Nigel Garvie

3 hours ago, JonnyF said:

snip

 

With all the empty pedestals following the BLM vandalism, maybe a statue of David Frost would be apt.

 

 

Best erect it at the bottom of the Thames, save time.????????

20 hours ago, Lacessit said:

If you are over 75, can't even get it. 133,000 baht in the 71 - 75 age group, they are dreaming.

Nobody is coming to Thailand with these hurdles. Guess the ladies of Pattaya, Phuket and Bangkok will just have to go back to the rice fields, lots of hotels going bust.

Shooting oneself in the foot springs to mind.

Well this is a difficult one. Bypass the rapacious insurance industry issue for a moment, and ask yourself how do the Thai authorities see this themselves.

1) Everything is still under a Covid cloud, and they are justifiably scared of it starting again, this may simply be a cack handed attempt to address that issue.

2) If they are going to require this level of insurance long term then there are serious issues for many poorer falang residents here, but how much do they, or indeed can they be expected to,  care about that. 

3) Why should they be interested in the over 75s or indeed over 70s, if they are aiming for the mass tourist market - come here, spend money, go home.

This is very hard on pensioners married to Thais living the quiet life in rural Thailand, who managed well in the past. Trouble is times have changed.

Reading the above post makes me think:- (Generally , not in reference to the poster)

If Thailand means cheap booze, cheap rent, cheap food, sunshine, and cheap rumty tumpty and you are over 70, then you may no longer be in the right place. Maybe time to find some other 3rd world country where you can pay peanuts to <deleted> girls 1/3 or 1/4 your age. The idea that you are making a huge positive impact on the Thai tourist earnings is misplaced. Even the ladies of Pattaya have - like you - a sell by date, and will likely end up back on the farm anyway, albeit one that is more comfortable and modern thanks to their few years of enhanced earnings. 

The big issue here is how long will this insurance demand last, and can they use it as a tool for social manipulation if it makes them totally uncompetitive with any other country in the market.

6 minutes ago, Kenneth White said:

It seems to me that those who read this didn't read or maybe comprehend where It was mentioned that there are already laws that make gifts or donations from another country illegal. Both Democrat and Republicans alike must disclose all donations. And then there is Biden and his son Hunter whom received millions from the Chines and Ukraine and never mentioned that...Hum I guess that doesn't count. I see a tremendous lack of common sense not only in America but also abroad like here in Thailand. Try reading beyond the headlines of the bias new media and do your own facts checking. 

Actual evidence that Biden or even his son received millions from any foreign country please.

Give us a link.

People who live in glass houses etc

2 hours ago, transam said:

Eeeeeer, Brexit came about because the populace voted for it, twice.

The second time even Labour voters gave Boris the thumbs up to get it done, and we still have people like you thinking you are better, more intelligent than the UK populace, who also came from many types of background.

 

It is time for you sulker's to get behind your country, stop taking the p_ss out of MP's appearance (cos it makes you look daft), and use your "obvious" higher

intelligence () to move on. But that will not happen, after you have read your lefty rags it inflates your lefty ego again, so much so you have to post links to them, well don't you..................................................????

 

Are you suffering from some inferiority complex? I have made no claim anywhere, ever, to be better or more intelligent than anyone else. You have your views, and I have mine, they are different - live with it. 

I made a number of points in my post you refer to, you probably disagree with some/all of them. In that case present a reasoned case as to why you think they are wrong, I have no problem with that.

instead you descend into a shallow diatribe against me and others whose views are similar to mine. Why not try the adult way of engaging in debate?   

15 hours ago, Kadilo said:

He is promising to build so that the young can have the same opportunities to own a home that the older generation had when Thatcher gave all the houses away for pittance. 

Cant argue with that. 
 

It’s the younger generation have suffered the most from this COVID lockdown and will continue to do so for years, albeit the ones who are least likely to suffer from the disease. 

 

 

Well we do still have a housing crisis and we should be building, and it should add up to some wonderful bribes for the Tory party from the building companies. 

Thatcher gave all the houses away for pittance...............indeed she did, but the problem was that local councils were prohibited from replacing them.  That is where the housing crisis actually started. 

