Expat Tom

No doubt Thaksin is working his nefarious black magic behind the scene to keep his daughter (aka the FAMILY) in power.

Thailand is ranked as the 107th most corrupt country in the world. "Transparency.org - 2024 World Corruption Perception Index". If you are not Thai, where does your country rank? The alcohol industry most likely paid off the right people to ban weed. I have ZERO proof of this but having lived here for many years, it could very well be the case.

If there were a major war , Thailand would not be a good ally. Either they would accidently shoot themselves in the foot or accidently shoot you in the back. I have been here for over 15 years and consider Thailand as my second home. However, I have an exit pan. Between the Indians, Russians, Chinese and incompetent corrupt Thai government, my RFL File (reasons for leaving) grows daily

Of course he is guilty. Of course he will never be punished. EVERYTHING is for sale here. Thailand ranks 107 th on the world corruption index for a reason.... "transparency.org" 2024 world corruption index. Check it out for yourself. Don't take my word for it.

All of this over a weed that has been used for 1000 's of years? If it is a crime then who is the victim? Too many busy bodies willing to tell people how to live their lives. I smoked pot year ago. I don't smoke pot now, however, if I want to burn a joint in the privacy of my own home then that should be my choice.

His actions can only take place in a woefully corrupt state. I saddens me to see my home country ranked as 28th on the World Corruption Perception Index; meaning that there are 27 countries LESS corrupt. If I were a Thai citizen, I would be mortified that Thailand ranks 107th on the world corruption index; meaning that there are 106 countries ranked as less corrupt. What Taskin has done is the result of systemic corruption throughout the government and the body politic. Taskin is the product of his environment.

May all of her wishes come true. I am sure that she is deserving....HAHAHAHA Remember, Thailand is ranked as the 107th most corrupt countries on the planet. World corruption Perception Index , 2024, "transparency.org". Everything here is transactional...EVERYTHING. We are only talking about the price. Heck, if you have enough money and power you can buy your daughter the position as PM.. Why did the young lady in question not ask to be Thailand's next PM as well? I understand that the position is open.

Why is it anyone's business whether I smoke pot or not. Buriram is, and has been for years, well known for great music festivals where pot is smoke with abandon in public. Are to Bangkok "Karen Busybodies " who feel compelled to regulate non-victim crime going to start coming into my home and sticking their collective noses into my private life? I will stick this into my "RFL" file.....(Reasons For Leaving). I love Thailand and have been here LEGALLY for over 15 years and hope to stay longer. However, I have and exit strategy and advise all farang is to have an exit strategy just in case.

If you don't understand that everything coming out of the Bangkok cartel is coming DIRECTLY from Taskin. The government decision to bar him from politics should have extended to his entire family. Metaphorically speaking, "His daughter is a puppet and he is the puppet master". He probably decides what she has for lunch. I look at the stupidity and corruption in the country of my birth and then look at the Thai government and realize my country isn't so bad after all. I love Thailand but am not trapped here. I can leave tomorrow if I chose. I feel bad for my many Thai friends who cannot do the same.

Everything is for sale in Thailand. What this will come down to is which lobby will have the most money to buy votes, the alcohol lobby ..aka...anti -marijuana or the Weed lobby. I suggest that you might find it interesting to see where Thailand ranks on the "World Corruption Perception Index". Visit "ransparency.org" for the 2024 rankings. Thailand ranks 107th on the list, meaning that there are 106 countries ranked a less corrupt than Thailand. BTW, Thailand fell on place from the 2023 survey. Could Taskin's stay in the luxury suite of the police hospital and the installation of his daughter as PM have anything to do with that? Russia ranks 141st on the world corruption index. Could that be why there are so many Russians here? Actually, I think that the corruption here is great. In the compartment under the seat of my motor bike I have a ziplock bag with my motorbike papers, my Thai driver's license and a 1000 baht note. When I get stopped by the police I give the officer that bag. I get the bag back minus the 1000 baht and NO ticket. WHAT A GREAT COUNTRY. I wish that I could do the same in my home country.

Thailand has no fear of ever being accused of being a "libertarian" society. There are always people here more than ready and willing to stick their noses into other's business. Every country and society needs laws and rules but liberty and freedom is also needed. I have lived here as an expat for many years. I have owned several condos here but have sold all of my property and will never invest in anything that is non-fungible here again. Almost every time I visit ASEAN Now, I find more reason for leaving and less reasons for staying. My RFL (reasons for leaving) list grows and my exit plan take is taking its final form.

I have lived here for many years. I like the Thai people and have many Thai friends. I have ZERO regard for the people running this country. They are gradually coming to the realization that they have to compete for tourists as there are many other choices out there and much of them much better than Thailand. The Bangkok gang of fools needs to pull their collective heads out of their butts and stop giving long stay expats reasons for seeking other horizons.

I thought that boarder dispute was settled in international court in Cambodia's favor. Maybe I was wrong or maybe the Thai government didn't get the memo? Don't worry. It won't be much of fight. Big Brother to the North will not allow two if its client states to fight for very long. If I were Thailand I might be concerned. Didn't the Kilmer empire once subjugated much of Thailand in the past? Actually, I find it amusing. Both Thailand and Cambodia should be glad that they are not in a dispute with Vietnam. that would not end well for either of them.

I have lived here as an Expat for 15 years dumping 70,000 to 90,000 baht into the economy monthly. I yearly submit my letter from the bank attesting to my deposits in excess of 65,000 baht per month to renew my O-A visa. If that isn't enough for the Thai government then they can kiss my backside and I will take my money and put it into another countries economy. In my opinion, the Thai government is completely inept to wit, the country has a lower ranking on the World Corruption Index than Vietnam, The PI, Cambodia and Malaysia. The police target farang for harassment on motor bikes and one never knows what the visa rules will be from one week to the next. I love Thailand and have many Thai friends, none of which have much regard for the Bangkok cabal who run things from their ivory towers and return home to their gated communities in their Mercedes after a hard day of trying to bring misery to all....Thai citizens and farang alike. Every time I read ASEAN Now , I tweak my exit strategy. Over the years I have owned several condos in the Kingdom. Now I rent. All of my possessions fir into two categories. 1) They will fit into two suitcases and a carry on -or- 2) I can abandon them without too much grief on financial loss.

Taskin is supposedly banned from Thai politics? Does anyone think that his daughter does anything without being directed by her father? And, how about his illness upon his return from exile in a luxury suite in the Thai police hospital. To think that Taskin is not the de facto PM of Thailand is naive and amusing. But, Thai politics has always been amusing. No wonder people are flocking to other Southeast Asian destinations and many long tern farang expats leaving.