phoenixdoglover

As an American, I am happy to see a thread where the USA is not "off topic", and where the bashing is balanced by the praise.

In the absence of first hand experience, we get our impressions of distant countries through the news media, social media like facebook, and a few traveling friends. When we travel ourselves, and particularly when we work and live some place else, our superficial or incomplete views are replaced with something closer to reality.

I'm living and working now in the Middle East. I ride motorcycles, and often sit around with like minded bikers from other countries (European mostly). Most of these guys want to go for a long ride in the US. Route 66 is a favorite. I try to convince them it will be boring; there are better places! They will not be dissuaded. The American mystique is strong.

Last month, I took myThai wife on a 12 day motorcycle trip inthe western US, sticking to the high elevation areas. My idea was to reinforce her emotional attachment, to smooth the way for a possible move in a few years, in which we spend substantial time in the US each year.

I would say it worked too well. By the end of the trip I was getting lobbied for basically extending it indefinitely, and doing what some retirees do, as other posters here have mentioned - just travel around America. And I include Canada, Mexico, all of the Americas in that idea.

My wife's impressions, in no particular order:

- This must be "Indian Land"; it looks bad. (yep, I had to "explain" that)

- This beer is good. (Yes, that's why we are eating at this microbrewery.)

- Rocky mountain passes: "Wow, wow, wow!"

- (What did you like best?)  The hike to Jerry Johnson hot springs in Idaho. - Honey, that old man is not wearing a swim suit.

- Why is it called Yellowstone? I don't see any yellow stone.

- Where are the people? (while rolling through farm land)

- Honey, I need papaya salad. (How about Mexican food?)

And our politics? Crazy. But it's been crazy for 200 years; we'll sort it out without too much gunfire.

Over the past week, there have been several reports like this. The government is still preparing to promote or educate or whatever. No substantial, actual contact with voters. Less than a month to go.

Now where could that apathy be coming from?

The truth is, Mr. Happy Face Friday Evening and His Friends, are not going away, regardless of the vote outcome. Perhaps the Thai people are being rational.

The truth is that you state your opinion, as non-involved foreigner.

Now we know that in 2007 and 1997 the number of people reading the draft constitution was in the very low numbers. Most just voted as told, for or against. Why would that be different now?

The Thai version of the draft charter has been available since end of March. That's more than three months ago. We had posters suggesting to be against, no need to read, and now complaints of 'where is it', 'we have no time to read'. Last will be the 'it doesn't matter'.

Consistency? Yes, in the negative waves, Moriarty.

At the least, many of us posting here are involved, not as citizens, but as people with strong ties and commitments to Thailand. As for myself, I have a definite personal interest in the outcome of the Charter vote and the course of the country.

I think I am very much entitled to an opinion, as is everybody else here.

I agree people here are negative about the Junta, the referendum, and the Charter. There are good reasons for that, and there are some posters who combine that with negative opinions in general. This isn't new.

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April 2013 the Yingluk government slashed the NACC budget by 60% as an integral part of their STOP Corruption Investigation program. Other independent organizations were similarly affected. Not sure if their funding has ever been restored.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Ministries-allowed-bigger-budgets-as-independent-a-30204708.html

Some 6 months later they passed their own amnesty bill. Apparently the reductions weren't big enough.

Was an amnesty bill passed by the YL government? I thought that bid failed? I think you're confused again. It was actually the JUNTA that gave themselves an amnesty.

It was passed by the Yingluk government, it was rejected by the senate. Of course the subject is the NACC, but best you leave that hot potato alone, right?

Your nomenclature is off, and this leads to an incorrect statement.

The National Legislative Assembly consists of the lower House and the Senate. The Government is the PM, cabinet, and permanent ministers, plus their subordinates.

So the amnesty was passed by the House, and rejected by the Senate.

There has to be corruption in the Land offices for this encroachment to happen in the first place.

NACC is a failure.

The commission should be phased out, and their activity immediately curtailed to include supporting active court cases only.

