ericthai

I dont need to read about the war on drugs, I was here at the time and heard about it almost daily. I think it was terrible time (about 3 months) and I blame the police for the killings. If you review the Thai economy for the last 3 decades you'll understand how good things were when he was PM. He also initiated allot of programs to help people. He started the school loan program, 30 baht medical program, provided low interest loans to famers, He balanced the budget! The Thai people didn't remove him from office, there was a coup by the army when Thaksin was in New York for a UN meeting. He was really liked by the people at the time. He was the first democratically elected PM to complete his full term and then he was re-elected. This was amazing at the time. All of my workers loved him. Don't get me wrong, I dont really like the guy. He started all the immigration crap, but the truth is Thailand was very strong when he was PM.

Please tell me when he was convicted of murder. Never said he was a good guy... However he was a good PM. What money did he steal from Thailand? You know he was a billionaire and owned a telecommunication company. You might not want to admit it but he helped the Thai people allot. Allot of foreign investment at the time, Factories expanding production, new factories being built etc. do you not understand how big it was to get 30 baht health coverage? that alone has helped millions of Thais.

Sorry, but he didn't give an order to go out and kill people. He was brought up on charges, but there was no evidence that he gave an order to kill people. So blame the police, they didn't need to kill people they were supposed to arrest. However, we all know why the police killed the users / dealers because it would all point back to the police. Him helping guide things I think is a good thing, as I recall when he was PM things were very good, he balanced the budget, GDP went from 4.9 trillion baht (2001) to 7.1 trillion baht (2006) foreign currency reserves went from 30 billion USD (2001) to 64 billion USD (2006) he started the 30 baht medical, he started programs that helped the famers, poverty deceased. Corrupt sure, they all are corrupt and it doesn't matter if it's Thailand or the USA.

I would try and un-install the app. My phone does this wanting to open an app, but it gives me an option to open in the browser. I think maybe because I dont have the app installed it gives me the browser option.

Please tell me what you want trump to do? He's not president. Maybe Biden should do something, oh forgot he doesn't know what's going on in the world. Hmm maybe the governor should ask for help to get more needed firefighters. Maybe the national guard?

we have a house in Florida on the gulf side ( about 1mile from the coast. Grew up there.) I'm not happy about this. There has been drilling in the gulf since the 1940's there are 7 platforms out there right now. but that's not the issue he didn't just stop drilling in the gulf it includes allot more. Today, President Biden took action to protect the entire U.S. East coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, and additional portions of the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska from future oil and natural gas leasing. In protecting more than 625 million acres of the U.S. ocean from offshore drilling, President Biden has determined that the environmental and economic risks and harms that would result from drilling in these areas outweigh their limited fossil fuel resource potential. With these withdrawals, President Biden has now conserved over 670 million acres of America’s lands and waters, more than any other president in history.

stuff like this Biden makes an 11th-hour move to block coastal oil drilling https://www.npr.org/2025/01/06/nx-s1-5249765/biden-offshore-drilling-ban

I dont think Trump is trying to offended anyone, think it's just another one of his big mouth ideas for attention.

yes, the registers were ringing with high food costs, housing costs are out of control. I know several people that had to take a second job to be able to afford rent increases. Yes, things were just peachy! Biden's employment growth came after Covid when people were returning to work, and even those numbers were wrong and lower than what has published by the government.

I think some work can be done. here are some very wasteful grants that were issued by the US government $6 Million to Boost Egyptian Tourism It is puzzling how the concept of foreign aid ever got off the ground. One can at least understand the reasoning for spending taxpayer money on local schools, roads, and the like, even if you disagree. But how on earth did they sell foreign aid to taxpayers? “Ok, here’s the deal. We’re going to take your money without your consent, and then we’re going to send it to our friends in a far-away country. There’s pretty much nothing in it for you, dear taxpayers.” Um…thanks? In just the latest example, the federal government spent $6 million to boost tourism—yes, tourism—in Egypt last year. “The U.S. has spent over $100 million on Egyptian tourism so far,” the report notes. “What’s next – rebuilding the pyramids? Apparently, Congress and the agencies it funds think our treasury is a bottomless pit.” Training DHS Employees to Be Their ‘Authentic & Best Selves’ The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has been pursuing some…creative training programs as of late. In a federally funded workshop last year, CISA employees focused on “effective strategies to build and sustain psychological safety that allows individuals to show up to work as their authentic and best selves.” The workshop was part of a 5-year “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA)” strategic plan. “Ironically, the workshop coincided with CISA’s efforts to suppress protected speech on social media platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Paul notes. “Even I was censored at the behest of our government speech minders. And all while I thought I was being my best self.” $38 Million to Dead People According to a special task force for tracking COVID payments from the federal government, $38 million went to people who were known to be dead in 2023. In fact, $1.3 million of that money went to 30 individuals who had been dead for at least a year. COVID-relief funding has of course been rife with fraud and mismanagement since the beginning. You’d think politicians would have learned their lesson by now. Then again, it’s not like it’s their money on the line, so why should they care? What are taxpayers going to do, take their money to a competing relief organization? $8,395 for a Lobster Tank The Department of Defense pays for a lot of tanks, but a $8,395 lobster tank probably isn’t what taxpayers have in mind when they picture a tank expenditure. Yet this is exactly what was purchased last year by the DOD, presumably to improve the diet of military personnel. What’s concerning about this purchase is not so much the dollar figure itself but what it represents. No doubt countless other purchases like this take place every day in the military. And all those luxuries really add up. Two Graphic Novels Combating ‘Disinformation’ In addition to their DEIA initiative, CISA has been hard at work creating not one, but two graphic novels about “disinformation” as part of their “Resilience Series.” The first one covers foreign interference in elections. The second covers COVID vaccines. “There is nothing comical about wasting taxpayer money to justify censorship of constitutionally protected speech,” Paul notes in his report. $200 Million to Famous Music Artists from the ‘Small Business’ Administration Through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, the Small Business Administration (SBA) funneled $200 million to some of the biggest names in entertainment. “So-called ‘small business owners,’ such as Post Malone, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, and Smashing Pumpkins, received up to $10 million each,” the report notes. “Even Nickelback received $2 million.” The purpose of the program was to provide financial relief to small entertainment businesses during the pandemic shutdowns. But apparently, the SBA has a hard time defining the word small.

