Wrwest

Thailand Tourism will be met with issues from all international hotel associations. This proposal is dead in the water as not well thought out in the blowback damaging Thailand tourism. Any foreign tourists with friends in Thailand has alreading been forwarded of dual pricing to visit Thailands National Parks (a travesty as they could be promoted like these parks are in the US and elsewhere).

Ah, if it were only so … I could have afforded to be retired in my homeland. As it is, out priced in my own country, I retired to a lower cost country where my monthly sustainable budget is $2400 USD ($1385 of that from SS). An economic refugee able to have a comfortable working middle class retirement here in Thailand. Perhaps a bit of economic reality it’s is involved.

I have no issue with marketing but ... vocabulary in the target audience language counts. I recommend not using the English word, "cheap" but rather using the English term, "value for your ... dollar, Euro, Yen (whatever)". A definite attraction for Thailand is emphasizing the benefit of a lower cost of living. I retired here for the major reason that I could have a US level middle class retirement in Thailand which I could not have in the USA. This is, in fact, a Thailand advantage in global competition. It is a major consideration for many of the retirees out of the 9 million Americans living outside the USA. You want to promote tourism, including medical tourism? A major selling point is world class service at a substantial cost savings. Or Mr. Anutin, do you propose to promote Thailand tourism by matching Monte Carlo prices.

First, I apologize as the first smart aleck thought coming to my mind was Putin was sending MIGS to protect the Russians here in Thailand. Not really a joking matter with those planes firing on people.

Five year driver's License or Pink Card and Thai Resident pricing. If you want to stick it to tourists ... let Tourism of Thailand figure out if they are losing tourists as a result. We who are resident in Thailand should be recognized as annually sustaining Thailand and many, Thai nationals.

Some might enjoy a Scout story concerning the international Scout jamboree hosted by Thailand in 2002. U.S.A. Scout Council Representatives gathered for a conference at Philmont Scout Ranch two years later. Various experiences concerning international contacts were told. I recall one rather religiously oriented couple who reported getting upset at the Thai jamboree when they discovered the shower trailers provided were co-ed. Now the trailer had separate completely enclosed shower compartments so no one was showering collectively but ... ha! After their story of how they protested such an arrangement, I reported on a Scout Exchange which took our group of male and female Scouts to Kandersteg International Scout Reservation in Switzerland. We were assigned bunk rooms based on the size of our group. So, we all slept, males and females, in the same room. Separate bathrooms were down the hall. I have no doubt that some conservative folks in my home Scout Council would have been upset. As head of our Scout Exchange, I simply said we were under the International Scout regulations so not to worry. Hmmm, my Son, who was part of our group certainly enjoyed meeting the Swedish Scouts (female). A great experience where we were joined by our Czech Sister City Scouts.

I figure I am bi-lingual. I can use both, "youse guys" and "y'all". Note ... y'all or you all in American Southern usage not limited to mountain folk (aka "Hillbillies").

So, referring to geography rather than, say population. Not questioning just seeking clarification as to measurement used in comparison.

Ha! Ironically, currently some in the USA seem to be wanting 50 equal, sovereign states rather than a nation. Easier to control that way ... Sadly, they did not know we already tried this under the Articles of Confederation and the failed claim attempt under the Confederate States of America.

Those of us who are American, born post-WW II certainly grew up in a time of American economic growth and that shaped much of the thinking throughout our lives. I would hasten to point out that not all made books of money, I retired to a lower cost country in large measure because I can better afford a working middle class retirement here. For my two Sons, well they both chose different paths to follow and live in a period where the global community has grown to reflect a more level playing field economically (thinking of the developed western nations mostly but not ignoring China's growth). Harder for my Sons economically and harder on the American psyche as we become more viewed as mote of an equal player ... yea, yea, we still have more capability for destruction (military) ... but not leading in so much of sustainable societal living.

