Walker88

Part of being civilized is coming to terms with history and accepting that things once allowed/tolerated/carried out are unfair, unlawful or outright evil. That isn't "Presentism", where some expect people in the past to have today's morality or be 'cancelled' for it, but rather an admission that civility has new rules, and these rules grant (ideally) all people equal rights to life, liberty, freedom and self-determination.

My earlier post on the Mau Mau Rebellion noted those dates.

People responsible for the crimes should be punished. I was all in favor of hunting down Nazis long after the war, or going after those who committed or ordered atrocities in the former Yugoslavia, or Cambodia, or Rwanda. Personally, and as noted in a current popular thread, I would have also liked justice to have been handed to Menachem Begin. Toss in Carlos the Jackal (serendipitously caught after attending a party in Khartoum), George Habash and a host of others (some of whom did pay the price, like the Flying Ginsu-ing of Ayman al Zawahiri). As for injustices that preceded the lives of anyone now alive, I guess when Mongolia apologizes for Genghis Khan slaughtering 20% of humanity, someone else can have their turn. Until then, just learn from past bad behavior.

Your trying to use the "But Hitler was nice to his niece" argument. Is it too much just to admit that your country---and most others---have checkered pasts?

The Mau Mau rebellion was in the 1950s and 60s. Hardly 'centuries old'. I met an old Brit military guy who wrote a book on it and was part of it. Ian Stuart McWalter Henderson, and IIRC, his book was "Manhunt in Kenya". Henderson went on to be a major figure in intel in Bahrain in the 1970s to 1990s. He was one of the many Brits who played roles in Gulf intelligence in the 70s, 80s and 90s. The most colorful---slightly off topic---was Brig Timothy Landon, who was the right hand man of the Sultan of Oman. Landon was an interesting fellow, who ended up extremely wealthy before passing from cancer.

Being shallow, demanding and intolerant has probably served me well, though I applaud those of you who have found love and happiness with a Thai woman. Some on here are miffed that a topic such as this comes up on this site, but it really is quite germane to a majority of foreigners in Thailand, for reasons that need not be stated. We all know. We all know the temptations, and we all know the possibilities that exist here. For me, I could never bridge the cultural gap. I'm hardly a neophyte expat, as I've lived and worked in many countries and cultures. While I do find Thai women lovely and often quite endearing, the way most think vs the way I think are too far apart for me to be satisfied long term. I accept they would feel the same toward me. Thai women are likely the only ethnicity about whom I would feel that way, at least based on the countries in which I have lived (which include Asia, South Asia, Europe and the Middle East). I'm somewhat pedantic about beliefs, and really expect logic to be a part of everyone's thinking, especially a woman with whom I would share life. I can slough off superstitions like reincarnation or magic amulets in casual relationships, but not in anything long term. Such beliefs indicate a mind that is prone to poor decisions or that cannot accept personal responsibility. That's a recipe for disaster, as it can impact important decisions over which one can have direct control. Thai women---in what is perhaps my too limited experience---are the one ethnicity where few have moved beyond superstition and who can accept most of their cultural beliefs re faith are absolute drivel. A second thing is that I have met precious few Thais who are not of the view that Thailand is the center of the known Universe, and thus there is absolutely no need to know anything about anything, whether science, history, art or the rest of humanity. Too narrow is the typical focus, and that says BOREDOM over the long term. Unlike some men, I'm not looking for a maid, but rather an equal partner. I can wash and iron my own clothes. A final point---and this applies to all women along with the typical (not all) man's desire for fresh attractions---I have worked with and known women who have gone through menopause. I understand the hormone imbalances are not their fault, but how that impacts behavior is a cruel trick played by the impish Universe. Female behavior can be quite bizarre during that time. This is not a sexist view (some, of course, will argue otherwise), it is merely fact. Even women who have reached the 'other side' have told me how weirdly they behaved. Many are also quite happy to be done with their 'monthly visitor' as well as carnal desire. That is where my lack of tolerance would enter. The depth of love I would have to feel to chill out during that multi-year transition would have to Romeo-esque. I think the traditional Western marriage vows should say, "In sickness and in health and through menopause". I also think I will still have a desire to 'do the deed' when I'm past female menopause age, which might tempt me to break vows of monogamy. So I accept I'm not the marrying type, but like General Jack Ripper in Dr. Strangelove, I don't avoid women (Mandrake); I just deny them my essence betrothal.