Build, build, build, .......why not. Goodbye the green fields of Engerlund, one vast housing estate beckons. 

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

20 minutes ago, OZinPattaya said:

The right-wing totalitarianism? Last time I checked it wasn't the right-wing trying to legislate speech laws. And the media giants do have a choice. They can either have full protection as, say, cellular companies have, or they can stop censoring content. AT&T doesn't disconnect your call, or cancel your service, because you "violated" their terms of service by "misgendering" a person. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, can't have it both ways.

Modest controls, but no litigation lunacy, is that common sense approach possible in the US? As I said in the last FB thread it is about hate speech, WHEREVER it comes from. People are just getting tired of hate I think, and the advertisers have become aware of that. Any data scientist worth his salt could write a few algorithms to pick this stuff up, Face Book didn't do it because they thought it would limit their income stream.

39 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

I'm sure the majority of the UK will be more than happy to see their tax burden rise in order that the rich can continue to use tax havens.

Should be no problems there at all.

How did Brexit come about? David Cameron's fear of UKIP loosing him seats, his inability to frame a referendum question that pinned down what Leave would actually mean, and his Dad's money in the Caymans. Then the fear of the old was exploited with the image that they had lost control, and it was fed to the gullible that it was all about immigration. (Ironic, since the people they really wanted rid of were brown skinned, and Pakistan is not actually in Europe). One should never forget the huge contribution that Corbyn made to the Brexit cause either.  

But the reason for Brexit is simply tax avoidance for the rich, and it is still is a strong element in negotiations. When I say avoidance there are two sorts, making full use of your allowances, perfectly legal and acceptable. And secondly operating your business from a tax haven, denying HMRC tax revenue, and thus increasing the tax burden for you and me. Again perfectly legal -the UK is the tax dodgers capital of the world - but unacceptable. Defenestration is too quick a death for these sub human swine - oops sorry I meant our great masters, leaders, and tabloid owners.

No surprise really that the EU do not want a tax dodgers heaven on their doorstep, without some safeguards. Nor do they want to have their businesses undercut as the the UK makes a bonfire of regulations and turns our workforce into a bunch of 3rd world slaves. That is what a level playing field is really about. 

3 minutes ago, 473geo said:

Well considering how so many on this forum have suggested a slow down on Thai exports due to the high baht, could be good for the UK. Imports for a time will no doubt be more expensive, but UK can produce a lot of home grown stuff so no worries. May end up a bit like Thailand self sufficiency on home grown produce. Those in frozen north may have to go back to haggis and neeps but hey go down ok with shot of whisky.

Me personally not concerned, I spent the bulk of what I need to spend in Thailand when the baht was 50+

 

Just lucky I guess ????

Well if you want to go back to a post war diet based on root vegetables, with the joys of carrot soufflé with mashed tatties, then that will be great. Broccoli for 6 weeks a year, all the soft fruit you can eat for one month only, etc etc. What our UK agriculture can produce is determined by the climate. A huge proportion of what you buy in the supermarkets is grown abroad, you can forget that. The women in my parents generation told us time and again how difficult it was to produce varied food with limited ingredients in the 50s. So food boredom awaits, never mind, stiff upper lip, the Brits are tough etc etc.

1 hour ago, 473geo said:

I think for 60 million UK people the pound appears to be buying a similar amount of food as prior to Brexit - maybe a slight inconsequential rise yes

Forget the bhat, as despite this being Thai Visa, it is clear that some of you care sod all about people living here. For those who don't live here (Not you geo necessarily)  I am puzzled why you bother, you could try the Breibart/Cummings forum, or something similar where they will love every word you write. 

The issue is a general currency point anyway

"The British Pound plumbed a fresh three-month low against the Euro and a one-month low against the U.S. Dollar as investors withdrew capital from a country facing the dual prospects of a slow economic rebound from the coronacrisis and sub-par Brexit trade deal at year-end. 

