scorecard

And no doubt he got a nice % in every one of the schemes you list. Brings the question: Did he create these schemes genuinely, with helping others as the prime motive? or Did he (his minions) create it all and operate it all, posssible using gov't (taxpayer) paid expertise and resources and the aim was a good % for HIS pocket?

-If your Assets and Income numbers are under the max* then you might well qualify for a part OAP or even the full OAP. Search Centrelink: assets and income statement. -You say 'jail', that's over the top, it's not anything like that, and it's what you make it, keeping in mind the ultimate benefits. -You're entitled to full Medicare while your on Oz soil and if need for major surgery etc., you go back and Medicare kicks in immediately. -Yes it's two years. But you can depart Oz and return a number of times each year a few weks each time and the accumulation of the two years isn't disturbed when you take these breaks. In other words the 'clock' doesn't stop and restart. At Oz passport control they don't ask questions. -The 2 years starts from the day you return, NOT from the day your OAP is approved. -Years ago many reports of Centrelink staff being unhelpful, rude, abusive etc., etc. All changed, my Experience with the local big Centrelink office was totally pleasant, friendly, focused, helpful, good listeners and productive., and best outcome for the client (you) always the objective. I have no complaints whatever. -Unless there's some complication (unlikely) only needs one visit to Centrelink, to prove your identity and to get a CRN (Centrelink Reference number). (Prove ID: birth certificate, passport, 3 photo ID cards (they accepted my Thai drivers license), Oz bank statement with the address where you are actually living, and 1 or 2 utility statements, must have your namd and must be the sddress you state as your residential address in OZ. Think about all of this in advance, easy enough to get it together.) - You can submit the 2 OAP application documents on paper or on line. I took my completed application forms with me the day I went in to prove ID / get my CRN. I put them on the side of the C.Link officers desk (very pleasant lady maybe early 30s), she asked "Is that your OAP application? "Yes." 'Do you want me to scan it to see if there's anything of any concern / anything not completed?" "Yes please". She went question by question then said "It's complete and nothing that might cause any complications, do you want me to submit to Canberra on the big scan machine over there?" "Yes please." "OK please sign here."Ten seconds later a confirmation of receipt with my CRN. -Processing of your OAP application 100%/99% computerized, all done in Canberra, local Centrelink ofifce not involved with actual processing. -I got a pleasant call 18 days after I submtted "All approved". Backpay in my bank account the next afternoon. Other more recent reports of approval at 14 days. -After the 2 years you have 'Portability' (payment is portable for life, can be anywhere in the world). If you do go abroad they change you to 4 weekly payments. My 4 weekly payments are transferred automatically from Oz gov't to my K Bank savings account. The account can be your name or can be a joint a/c, can be only you sign withdrawals etc., or can be either party can sign. -If you search you can find many very cheap flights. Friend just get a flight Don Muang to KL to Jakarta to Denpasar - Bali to Melbourne, 17,000Baht return. Lots of stops but great price. -As mentioned, do the numbers (the OAP rate is fairly generous, adjusted for cost of living etc., twice every year and there's talk of bumping it higher). A rough number 40,000Baht every 4 weeks isn't that bad (A lot better than nothing and it's regular. And keep in mind 'What other income would you have at 80, 90, 95 ++ years old?' PM me if you want. Good luck.

I've had PR for 27 years, never once did 9 day reporing. And never heard of any other PR holders doing 90 day reports. Many of the Imm. folks at Chaeng Wattana have little to zero knowlegde of PR or the processes, requirements after PR is approved etc.

-Desperate for attention. -So many posts re OAP, wants to be seen as an OAP expert, and make derogatory comments about OAP, how OAP will send Aust. bankrupt etc. He says he doesn't receive the OAP etc., doesn't need it, self funded. -Also, how many times are we going to get his rerun re residence and tax? You annoy people (obvious) and you upset people. Please take a holiday.

Does the executor you have mentioned in your will know these people or where they might live, know details re their relatives etc?

They boycotted the election for a reason, they never said they were against elections.

The yellow shirts were against election. How's that?

"In my view the hard sell provided to OP is the main issue." Interesting point. And I would hope most/all people looking for acommodation quickly realize when an owner/agent is playing a game. And move along, in Thailand there's hundreds of properties available for rent.

I don't disagree and it doesn't change that the pymaster was very corrupt and the corruption getting worse. Plus over the last perhaps 5 years of his reign he had gained strong control of the police. I don't disagree that the corruption levels re military and police are getting worse, it's a very serious problem with no fix in sight.

And nobody would refuse to take his 300Baht and nobody would dare to not vote for him. There were reports that an occasional person tried to refuse his vote buying, the whole family immediately and harrassed by the whole village, nobody in the market would sell food to that family, kids intimidated at school etc. So where did thos policies/attitudes/actions come from? Simple answer the paymasters local henchmen/enforcers.

OK, so how would this vote / refferendum be introduced with credibility that it's structured appropriately and what would the valid reasons be to introduce it into the parliamentary discussions? Or what?

I didn't say that and you know from past posts I see them as incompetent, untwustworthy, inappropriate for the building and development of democracy or any other development of Thailand etc., and I have no liking for them at all.

