JimHuaHin

As long as the super rich continue to get rich the system will not change.   A few technological changes and innovations here are there maybe, but otherwise the olde corruption and patronage systems will stay in place to the benefit of the 0.1% and the detriment of the country and most Thai citizens.

Why are the "big" boys and girls pushing AI?  Less need for workers!!!

Again?

Did Big Pharma ever stop pushing dangerous meds?

Do you know the potential drug or food interactions of all the meds you are taking?

Do you know the potential side-effects of the meds you are taking?  Do your doctors inform you of these side-effects?

Delusional.

Looks good .... one hopes the Baht follows soon.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn now becomes minister of Thainess.

As is often the case, Trump does not understand what he is saying, ie he uses words he does not understand the meaning of.

The recent Australian election was interesting - 6 months before the election, the conservatives looked like they would easily regain government.  This did not change after Trump was re-elected.  But, after he was sworn in and the leader of the Australian conservatives proposed to follow Trump, .... the conservatives popularity rapidly declined.

End result a massive victory for the progressives. 

Which sane democracy wants to elect their version of Trump?

18 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Well if you really want to talk about legitimate land claims we should address the Sultanate of Pattani, and some of the reasons why the land disputes with Malaysia have been going on for 150 years. 

That opens a can of worms.

How far back in history does one want to go?  Back to Funan (about AD50-650), or the time when the Angkor Empire (about 800-1450) controlled most of modern Thailand, all the way down to about Nakhon Si Thammarat (which was essentially part of the Patani Sultanate (note spelling of "Patani").  We can also talk of Siam vs Thailand.

Historically speaking, Thailand does not have enough feet to stand on.  Let sleeping dogs rest.

What a waste of time and money.

I remember years ago, 1979-1980 for memory (it was after Viet Nam had invaded Pol Pot's Kampuchea to liberate it), reading in the now defunct Far Eastern Economic Review, when Viet Nam was "occupying" Kampuchea, a senior Thai General, whose name I forget, made the comment that the Vietnamese forces could attack Thailand in the morning and be in Bangkok before sunset.

As Cambodia now has no air force, although the Cambodian army has a few aircraft, the title of post maybe correct.

Even God cannot help America now.

WWIII coming soon - USA against the rest.

Bye bye America; it is going to be a long painful suicide.

This is a hard one!

Horses for courses, as they say.

I am in a somewhat similar situation.  I am almost 70 years young, with slowly declining physical and mental health, but still healthy enough to drive 20-30 kms when needed and I can still look after myself at home.  For how long, who knows, a few years maybe?

Nearly all known relatives in Australia are deceased - I have occasional communications with one distant older cousin in Australia; my only offspring - a daughter - died 39 years ago; I have no contact with my ex wife.  Almost all my good friends in Australia are deceased - one dear close friend aged 86 is about soon to enter an aged care facility as she and her family cannot look after her anymore at home.

I have a "handful" of friends in Thailand, most are older than me, and my good Thai friends have their own families and work responsibilities.

For me, and this is selfish, life is about quality or quantity.  I have no desire to be totally dependent upon others nor to spend "years" living as an elderly "disabled" person in bed most of the day.  When the time comes to "go", I shall go.

Thus, my "plan" is to stay here until that time comes; I have enough savings and pension income to live a reasonably "comfortable" life here, and I shall do so until I die.

For yourself, collect any relevant information, think carefully about your best options(s), and follow your gut feelings.

Good luck and best wishes.

Don't tell Premchai.

A few days ago it was reported in the Thai press that the deal was almost done.

Today ....

Russian criminal gangs targeting Russians.

Chinese criminal gangs targeting Chinese.

Thai criminal gangs targeting anyone.

Thai law enforcement ......

Thai politics - where if you oppose the local "influential people" you may end up dead, 

Lawless Thailand .... where influential people have the power.

I only have 6-month lease agreements, and have only had about 4-5 months left of the leases when I extended my "retirement" visa.  No problems at Immigration.

18 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

Fourteen years here retired American Prof. Emeritus of History and International Programs. Married to Thai with a Thai Stepdaughter in university. Yes, Kingdom of Thailand, I would accept Thai citizenship responsibility if offered on this same basis. I am past my prime but am a mutually beneficial positive relationship overall living in your country in support of my Thai family.

You are not alone, but ....

Unless you have worked and been legally employed in Thailand for 3+ years (for memory), and paid Thai taxes, and contributed to a Thai social security fund, and are reasonably fluent in Thai, and willing to wait the about 10+ years for your application to be processed and decided, then ...