The RTP should be broken up. A new police unit separate from the main police should be established. It's primary anti-corruption mandate should consist of eliminating police corruption, and eliminating graft in procurements. Forget about political negligence cases.

This would be reform.

Not a snowball's chance in hell.

Rubber Stamp Politician says what?

Now where could that apathy be coming from?

The truth is, Mr. Happy Face Friday Evening and His Friends, are not going away, regardless of the vote outcome. Perhaps the Thai people are being rational.

So far, the Five Rivers crowd is mostly jabbering at each other.

It remains to be seen (or not) how many lowly voters they actually engage.

Time is running short.

One of the posters above recommended bigclivedotcom om youtube. I second that recommendation.

It is very difficult to avoid Chinese manufactured phone chargers. Many of the reputable manufacturers will use a Chinese assembled charger. Most of these devices are well designed and manufactured.

The problem lies mainly with the replacement charger market, as there are numerous fakes and bad designs. As "Big Clive" shows, there are 3 common problems:

1. A simplified design, eliminating components to save cost, and resulting in performance or safety issues

2. Cheap components and thin gauge wires, increasing chances of overheating/failures

3. Poor separation of mains wires, terminals and traces from the low voltage side of the circuitry.

Hang on to your OEM chargers if possible. They are usually superior.

As for the probability of dying from an electric shock due to a charger failure, I assume it is unlikely, but possible.

There are many cheap chargers from China that have poor design and construction. These devices have a higher incidence of failure, which includes allowing high voltage on the low voltage side.

Unfortunately, many of these crappy devices are copies (on the outside) of the better quality OEM chargers.

Select your chargers with care!

Yours truly, Another "Engineering Expert"

If the NMLT were serious about this matter, they might write instead to the NCPO, and ask for a reversal of the decision to bar international election monitors from observing the referendum.

As it is, the referendum is likely to be declared "flawed" by a variety of international bodies, for the very reason that it is not under independent observation, and the fairness can not be adequately judged.

Not that the NCPO gives a damn.

This proves what I have suspected all along...young women destined for the sex industry...really do grow on trees...

Seriously, if you are one of those men that travels to Thailand for the purpose of meeting some of those young ladies, it really does seem as if they grow on trees, or descend from heaven, depending on your fortune (no, not your luck, the fortune in your wallet).

Or so I have heard tell.

Considering the way the Charter is written, I am not surprised.

Many of us might think a "Yes" vote on the referendum would then invoke a political process, leading up to the election of the lower House. We would be only partly correct. In fact, there is a list of Organic Laws that must be passed, including the Organic Law on Selection of Senators. It will be necessary for the current "rubber stamp" NLA to pass these laws, and I am certain the NCPO will have a hand in shaping the laws.

Section 263 While the House of Representatives and the Senate under this Constitution are not yet formed, the National Legislative Assembly as established under the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Interim) B.E. 2557 shall continue to act as the National Assembly, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. The members of the National Legislative Assembly holding office before the promulgation of this Constitution shall act as members of the House of Representatives or senators respectively in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution, and the National Legislative Assembly and its members shall terminate on the day before the convocation of the first sitting of the National Assembly following the general election conducted under this Constitution.

So even after the referendum, the game is still on.

By the way, today Prachatai released an English language translation of the Draft Charter. Here

http://www.icj.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Thailand-Draft-Constitution-EnglishTr-Advocacy-2016-ENG.pdf

There are 279 Sections, spread across 137 pages for your reading pleasure.

I can confirm, the next Prime Minister can be an unelected person. Also, the method for selection of the Consitutional Court is mostly in the hands of the unelected Senate. And, the Thai Armed Forces are unaccountable to (and above, essentially) the civilian government as usual.

Of note:

Slow news day.

I wonder how many phones are stolen each day in Thailand?

But not by Thais.

The NRSA isn't talking about political parties. Their describing something that is more like....

the YMCA.

Everybody sing!