While UK deaths and infections from covid-19 continue to fall, the pace of the economic recovery looks set to be slower than that in other developed markets, with the European Council's latest Economic Sentiment Indicator showing the country's rebound lags that of its European peers. Meanwhile, there are concerns that fiscal and monetary policy support to the crisis in the UK also lags that of the measures taken in the Eurozone and U.S., which could make the UK economy a laggard over coming months." 

https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/gbp-live-today/13582-pound-to-euro-and-dollar-brexit-negotiations-restart

I would be grateful if I were you that you think your food costs much the same, I doubt it will last. 

What ever else you can say about it, it is obvious to all the serious money men that economically at very least, Brexit is a crock of (Deleted). You can tie pink bows round it, and cover it with perfume, you can delude yourselves as much as you like, you can pretend that everything will be wonderful, please go ahead. The bottom line is we will all have to pay for this mind numbing idiocy one day. Enjoy the fading rays of evening sunshine, and pretend that it's a bright new day starting instead. I no longer care, but it doesn't take a genius to see that it will be a long, long night. 

2 minutes ago, Loiner said:

Website may be Thai centric, but the topic is Brexit therefore anything to do with Thai Baht is inconsequential. What ever tune you whistle Sharon and George are not interested.

Logic please.

The forum is Thai Visa, so mainly aimed at falang immigrants to Thailand. 

The value of the Pound against the Bhat is of great importance to many here.

The topic is Brexit.

Brexit from what everybody says has been a major factor in the decreased value of sterling (The strength of the Bhat has affected currencies as well of course, but the £ has fallen further and faster).

Let's put that together. 

1) Anything to do with Thai Baht is NOT inconsequential, to anyone who actually lives here. 

2) It IS part of the Brexit story, like it or not.

2 hours ago, Deli said:

Billions burnt coz a cop did his job.

World has become outta mind.

Which cop, what job?

5 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

 

 

This is nothing like the old Labour socialists who created and delivered social improvements.

You have a long memory, but indeed Britain progressed hugely under Atlee, and Wilson.

I'm not remotely interested in RLB or Naz Sharma, it is way off topic for a start, and Starmer has already been shown to be more popular than Boris, making up a huge deficit in a few short months, time will tell, but expecting everything fixed overnight is silly.

THE TOPIC IS Johnson's spending pledge. All countries will have to open the purse strings. The question is whether Johnson like Trump will simply look after his own, or actually do what the great Roosevelt did, and take care of all.  Johnson's record is not encouraging, and anyway Cummings seems to own him in the same way Putin owns Trump.

On 6/23/2020 at 1:35 PM, RuamRudy said:

The English language may not have 37 words to describe snow, but nonetheless it never fails to amaze me with new words. 

 

I alluded in a previous post, I believe, that there are some in the indy camp who are getting restless and accusing SG of getting too comfortable with the status quo. Of course, it is easy to blame the WM bogeyman when things go wrong; the life of a London MP is relatively pampered; come independence, there will be a surplus of politicians etc. 

I have always been of the opinion that the SNP is a vehicle to independence, not the objective of it. I recall a very old slogan of theirs, 'Vote for us and we'll resign' but nowadays, they seem to be settled in for the long haul. 

I have never thought of it as an issue.  Should independence be achieved the SNP can call themselves what they like, same goes for all the rest of them. What is without doubt is that Scotland is basically a left of centre country, and I would have faith that we would elect decent representatives in the future. Sadly the English working class have descended into a mindless state of terminal cap doffing to the Tories and Rich, but that is not our problem. Hopefully the Scottish Tories will become a footnote in history, and be left to roam the moors, squawking like stuffed grouse.

Sturgeon may have been o'er canny on occasion, but the ISP don't attract me at all, wise decisions do not come from hot heads, however frustrating the current situation may be. 

3 hours ago, vinny41 said:

Latest UK Voting Intention (25 June)

Compared to last week, Boris Johnson increased his lead over Keir Starmer from 12% to 19% in a straight contest as to whom respondents would prefer as Prime Minister.

https://redfieldandwiltonstrategies.com/latest-uk-voting-intention-25-june/

Oh dear, such a pity to have spent time desperately searching for somewhere, anywhere, that would give you statistics you wanted to believe in. 