Congrats on the demographics of your Mrs' village. Sounds like they also attended a prep school like Phillips Andover or Choate. Bankers, eh? Maybe they were my colleagues at Goldman Sachs or my hedge funds? My experience in Isaan, undoubtedly incorrect, differs markedly. Post-Covid I have been in Sakaeo, Buriram and Ubon. Granted, that's not all of Isaan. Half finished structures everywhere, as bank loans disappeared during Covid. Jobs are unavailable. Even in Big C and Lotus', they are wildly overstaffed (staff sitting down chatting in the aisles) and need not hire anymore. Lots of drunk men and lazy young men demanding (you know, that filial piety thing) sis send them money from Pattaya or Bangkok. Many babies being cared for by grandmoms or great grandmoms, as birth mom is working in the big city. Women who became mothers at a tender age were forced out of school, and can't even get hired at 7-11, as a degree is required. Oh, and farm production is down, so prices have risen. Some of my staff are from these cities and villages. Two differences I see between them and bargirls---whom my staff absolutely do not look down on. One is that my staff didn't get pregnant at 15 like some of their classmates. Another is that they don't have drunk uncles and neer-do-well brothers, nor gambling addict mothers, expecting to be supported by sisters, daughters or nieces working the chrome poles. Being attractive, but having a family full of parasites, is bad enough. One act of youthful indiscretion---usually initiated by the boyfriend who subsequently does a runner---changes these women's lives forever. As a male, who am I to judge? There but for the grace of Zeus......... I now return control of this thread back to Bob.

Bob, I'm trying to carry the water for you keeping your thread going strong. Of all the serial thread starters, I find Bob mildly amusing. Some of the others (unnamed) less so.

Not superior knowledge, just something I notice. In this moribund Thai economy, even the ruling leadership believes sex tourists add value. No doubt families all over Isaan feel the same way. Live and let live.

Actually, no scooter. Being a forward thinker, I did my Midlife Crisis in my 20s, with the Harley Fatboy and the Porsche Carrera (I even had a Rolex back then). Got it out of my system and cleared the deck for (hopefully) a dignified Middle Age.

Perhaps you've missed the change in demographics, but I would guess 70% of the sex tourists today are East Asian. The proverbial old, fat, bald farang is a dying breed, replaced by the increasingly chubby, 20ish to 40ish, face-for-radio, chain-smoking East Asian. Those poor bargirls never get a break (unless Bob is feeling randy and is out and about).

I suspect he's truthful. He notes having $50K ready to drop this high season. It's a modest, not an absurd amount, thus: believable. $12.5K/month, assuming a 4 month high season, is quite reasonable. Heck, he might even own a Rolex, though he's joking about any women giving a hoot about a watch. Lambo, maybe. Watch? Even women who know what a Rolex costs would assume Bob bought it off an Indian guy who interrupted him at dinner.

The same color as Bob's Roleks (sic)

Good for you. My Piaget doesn't quite do that, but when she sees the Gulfstream, even her mother gets weak in the knees.

Adding to my own post, somewhat facetiously.... In the not-too-distant future, a statue of a bargirl will be erected outside the main TAT office, an admission of her importance to both the development of Thailand's modern economy and her ongoing contribution to economic growth. I suspect bargirls had some impact when location managers came to Thailand looking for a place to set up a factory, especially in the Bangkok-Pattaya corridor. Also, even non-mongering tourists rather enjoy taking a stroll down Walking Street at night, or Soi Cowboy, Soi 4, and in years past, Patpong.

I asked a very successful foreign bar owner what impact this 4am closing will have on his business. He's a numbers guy, so knows revenue vs costs, plus what his staff likes. His answer: "Maybe during the high season we'll stay open until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays, but otherwise it isn't profitable." Elsewhere, it seems the government is admitting two things: 1) Even those "dirty farangs" count as quality tourists, and tourism is one of the few things we think we can affect right now to boost the economy (4am closings, legal weed, visa-free for Indians, russkis get 90 days) 2) Though we have no prostitution in Thailand, woman accepting tributes for supplying sexual favors is an important part of Thailand's tourism appeal (put another way: "Beer goggles" will be the norm by 4am, so even the fatties from Isaan will get barfined and be able to send money back home)

The property bubble in Japan was built on 100 year mortgages. Most still have 55 years to go. Japan is in a terrible funk now. Whatever you think it was, it is no more. It is depressing. It has lost its will, perhaps even to live. Some areas the major goal is suicide. Japan will not be just fine.