But, of course, that isn't the situation is it? Clearly, some charges or accusations have been leveled against the former official, otherwise there would be no reason to have impeachment hearings. It is entirely appropriate to assert his innocence until such time as accusations can be substantiated by compelling evidence.

"Innocent until proven guilty" is really a very simple concept; it's even written into the last Thai Constitution.

OK, I'll bite. What are they?

This most likely dates back to NACC charges from 2013.

The Nation wrote about it very briefly. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Legal-challenges-to-govt-not-over-30216467.html

"Both Yingluck and Sukampol were accused of interfering with the transfer of permanent secretary for defence General Satien Permthong-in."

So you don't know what he will be charged with but feel you should defend him anyway. IMHO it is more likely to be this A Democrat MP yesterday accused Defence Minister ACM Sukampol Suwannathat of allowing politicians to embezzle Bt1 billion of the Bt2.7-billion allocated for the Royal Thai Navy’s combat system upgrade project by allowing a change in the equipment specification.

By the way, if the charge of embezzlement was just made, than it is certain this is not the subject of this particular NLA impeachment hearing. The NLA relies on NACC to gather evidence, a process that takes some time.

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But, of course, that isn't the situation is it? Clearly, some charges or accusations have been leveled against the former official, otherwise there would be no reason to have impeachment hearings. It is entirely appropriate to assert his innocence until such time as accusations can be substantiated by compelling evidence.

"Innocent until proven guilty" is really a very simple concept; it's even written into the last Thai Constitution.

OK, I'll bite. What are they?

This most likely dates back to NACC charges from 2013.

The Nation wrote about it very briefly. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Legal-challenges-to-govt-not-over-30216467.html

"Both Yingluck and Sukampol were accused of interfering with the transfer of permanent secretary for defence General Satien Permthong-in."

Well he wasn't elected, and neither was the criminal who appointed him. Shouldn't we wait to hear what he is accused of before blindly jumping to his defense, or doesn't that matter?

Well, No.

From a legal (and human rights) standpoint, we should jump to his defense until evidence of wrongdoing is presented.

Reminds me of the american concept of "reconnaissance by fire". Start blazing away with no idea what you are shooting at.

How do you defend someone when you have idea of the charges that are to be laid?

But, of course, that isn't the situation is it? Clearly, some charges or accusations have been leveled against the former official, otherwise there would be no reason to have impeachment hearings. It is entirely appropriate to assert his innocence until such time as accusations can be substantiated by compelling evidence.

"Innocent until proven guilty" is really a very simple concept; it's even written into the last Thai Constitution.

.... said the submarine expert.

To be fair, he does look somewhat "amphibious".

In all seriousness, I am sure there is some sort of rationale for thinking of AMLO to take on some responsibility for fake/diluted fertilizer, but I am hard pressed to think of a reason that is compelling.

AMLO deals in money laundering investigations. They are an organization comprised of accountants, auditors, ex bank employees, and computer experts (that is, I hope they have people like that).

On the other hand, an organization focused on detecting and investigating fake/fraudulent goods would be comprised of trade specialists, logistics specialists, goods inspectors, and product testers. Probably some chemists and other scientists as well.

It makes little sense to combine these two. If AMLO has knowledge and expertise, some knowledge transfer and job rotation might be the best.

Anyway, perhaps the rationale will be clarified; or perhaps this idea will go the way of so many ideas before it.

Here is an indication of how relevant submarines are to the modern (non-nuclear) military. A list of submarine actions since World War II.

Yep, nothing says "innovation" like an order from the top to finish the projects earlier.

Impeached for what?

Corruption? Why the news doesn't mentioned what he is accused off.

Once again selective punishment against former government officials of YS.

And the payback for having the cheek to get elected continues.

Well he wasn't elected, and neither was the criminal who appointed him. Shouldn't we wait to hear what he is accused of before blindly jumping to his defense, or doesn't that matter?

Well, No.

From a legal (and human rights) standpoint, we should jump to his defense until evidence of wrongdoing is presented.