But you conveniently ignore/don't mention how openly corrupt he was, he and his cronies, and the vote buying, Essan and other reas villagers very paid and wouldn't dare to mark the ballot paper to vote for any alternative, and the letion where the voting 'cubicles' were turned around, no curtains so his cronies could watch what voters were doing. And the big rallies in Bkk where attendees were paid to turn up, all on video. And his big guys given very high level 'appointments' and power (nobody would challenge them) in key ministries. Follow the rice sagas. He ordered gov't banks to give loans to selected people / other governments all on the basis the funds would be used to buy his products. Even tried to intimidate folks with royal titles (MR/ML) to vote his way at committee meetings. Plus his refusal to answer questions at press conferences. Any reported who tried to push him got punished. One foreign journalist r tried to push him on a very awkward revealing subject. The response from the paymaster (in English) 'Idiot Scum'. The foreign journalist was detorted the next day.

I've seen worse; - Shop assistant uses calculator 2 X 100 = 200, now minus 200 cash given, final answer is 0 (zero). Transaction complete, procedure followed as per training. Everybody happy.

"Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Friday he is ready to return and serve his prison term in Thailand provided he is allowed to spend the remainder of his life with his family, regardless of the results of an upcoming general election." In other words he wants to ignore/decide how the legal system works in Thailand with special rules just as he dictates. Not on, under any circumstances. "... regardless of the results of an upcoming general election." Not on, I don't believe he is not involved in Thai politics and if he was here it would be so much easier for him to manipulate whatever he wanted for his benefits. And that could easily bring back a vote to cancel his conviction etc. Not to be trusted anytime/anywhere.

I did say 'so called retirement visa' several times.

If a foreigner APPLIES FOR the so called retirement visa, can satisfy al lthe requirements that person will probably be approved to hold the so called retirement visa, which in most cses/probably all cases is valid for one year. The holder can re-apply at the end of the one year and if the foreigner can satisfy all the requirements the visa will probably be re-issed for one year etc. Obviously above I'm focused on foreigners who have been through the application and satisfied the requirements. If a foreigner is 50 years old or older but has never applied for the so called retirement visa but could satisfy all the reeuirements that doesn't automatically mean the foreigner is 'treated' the same as a foreigner who holds a valid so called retirement visa. At any ago the police can and do stop foreigners and ask various questions. One reason is to establish if the foreigner does have any type of valid visa which has not expired. In other words looking for folks who have overstayed. The age of such foreigners is not relevant, there's no regulations saying that foreigners over 50, regardless of visa status, should be questioned differently to foreigners of any age under 50 years old.

What has 3 hours got to do with this matter? You paid a deposit to reserve the property. OK deposit all paid, and you believe it's now reserved. Now you want to unreserve it and mess he owner/agent around. And it's possible they already told other folks 'Sorry, it's now taken' and the owner/agent lost an opportinty to rent and have income from the property. Again, what's the elevance of 3 hrs, the bottom line; the agent has possibly last a 12 month? income opportunity. To be honest in the circumstances I'm surprised the owner/gent returned any of your reserveing deposit. In the future follow the normal processes. Learn and move on. If you're not sure do what other folks do, say "I'm not sure, becaue I already look at three properties before I decide. If the owner/agent says "you HAVE TO make a deposit now", then scrub that property and keep looking. Again, what difference or relevance is there that just 3 hours has transpired? None.

Further, it seems to me that the concept of a 'national christian society' blatantly and very unfairly ignores the rights of folks who are agnostic etc. Also, seems to me that colour is way too involved with black and perhaps to a lesser extent latin folks being sidelined / harrassed because of colour regardless of whether they claim to be christian believers/followers or not. How wide spread all of the above is in the USA I don't know but enough to cause concern and especially worrying the fact that the supreme court is very strongly influenced by: 1. Christian Nationalsm, and 2. Allegiance to the GOP. So affected it brought about the cancellation of the 50 year old Roe Vs Wade rulings on the rights of women to control their own bodies. Women barred by law from making thei own decisions about their own bodies. Is all of this going to suddenly and quickly revert back to the more balanced overall respectful attitudes of society say 20 years ago? Very doubtful. I'm glad I don't live in the USA.

Fear of the powerful in the gov't more to the point. I often wonder; seems that the GOP is now full of folks who want the USA to be a Christian Nationalist party (compulsory Christian) and want all to toe the line on this or get punished in some way. (MTG et al.) And at the same time they want to see white supremacy. Never mind about social equality, never mind that all are equal in the eyes of god regardless of skin colour. Never mind there seems to be agreement that Jesus was not white skinned. But is there a god, one god? Was Jesus really the result of immaculate conception and did he really rise from he dead 3 days later? Christians want everybdy to believe this stuff which has no proof or logic at all but skoff at the teachings of Islam etc.

Well the bottom line is that the giant Thai conglomerate which currently holds the 7/11 franchise has no interest whatever except revenue and margin. Nothing else matters. And the conglomerate has the power to make it happen just the way they want it.

Seems to me there's a % of farang who see Pattaya and other areas of Thailand as just a funpark where you can make your own rules and its all OK. Plus in there own country they very probably wouldn't even try to walk away and not pay.

Read it again; he didn't pay, so how could that involve short changing?

Agree, every few seconds it appears on the rght side of my screen, not small, have to keep moving what I'm reading or what I;m writing to above the advertising. Really annoying. I realize the site needs revenue but there's plenty of other spaces the ads could be plced. Please move this advertising to another spot on the screen. as said really really annoying.