sambum

I think you mean "without paying anything" and I wouldn't be sure about that being right either!

Because they're all called "Manuel"! ????

Especially when/in addition to which the Prime Minister is a tee totaller!

I agree with most of what you say, and this is why I used the word "might" in my post. Obviously the problem can not be fixed by simply paying them more money - as you say the temptation for graft is too great, so they would probably just take the extra cash, and buy themselves a bigger house/car on "tick". For the extra cash to make any real difference it would have to come along with certain responsibilities - like doing the job they are supposed to be doing, (preventing crime?) and if found guilty of corruption or misbehaviour, end this practice of moving them to an "inactive" post, which in lots of cases probably means just moving them on to a different area/precinct. And stop this practice of "buying" promotions. Unfortunately, this would appear to be an almost impossible task as that system seems to be endemic in all Thai walks of life, all the way down from the top. How else would a "billionaire builder" get a job as Minister of Health, for instance. And how would a Minister "acquire" a substantial number of luxury watches and not declare them as assets beore taking up his post? ("I borrowed them from a friend") Oh, yeah? Right - who borrows watches (plural) from a friend? Why didn't you give them back to him? ("I can't, he's dead, and anyway, I forgot about them") Oh yeah - right again! As you suggest, better education would help, but I feel that the ruling classes don't want that for the working classes, it would mean that they might have to start paying higher wages to educated police officers - hmmm? ("Do not pass "Go" and do not collect $200" springs to mind!) A bit of a Catch 22 situation, I'm afraid!

Actually, paying them a decent salary might attract a better standard of recruit. Add to that the fact that they have to pay for their own uniform, motor bike, and gun, it is little wonder that a lot of them get into debt. Probably the ones that don't are the ones that supplement their income by "scams"!

Quite possibly! Another couple from my neck of the woods (and possibly others) were "as camp as a row of tents" (e.g. Larry Grayson), and "as fit as a butcher's dog" (normally used to describe an attractive girl!)

" you came here of your own free will. Thailand didn't ask you to come.............." So pray tell, what are TAT doing if not trying to persuade thousands - sorry, millions of tourists to come to Thailand and spend their money here? And we are constantly being reminded that we are "guests" here ("guests" are invited) and as such have no rights to make any changes to the way the country is run? (Even though we are still called "aliens" on our visa applications!!!)

And presumably, costing them a great deal of money to do so?

My memory tells me that it should be "as bent as a curly pin"? I think also that the expression was "as queer as a nine bob note"?

I would have thought that my "point" (pun intended!) was obvious as an answer to somebody who thought that he was under the influence of cocaine because he had been to the dentist! In retrospect, I should have addressed my post to the person who made that inane suggestion - my apologies if you took it as a contradiction of your comment.

"overblowing"? Strange word, but sorry, I agree with what he is saying - I think that he is speaking a lot of sense, regardless of the fact that some of what he says has also been attributed to other people. I also think that the "fear factor" has been used in order to promote the interests of pharmaceutical companies, but I can not prove it!

Unless they find another excuse to keep the "State of Emergency" in place?

"The expert noted as well that the outlook for vaccine manufacturers may not be as bright going forward as a consequence of this trend." As I said in a response to another post on here today "Oh dear,what a shame!"

"has not been able to openly travel back to his home country.................." Oh, what a shame!

Dental "coke" is I believe "Novocain" i.e. "Novocain is used as an injection during surgery and other medical and dental procedures." (Also called "Procaine) :- Novocaine is the brand name for a local anesthetic called procaine. It is a local anesthetic medication that is used to numb a particular part of the body.

One word to describe this whole sad and sorry affair - DISGUSTING!

Bit like Immigration Offices then - different rules for different places?

"Today's decision will be anxiously awaited with many tourists abroad also using it to inform their decision about whether to come to Thailand - or delay once again." If I was a tourist I would have made my mind up months ago - and it wouldn't be to visit a country that changes its mind about rules and regulations for entering the country about as often as I have coffee and toast for breakfast - which is a bit like a fix for a junkie (I would think!)

"Dr Kusak said there were negotiations underway to help with the situation." Good luck with that - my guess is that more money will have to be paid over by the insured tourists!

"Britain" is not an island!

I think the message could be getting through when you look at the "flip flopped" estimated predictions of future tourist arrivals in Thailand!

"..................director of the Veterinary Health Innovation and Management Research Group unit of the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology ...." vet·er·i·nar·y adjective relating to the diseases, injuries, and treatment of animals. So Thailand has suddenly realised that the current regime and their associated regulations/restrictions isn't working, so now they need the expertise of someone used to dealing with animals? P.S. I bet his title looks impressive on a job application form (if there's room!)

I didn't say that there was anything wrong with a degree in Engineering - only that he didn't have any medical qualifications, which if he had, would probably help him to do his job as Health Minister. I also mentioned the fact that he had an awful lot of money - obviously an asset in obtaining a plum job with this Government! And if the "experts" predictions from TAT are anything to go by, I would suspect that they indeed got their qualifications from Khaosan Road! However, I do acknowledge that their "predictions" in tourist figures would probably be better got from the bottom of a teacup rather than Mathematics with all the chopping and changes that this Government make to the rules regarding visiting this country!

This Government can't count that far! However, joking apart,it's been said before by myself and others that the reason for all this "flip flopping" and changes of restriction rules are not to do with the welfare of the populace in mind - Covid is a perfect excuse to maintain the "State of Emergency" (which nobody seems to mention any more, but is still in place, and was extended (for the 15th time) on 1st December 2021 until 31st January 2022. And it is obvious what that means in terms of "democracy", and canvassing for votes in any prospective future elections!

" until covid is completely gone" ????