Reality inconvenient to an absolutist stance? Deal with the complexities, they are dictating public policy for all contingencies. Yes, rape, incest, medical complications, amniotic testing, chorionic village sampling …

Including the rapist? In the case of incest family member? Case of abusive relationship?

This points to a valid reason that a “one law fits all” approach fails. The studies have shown that conservatives are more oriented to a world view of … right/wrong, yes/no, black/white, all/nothing. The reality is that life is more complicated and in the issue at hand there are so many complexities that it is not possible to allow for all contingencies. That is a main reason that the decision is not mine to make for others. But then, I am not inclined to use conservative reasoning on personal medical decisions.

Agreed although I am a retired Yank. Can’t be in my native country due to financial considerations (much better off here … a major reason for retiring here). Yes … ouch! I feel the increase in filling the motorbike. Up from 90-100 baht, now up to 130 baht. But, this I can handle and it is offset by getting more baht to the USD currently so … overall I remain a happy camper with a Thai wife 26 years my junior (another major consideration for retiring to Thailand).

A "cold" Civil War is already raging. This current planned Republican Party policy direction has been in the works for years. Divide the states and keep a national government weak so it cannot demand equality for all American citizens equally. Those supporting the idea of independent state decisions was present in attempting the "Articles of Confederation". It was a failure in bringing about a nation. It again was a core cry leading to the American Civil War (the independent state should determine if slavery is to be legal). It was a failure in preserving a nation. In the USA we have 50 independent education systems . A failure in educating a nation equally (the US region with the lowest support for education? Go ahead and look up the documented facts ... SE states). We have dealt with this since arguing during the founding between the Federalist and Anti-federalists. It again has raised its ugly head and threatens whether the USA is, indeed, a nation.

My only experience with calling my banks, retirement fund, credit cards and family in the USA has been via Skype. No problem.

if that were fact there would not be so many not adopted in the state system. Not inevitable, but I am reflecting on my psychology courses having visited the Micro and Hydrophilic beings warehoused needing round the clock care. I hasten to point out that if this is the Mother's decision to carry to term, I will help support through a national healthcare program (ideally) ... but I will not allow my significant other not to have the right to aborat as soon as the defect is medically determined. Fortunately, we would have a choice, only the poor will be forced to the back alleys.

And as The Donald already tweeted, we should give him and his Republican colleagues full credit for stacking the court and this designed outcome.

Until a 'baby" can sustain its own life, it is part of and reliant upon the mother.

Bottom line for me? Should I and my significant other be faced with this decision, I would not recognize any law, regulation, disapproval by the right wing demanding that we carry to term, deliver, care for and bear the emotional/financial burden of raising a genetically damaged being. Fortunately, I would have the financial resources to seek medical care in an enlightened country. Foolish to follow an absolute stance, based on personal religious beliefs (and trying to force those beliefs on others), and yet refuse to have social systems in place to care (emotionally and financially) for those who choose not to abort. Try to comprehend this only further alienates some of us Americans from being able to believe in and supporting a county that follows such medieval thinking.

Sadly humorous for the lack of factual reality. But to be expected.

The way I view this is that, if my significant other were raped or if Chorionic villus sampling shows a severe birth defects, of if something goes wrong with a desired pregnancy, I would definitely have a voice in demonstrating my support for her.

Agreed. Anyone having been reading here would have learned the wires have gotten folks of all ages.

Running errands today in Chiang Mai. Mask wearing continues. I will continue to wear inside areas, such as malls but once outside in open areas with others distant ... off to comes.

On my last year O-A Extension of Stay. Come this time next year, I will have let my Visa lapse. I plan to reenter Visa Exempt and gain an O Visa for reason of Retirement. To all newcomers looking for annual Visas, I recommend avoiding applying for an O-A Visa in your home country. it is pretty obvious that the Kingdom of Thailand does not want you coming in on this Visa. Reasons? I do not know nor comprehend.