, by and large Thais live in a rather benevolent society by comparison due in no small measure to the past struggles in Europe. I don't want to see violence (the last coup was relatively peaceful) and we probably wont, some political upheaval and protests, yes, that's just the way it is until things settle back to the status quo. Thais don't need high and mighty westerners telling them how things should be done, if it's so great back home what are we doing here?

Why on earth should we farang take any notice of Thai politics? We can't change anything and whoever is in power doesn't affect us, the last coup almost went unnoticed where I live, life went on as normal. A coup would have entertainment value only as far as I'm concerned. Whoever has their snout in the trough will go unnoticed by us, corruption will continue and the comedy that is Thai politics will continue its merry dance.

Yeah, thanks for the warning, got it you holidaying farang ? if you want to holiday in a 3rd world country in Asia and take a whore back to your room.......leave your Rolex at home.

You don't know when he bought it, when life was more benevolent to him, before his child was born perhaps ? If one is going to err then it is better to err in the belief in good, there are enough dark skies and gloom in life. He appears to be young, a young impoverished parent doing his best to do the right thing, there are enough Thai fathers who abscond when the girl is pregnant, I prefer to honour him as a decent father.

Considering the cost of air travel and the money spent on hotels and entertainment, 37 Euros isn't going to break the bank. I thought that 500 Baht was reasonable, the fact that they are considering to double the fee shows that all is not well as much as TAT would like it to be.

It's pointless arguing with greed, it's an inherent human quality and a bullet has an argument all of its own. Laws never stopped murder or theft and no religion has ever stopped sin. The best we can hope for is the famous Buddhist 'middle way', a little of this and that but not to much of either. The greatest works of literature and philosophy had their birth in evil, heroes need a tyrant to prevail over, the gallant struggles of reform by the workers in the last 200 years needed the all powerful owners of industry and rich land owners to fight. We don't have perfection in the west and perhaps that is a good thing, struggles against injustice are the juices that sustain vibrant life, perfection is the death of society.

The electorate can't even prevail in the west, if they could there would be no need for food banks and homelessness, Liz Truss in the UK was shown that the markets rule not the government. In Thailand even the army must be wary of the power of international market forces.

"A bright future for the country"......sounds a little naive to me, nothing corrupts so thoroughly like power. What starts off well meaning can soon get crushed under the weight of bundles of 1,000 Baht bank notes. Remember, regardless of which party, we are talking about politicians not saints and the army is always there to remind them where the real power lies, if bank notes wont do it then tanks will.

True, if those arrested were working they are obviously needed, just bureaucracy slammed on the poor but then it's always easier to go after the little guy.

regarding your last sentence ;- Like, that matters?

Well I live in 'red country' the people in my village will vote for who pays the most, no elevated moral convictions here. Lowering the cost of electricity or raising the price that the government pays for rice paddy is all it would take for victory. Prayut can go or stay it makes no difference, we all know who is really in control, political parties are the necessary cosmetics to give a semblance of democracy. Things would have to get really bad for society in order for pressure to grow, let's face it Thais by and large have a reasonable standard of living compared to some of their neighbours. When I first came to this farming village 18 years ago most houses were wooden houses on stilts, now there are mostly brick built bungalows with many two story houses. The nearby market town has a Tesco filled with Thai customers, Surin 50 km away has a 'Big C' whose variety of goods rival any western supermarket and are full of Thai customers, no food banks here. I don't smell anarchy in the air. It's maybe different in Bangkok which is more sophisticated but even there you will only get token resistance to the status quo. The Romans knew this, keep them happy with bread and circus.

I don't think anything will kick off. what did all the red and yellow shirt riots bring them ? nothing, one would have to have a heart of stone not to laugh at their naive enthusiasm knowing that politicians don't matter, power lies with the army and the rich establishment groups, they are the puppet masters and they are difficult to get rid of as Myanmar well knows (and the UK come to think of it)

It doesn't affect us, I doubt they will make any political progress whoever is in control, their main problem is corruption in local government more so than in national government and here the main damage to the population is done but really peoples lives don't change much after an election.

Well this getting exciting it's been a long time since we have had any political riots, get in the popcorn and lock the doors.

indeed and she is certainly Independent now

Yes, but you have to be rich and have a source of income that the authorities can't reach, most runners aren't so lucky.

exactly, Indians aren't the nationality of choice by Thais as it is so he is unlikely to last out a year.

He wouldn't get far, they never do unless they have a red bull of course. The BiB seem to be doing a thorough job this time, see what can be done when daddy isn't rich.

Of course there is going to be a pay off, it will be an expensive romp for the Brit, hospital bills (could be very expensive if the Aussie opts for Bangkok hospital, as he should do, and if his injuries are serious), compensation for the old man (get a lawyer and push the price up) a fine for GBH etc. If the perpetrator and victim are tourists there will be no court case but the Brit may be deported.

At 40 my urologist in Germany said my prostate was slightly enlarged, now at 75 I am having the problem of urgency to urinate with weak flow several times a day, but never had to urinate at night. I now use Uroflow which has solved the problem.

according to Mayo clinic it can also cause high grade prostate cancer

Tactics, it's like a trade union asking for 15% wage rises then settling for 8%, start big and the compromise sum will be larger.

From the looks of them they were fine upstanding primitives, who carries a gun to wedding.?

It isn't worth much in America either, two dead after a shooting there would be a non event.

NHS treatment is locality based not subscription based, you have to reside in the UK to be eligible for treatment. As an expat you are off the radar as far as any help from government or any other organisation is concerned, that should be recognized before leaving the UK.