Bday Prang

I don't really consider any country truly democratic to be honest, but the Uk is the only other western country I know enough about to use for the purposes of comparison I have no Idea of how other European countries scam their citizens but I imagine its done in a similar way, God forbid I should offend any french, germans , dutch etc etc so I thought using the UK as a poor example would be the safest option. I think we are on the same wavelength

duplicate

The "democratic" process or concept is not that much different in Thailand than in the UK In Thailand at election time people vote for whichever party promises to do the things they are in favour of, but when the results are not in line with what the powers that be desire, they are simply disregarded In the UK people vote in a similar manner , for the political party whose stated manifesto matches what they are in favour of, then the winning party simply disregards their stated manifesto and does exactly what it wants Same same but different ?

personally I consider each on a cases by case basis, for example I have no issue with nipping to the local shop on my unregistered motorbike without wearing a helmet, which would be unthinkable in the UK. but i would not consider for a minute the idea of threatening another driver with a gun or machete in a fit of road rage.

like weed and lao khao to name just two

Thais, incase you have not noticed, already have the latest mobile phones, even in the relatively impoverished village where I live. Whether or not they need such sophisticated devices for communicating via "line" or "playing on facebook" is another matter. I have never heard any Thai rich or poor express any interest in the country developing a "space industry" neither have I ever heard any of them express a willingness to pay the additional tax that would be required for any other form of meaningful development. But I have heard some express an interest in relocating to Laos after they have retired , with a sense of nostalgia for the good old days and the realistic expectation that their civil service pensions will go a lot further "poverty, overcrowded schools with poor education, overcrowded hospitals," sounds like a perfect description of the country I originate from, I have suffered twice from kidney stones, Once was in the UK, fortunately the second time was here , and it was an infinitely better experience. I am very proud to live in a country where patriotism and even xenophobia is not seen as a crime ,or indeed evidence of being an extreme right wing fascist. I feel very safe here , always have done, and as I don't harbour any strong anti-royalist feelings I can publicly say anything I want, pretty much anywhere except on this forum As far as corruption is concerned I am perfectly happy to live somewhere where the benefits of it are also available to me and not just the super rich elite, as in the uk or other "developed " countries I really can't understand why, as a result of you advancing years and enforced retirement you chose to come and live in a place you obviously don't like neither do I understand why you dragged your mrs here against her will as by your own words she did not want to leave the "Idyllic" place you were living in

You have missed the essence of my comment, which was, that few governments are likely be adverse to any legislation that increases their revenue from taxation, the chance of any future administration rescinding the new tax rules is very very unlikely. Regardless of the relatively "tiny amount" received from foreigners It also amazes me, that anybody believes the population of Issan owes its survival to the presence of any foreigners, that is clearly a ridiculous assumption and I have said nothing that indicates I agree with such rubbish, Isaan and its population existed before any of us arrived , and would have continued to exist had we never arrived here. Indeed it will also continue to exist if we all disappeared tomorrow, Although I can't help thinking that my mrs and a few others whose lives may have been improved by our presence, might lament the inevitable loss of some of the fringe benefits they have become accustomed to and currently enjoy if we did vanish overnight.

So all those foreigners desperately calling for Thailand to change into a copy of their own countries, are doing so for "the benefit of the Thai population" and not as a result of their inability to accept things as they are here . Don't make me laugh It is just like muslims in the uk calling for sharia law

I live in an Identical place , probably not that far from you , I wouldn't want to live anywhere else, If I did I would . I would also add Europe and America to your list of unpreferable places to live. There are a few from this village who have ended up being taken abroad due to marrying foreigners, they return here at every opportunity. some permanently

I admire your loyalty to your family, I would not be prepared to live somewhere I thought so badly of, for anybody, Obviously your family are more than happy to live here in spite of all the negative aspects you have listed, Maybe its you who need to adapt, or even move on, We only get one life and to live it tainted by misery is such a waste

You are "warning me " It is obvious who I was actually quoting , at least to anybody with a modicum of intelligence, now stop crying and get over yourself

You actually sound like a primary school teacher,

As you say it probably won't end up decimating peoples pensions, and the whole issue has in my opinion been somewhat over dramatised , this is often the case when people with too much time on their hands ,get a bit worried and start panic mongering, on forums like this However, any accompanying bureaucracy, and associated paperwork requirements, could well become a pain in the ar$e for people, given the various authorities involved, and their well established practice of deliberately misinterpreting the rules as they see fit, purely in order to cause maximum inconvenience , and /or creating opportunities for squeezing a bit of tea money out of us

I did not mention temples, or beaches, what are you talking about ?

Not quite sure what you think I have confirmed, and I don't really care to be honest, but if you clarify what you are actually trying to assert, I will respond appropriately

I have reposted it , you can stop crying now,

nobody's' hands would be clean though would they,? Least of all yours, Sounds to me like they set you up as a fall guy in case it all went tits up !

It was obviously accidental, stop crying, I will repost it quoting the person who actually said it , now dry your eyes

Not unfairly but accidentally, its obvious to anybody reading the thread who actually said what I quoted

no you were not any way requested to repeat yourself, or indeed to respond at all I can't imagine why you chose to do so

I don't see that you have made a point, you have merely reminded me of two of the main reasons I originally came here,

Its a way for the government to raise a $hit load of money off foreigners , Do you think he would disappeove

That might have had something to do with it, and your point is?

nobody's' hands would be clean though would they,? Least of all yours, Sounds to me like they set you up as a fall guy in case it all went tits up !

Based on what you have read on this forum, and the link to the pattay mail ? Talk about trail by media You're probably right though , no smoke without fire and all that. At least that's what anybody reading this thread is thinking, whether they admit it or not