Japan is doing well? Hardly. They have a wildly underfunded pension system, but a rapidly aging population. (I used to manage Japanese pension money, among other things, and the accounting they use is simply bizarre. The underfunding is criminal.) Homes that once were valued (money loaned against) for the equivalent of $1 million are now on the market for a few thousand dollars, with no takers. Many many more houses than people now. Japan's debt is staggering. By a factor of five they have the highest service ratio on govt debt as any other country, Greece being second. An incredible amount of total tax revenue goes to service existing JGBs. Like most countries, their system was built on an ever-expanding population base, or to put it another way, a Ponzi Scheme. Now that the population pyramid is inverting, inflows cannot meet outflows. The yen is evidencing this to some extent (~150/$ now), but it will get worse.

In India I watched a truck swerve to avoid a cow, and then smash into a tuktuk carrying half a dozen schoolgirls. Horrific.......but 'sacred'.

We would call what you described an 'excise tax'. Wealth is a moving target, a function of market moves, interest rates and a host of other things. I know there are, and have been, wealth taxes, but I think the concept is ripe for corruption and abuse. I agree with you on tax rates and capital gain rates.

You sound bitter. I might not think Kim Kardashian has even an ounce of talent, but I applaud her for marketing herself and making a fortune. I'm not sure what 'overpaid' means in entertainment. Celebrities get what the market gives them. If teenyboppers want to make Taylor Swift a billionaire, more power to her. I have my favorites in Hollywood and sports, and I don't begrudge them their fortunes. I got pleasure watching Tom Brady play football, MJ playing basketball, or 'stars' like Gene Hackman....sometimes even Tom Cruise.

Capitalism works because it is based on incentive. Socialism and Communism---which also consolidate wealth into the hands of the few, usually self-appointed leaders---offers zero incentive. It goes against human nature. Those who can't make it, usually because they lack the ambition to succeed and do the work it takes to succeed, don't like Capitalism. They want a free ride, or remuneration in excess of the value they add. Redistribute wealth, and those who have skill and can be productive lose their incentive, making all of society poorer.

A few comments.... How do you implement a wealth tax? Cannot be done. Asset values fluctuate too wildly (just look at trump's NYC trial to understand the inexact or amorphous nature of asset values and the ability to make them whatever one wants). What is Elon Musk's Tesla stock worth? You cannot take closing price and apply that to all his shares, because if he had to liquidate, the price would tumble. Same with Bezos and his Amazon stock. On 19 October 1987, the Dow fell 23%. Wealth tax on what....something that can fall 23% in a single day? What is a house in the Hamptons or Pebble Beach worth? Does the USG go by Zillow valuations? Raising income or capital gains tax rates is more realistic. Capital rates of return vs growth are not the real issue. The real issue is that increasingly labor is losing pricing power. Globalization started it, as low skill workers in advanced economies lost out to China, India, Bangladesh, etc. Technology is exacerbating the problem. AI will devastate labor markets. Society is going to be turned upside down. A funny aside....those who want to make society more equal focus on corporations and corporate chieftains. What about the massive wealth in the hands of "artists", whether that's Tom Cruise, Taylor Swift or Damien Hirst? How does one measure their rate of return vs economic growth? The bifurcation of wealth is only going to worsen, as markets award rare skill, celebrity, innovation, invention, or simply those who already having wealth. Most people are redundant or simply unnecessary. I never made any kids. Why should I have to pay just because others might have been either biologically irresponsible, or else were egotistical enough to think the planet needed their gene pool? That is an entirely different part of this 'equality' thing. I don't make any kids, but my neighbors make ten, and expect me to send over some of my wealth to take care of what they popped out? Most kids are the result of mistakes or just plain horniness. Why must I pay for other's carnal pursuits?

"Mainstream at the time" Does that excuse Begin's butchery at Deir Yassin and the King David Hotel, because he wasn't yet 'mainstream'? If so, then in some bizarre future, will Mohammed Deif be at Camp David dining with a future POTUS? Terrorists are terrorists. Deif is a terrorist. Begin was a terrorist. Arafat (whom I did not forget...and even met him once) was a terrorist.

What do you think of foreigners in your country? I suspect the answers would be similar. Some like, some think they're good for business, some tolerate, some don't like, some think outsiders are bespoiling the culture, some think outsiders are dirty, etc. Xenophobia is common the world over to some extent, as is tolerance, affection, curiosity, etc.