have you been smoking? American politics dont work like that...it's not like Thailand!

dont know why you guys had issues back in the 90's. Back then I found immigration very easy and laid back, they didn't even care about overstays, would laugh and joke about it.

you're talking about the wrong guy. In politics, a lame duck or outgoing politician is an elected official whose successor has already been elected or will be soon.[1] An outgoing politician is often seen as having less influence with other politicians due to their limited time left in office. Conversely, a lame duck is free to make decisions that exercise the standard powers with little fear of consequence, such as issuing executive orders, pardons, or other controversial edicts. Lame duck politicians result from term limits, planned retirement, or electoral losses, and are especially noticeable where political systems build in a delay between the announcement of results and the taking of office by election winners. Even at the local level, politicians who do not seek re-election can lose credibility and influence. Uncompleted projects may fall to the wayside as their influence diminishes.

It seems the Demo crates have double standards. Trump didn't have sex with Stormy while he was President, but....Clinton got a <deleted> in the oval office from Monica Lewinski, and then all the other girls Juanita Broaddrick Gennifer Flowers Paula Jones Kathleen Willey What did biden say, "Nobody is above the law" but then gives out pardons left and right.

maybe they can include Durian!

machines (mainly pickers and strippers)

I think you need to look up the definition of lame duck (pertaining to US presidency) . hint: it's not Trump

they are the same thing! Democrat's started using the term "undocumented" instead of illegal so it wouldn't sound so bad, but it's the same thing.

Sorry you're having issues. Best would be to abandon the shipment and have the lawyer re-send via DHL, Fed-ex etc. UPS in Thailand will do exactly as they are doing, extorting you for the delivery of your package. When I first moved to Thailand I had the same issue. For any shipment to Thailand from overseas best to use DHL, Fed-ex etc. They will handle importation and customs. Documents shouldn't have any import tax.

Actually, I believe it's all the chips and candy. As you, when I first came to Thailand you'd see very few over weight people. Over the years you could see the kids are getting heavier. All the adverting on TV and parents with no education on nutrition let their kids eat candy, chips and coke all the time.

I think you're confused Biden didn't win.

Dam, if Trump is a buffoon (correct spelling), I would very much like to be a buffoon!

This isn't what I asked, you said that you had Thai friends that lost their business due to immigration denying people entry and what immigration is doing is illegal. As I said what immigration is doing is not illegal, they will ask for onward ticket, see cash, etc if you dont have any of these they will refuse you entry, all valid, nothing to do with covering their tracks, it's procedure. But this isn't the point, I asked how did this effect your Thai friends in loosing their business due to immigration? As I dont believe that many people are turned away. This isn't something new immigration is doing, it's been going on for decades. Meanwhile Thailand keeps hitting new record highs for tourist numbers.

They (Thaksin) tried limiting the days allowed in Thailand back early 2000's. The issue was the IO's where there trying to count days, which took way too long and had immigration ques all backed up, so that didn't work well and was ended. Maybe now that it's all computerized they could do it, but I doubt it. Immigration keeps rules vague so IO's can make up their own interpretation of the rules to keep the cash flowing.

Don't know why you know dozens and dozens of male that cant get a date in the USA or afraid to speak to a woman. Both my nephew's are in their 30's and are married to beautiful ladies. We bounce back and forth from to the US and when in the US I dont see the girls acting as you portray. My other two newphews are in their 20's and one is dating a really sweet girl. Sure there are always the few, but the majority that I meet are nice normal girls. I travel a lot when in the US and just dont see what you're saying. I know many younger guys in the US that are happily married, how is that if the girls are so bad?