The oh so easy alternative is to Google "Starmer more popular than Johnson". There are pages of links to many different news sources including the well known left wing rags, The Daily Mail, The Sun, and The Spectator, all confirming this.

Not the Express needless to say, but that is more of a disease than a newspaper.

5 hours ago, Rookiescot said:

Will it involve lots and lots of lovely property deals?

I'm sure they haven't got the whole porn industry covered yet, just Desmond so as far as we know. Plenty more to offer planning concessions to. The next line will be a knighthood and planning permission for a brothel in return for a modest donation to Tory party funds!

1 hour ago, xylophone said:

I see his mother forget to help him dress properly again!!

Yes and the awful teeth. Surely he can afford implants despite all the alimony. He could get a package with breast reduction treatment and a brain implant at the same time. Then his mother could smarten him up!

10 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

I have pointed out to you at length the UK has no option but to grant access to the EU over UK territorial waters.

If it does not you can wave goodbye to the financial services  industry in the City of London.

On top of that the EU can still get all the fish it wants from Norway, Iceland and Ireland. The UK on the other hand will be sitting on a mountain of fish with nowhere to sell it.

With the financial windfall of tax from the relocated headquarters of the financial services to Frankfurt and Paris the EU can afford to pay their own fishermen just to stay in port and do nothing.

Did you honestly think this was going to go any other way?

As I mentioned before England's owners of the fishing industry have already sold over 50% of the quotas  off to EU fishing industries. Fishing was marginal in the 90s so we did our usual cut and run. The industries we sold to took a longer term view. No way will we get these quotas back. The money is tiny compared to financial services, prepare for a sell out. 

2 hours ago, transam said:

Really, are you going to post a link for that from a non lefty rag....????

Just Google Starmer more popular than Johnson, here is just a brief starter for papers etc that have said that. 

independent,  Standard,  Metro,  The Sun,  Daily Mail,  YouGov,  Newsbreak, Mirror. If you think the Sun and the Daily Mail are lefty rags then your politics must be somewhere to the right of Attilla the Hun

11 minutes ago, transam said:

First para....Pot-kettle.

 

Second para...

Just assumptions on your part that Labour aren't as money grabbing as the Tories....

Dear oh dear, so why do Labour MP's charge horrendous amounts of cash to listen to their thoughts at seminars, why is that, Ken Livingstone, Tony Blair comes to mind...

You have now used Pot-kettle in 3 of your posts on the same thread, could you attempt  being less monotonous, or tiresome as you would say..... Yawn.

4 minutes ago, transam said:

"No you didn't notice that".....Well there we have it in a nutshell. Thanks for that... 

It really shouldn't be too technically challenging for you to separate my reply to you, from my reply to Vogie, which is irrelevant to your post. 

This comes under misrepresenting another members posts, please try a little harder.

1 hour ago, transam said:

Very funny, now if you watch Starmers House encounters you will notice he is struggling with most of his reply wording, really performing like a novice, have you noticed that...?

snip

No I didn't notice that, in fact none of the many many commentators on PMQs have done. Most remark on the forensic precision. of Starmer, and the inadequate blustering of Boris. You appear to be living in an alternative universe.

1 hour ago, vogie said:

I wouldn't feel for Boris, BTW if you find my profile image uncomfortable to look at, maybe that is the reason you seem to find democracy uncomfortable to live with.

As for Bend the knee Starmer, that image will come back to haunt him, he is backing the BLM cause that promotes anti-semitism, didn't go down too well last time did it. Pretending to be a nice guy is not the same as being a nice guy, he is like some on here 'confused' 

 

snip

 

In what crazy world does anyone equate Democracy - a system of representation established around the world for centuries - with Boris Johnson's face, please get a grip.

It appears that you consider yourself to be a "Nice guy" and as such pass judgement on other TV posters, unwise to say the least.

The idea that BLM has any links whatsoever with Anti- semitism is absurd, and completely ill informed. BLM is a movement that is fighting against racial discrimination on the grounds of colour. Various other movements have tried to exploit the BLM by claiming they are part of it, this is pretty unpleasant IMO. 

Please supply a link that justifies the malign phrase "the BLM cause that promotes anti-semitism".