jts-khorat

What better way to destroy the reputation of a country by threatening friend and foe alike, and when the supposed enemies just shrug their shoulders, fold completely. Before, the USA and its reserve currency dollar was simply a parasite on the world; by now, they are a hated one. Finally, the bill comes back to the US, and I at least will enjoy to see it burn.

This, ten times over!! I hardly need three different emojis denoting that I like a post, but between disliking a post and simply finding something unfathomably stupid is a big difference.

Or, simply accept that there is a large number of long-time tourists simply spending money, and a very small percentage of "tour guides" and "bar owners" (who nonetheless bring financial turnaround). I remember, as I came to Thailand in the late 90s, that I was working for months, as I heard for the first time that something like a work permit even exists. And I would never have gotten one for the job I did then (nobody on Phuket had even heard of the internet or web design, there were only 2000 fixed phone lines on the whole island). What I am trying to say is: the jobs a longstay tourist is likely to engage in is the grey economy, where people don't pay taxes and proper business setups most likely will be prohibitive for the tiny returns. There is a good chance that just checking up on everything costs more than simply ignoring this small percentage. Better spend the money on improving tourist infrastructure. But who am I to advise the Thai government?

From driving (slightly) inebriated to wholly unhinged talk. You sound completely crazy, are you high? My advice: also do not drive.

Frankly, if I hear his whining about a little discomfort, I start to develop my own theory, why he was not let off with a smallish fee, but rather invited to do a few zzz on government property. I do know -- unluckily from my own experience (one of those lessons that are not alawys cheap) -- that higher police can react quite unfriendly when questioned or put on the spot. Well, at least he has us all now properly warned, that we will not fall into the clutches of Thai police unawares, so at least he did his good deed for the day. 😉

I am not in disagreement, that he was not much over the limit; and that the likely reason he was put in a cell was some kind of fee to be negotiated (which his wife seemingly boggled up badly). However, he indeed did the crime, and that right after Songkran, where everybody knows the police are on the lookout for DUIs. His treatment was not harsh, he had 15 friends "enduring" the same... And I see the issue more from the viewpoint, that it is unlikely he will be a repeat offender (with wife, he likely will be a long-term resident, so carelessness with alcohol could endanger poeple later). I think he got off lightly, learned a lesson and has a nice story to tell. All that for not sleeping well for a night is a steal.

I would say: there was no reason for him to drink and then drive -- especially if he had his wife with him. If she also drank, a Bolt taxi is so cheap to basically cost nothing to a westerner. Don't do the crime, if you cannot do the time. Edit: and he would have been in real danger of severe repercussions if that would have been an accident and not a police checkpoint, so I stand by my point that a night in a cell is really nothing harsh at all.

Yes, you did: you drove under the influece, while thankfully not hitting anybody with your car. And yes, as everybody had the same floor, you were treated fairly. I really do not know about what you are complaining. "Deprived of the ability to sleep"... what are you, a child? Would you have preferred being deported at your own cost? Boy oh boy, do I have to tell you a story about how IDC in Bangkok looks on the inside.

I more wonder about the rapid demographic shift before 1860, when there were still 5% natives there. Scalping and head bounties had not decimated all of them, yet. Call about a change in culture...

The one who was treated unfairly was your wife, I give you that point. But you were treated by the letter of the law, there was no corruption, no deviation from normal procedure, you got a fair hearing and also a fair penalty reflecting your offense. You had a place to sleep like all the others, and even breakfast -- not quite half board, but what did you expect? Where is this unfairness you speak of?

While I understand that the OP might have been far out of his comfort zone, indeed he has been treated quite well. I know in Phuket, the police used the method of the holding cell quite effectively in deterring tourists likely to be caught with a DUI again (eg longer term visa holders), just to make sure that they got the message. Those cells were small, so 15 people in it would not have given all of them the room to sleep; and as far as I know, no breakfast for those who would be released anyway... The law has changed by now, DUI is a criminal offense, so no laughing matter any more. Indeed the OP could have just as easily been deported, and would have for sure if there would have been an accident. In cases that the police would take a backhander, I have heard quotes of a large multiple of what the OP had to pay in the end. I think the OP paid just a little bit of learning money, has a story to tell, and can be happy that he got off really lightly (I am assuming THb 10,000 barely hurts him). He should be thankful for that and think twice, if he want to subject his wife one more time to the same routine in case he re-offends.

While Berkshire Hathaway is not uninteresting from the outside, it is a poison stock -- all US stocks are under boycott, I am concentrating solely on European stocks (and Airbus as a worldwide conglomerate is right at the outer fringe for that). My depot is currently up more than 20% due to that strategy, which is crazy growth for such a very short timeframe. If Trump does not get deposed within the next few weeks, I guess the US stock markets will crash so hard, it would be crazy to invest currently, even if not boycotted. They are simply not a value proposition.

I bought a good number of shares in Airbus on Friday, on the news that China has restricted the export of Boeing planes to their airlines. Today I read, that the first plane was already returned to the US. Airbus is a big conglomerate, actually getting engines for some of their planes from the US, so they will get hurt in the tariffs as well. Ramping up production to fill the market gap will not happen for Airbus overnight either. But, if Trump does not reverse his crazy China tariffs within the next few weeks, I guess Airbus will come out on top strongly, and I expect the stock price to reflect this speculation shortly.

I am really surprised. I would not have thought that you would advocate for secession and a breakup of the United States. But maybe Maga followers are really that stupid that they rather want to destroy the US than live in one that is "too woke". Actually, be my guest, nobody needs the USA anymore and the world would be a much better place without it, so I agree with you. Or maybe -- actually the most likely -- you have not understood that we talk here about funding of whole cities and states? Your answer does not really seem to match my post.

Because it is a two-edged sword. Remove federal funding from too many states/cities and they might start to think that they do not need a federation at all...