Wrwest

It will do more than that to this American. He gets a majority of the USA popular vote and the social contract between me, as an American citizen and the majority voting for him will be dissolved. I will no longer have a country

He is well aware of his audience. Those who are rabid anti … fill in the black and the disaffected ignorant Americans ( of whom there are far too many). He is a present and current danger to any hope of a continuing American participatory democracy. What is that Chinese curse again? “May you live in interesting times”.

Agree, calling 1669 for ambulance might not get the desired English or other language. Best bet dial 1155 for Tourist Police. But in either case being able to give directions or immediately sending GPS coordinates is critical for emergency care.

I agree with your assessment, however, I would not judge that not much interested him enough to stay in his own country. I have joined millions of other working middle class Americans who have been “outpriced” at home.that was a major reason for leaving for a lower cost country. Again, I agree with you, my time is up and my Thai Wife and Stepdaughter have been told to cremate me with the bare minimum of expense and put the ashes in the Mae Ping. They will email my Sons informing them of my passing and getting Death Certificates to them. My DNA has been traced back eons and my Grandsons, I hope, will pass them forward.

A decision, if at all, for Thai citizens to respond, not for me as a US retiree living here for over a decade. On the other hand, my mind still functions and so I do have reflections. I read three dozen books dealing with Thailand before deciding to make The Kingdom of Thailand my home in retirement. Some of those books dealt with Thai politics so I am aware of Thaksin’s faults. I am also aware of the politics at play here and that as an elected Prime Minister he was overthrown by a military coup d’etat (as would be his Sister later). As to his return and being placed under house arrest? Why not? Double standard you say? Guess I am sidelined as an American … justice in my own country is also based, in large measure, on status determined by wealth. Found guilty in a court of law you say? And I suppose the majority of the reason was not political? Understand I am not stating that he and Yingluck might have justified charges brought to trial but … given the circumstances of coups, this, in large measure negates the handling of these matters. Historically consistent with Thailand’s use of coups.

As an A,Eric an, I can no longer comment. Why? Because having studied and taught US history for decades, I can see far too many similar faults within my own country.

I am in a relative same boat. USA Social Security plus withdrawals from retirement savings fund. All subject to USA income tax. But my annual total falls below taxation levels so there are no taxes owed to Uncle Sam. All these retirement funds were earned based on income from previous years. I am hoping that the USA tax treaty between the USA and Thailand will preclude any taxation of income that I am required to bring into Thailand (at 65K a month). I can envision a diplomatic issue here.

NSA, I was reading Zen when I took Taek Kwando back in 1978, retired to Thailand 2011. Reincarnated? Well, you see I am DNA tested and already reading about the lives I have lived in the past …

My two Sons did not have places of their own so upon retirement I had them go through the house to take what they wished. I did reserve some small items as remembrances of my life. They too have been sent back to them after a decade of retirement in Thailand. Agree with you, only those who have shared our experiences share the memories. After we are gone, those collected trinkets mean nothing to others unless they symbolize a common memory. Now I have only small things of interest to me collected here in Asia. After I pass over, my Sons inherit the retirement funds in the USA. My Thai Wife and Stepdaughter have only the house, car, motorbike, furniture and what remains in the Thai bank accounts (not that much as much was put as a down payment, etc.

I have told those not in Thailand that we have: hot-dry, hot-wet and hot- a little less in the eve, night, early morn.

If you own the scooter and it ia annually licensed, we all pay the tax and the mandatory insurance. It is a low coverage but it is there, if I am not mistaken.

Ha! Lighten your load ... pertinent to this topic. Tonight rewatching the movie, "Trading Places" dealing directly with the question at hand. Don Ameche, Ralph Bellamy, Dan Ackroyd, Eddie Murphy. It is part of my Christmas themed movies rewatched this time of year culminating with George C. Scott as Scrooge on Christmas Eve ,...

I have used the 65K baht a month income from abroad since retiring in Thailand. I was on an O-A Visa issued through the Royal Thai Consulate in Chicago. As you say, they changed the requirements and so I had to purchase the annual health insurance (pre-existing conditions exclusion meant they would not pay). Took out a 11,000 baht policy with a 200K deductible and looked at it as a tax. This past year, switched to an "O" Visa saving the insurance premium. I continue to bring in the 65K a month as that is what we spend. My retirement funds are invested and earning me retirement income ... "park" 800K in a Thai bank? I do not see that as a good financial move.

While I agree in recognizing a problem ... "just fix the air pollution"? As if a Thai policy alone can make it all go away?

Readily available in the supermarkets when we stayed on Koh Samui two years ago. As in the USA, I go to the cashier for checkout in support of having a working middle call person earning a living. Curmudgeon?

Ah, an age old question and reams of studies done. Only certain folks lean toward demanding an either/or, yes/no, right/wrong answer in a world of grey areas in life. So ... the answer is both. I was born in the Philly area of South Jersey where my DNA goes back before the founding of the country. Thus I grew up with the predominant English as my native language (although through nurture ... I am bi-lingual knowing both "youse guys" and "y'all" ha!). Being of WASP background was raised as a Christian (although through nature again, my education and experience has outgrown this. Had I been born in Japan, it would have been Japanese and Shinto , adding Buddhism along the way and perhaps Christianity as the culture allows for a more inclusive approach (raised American, the culture leans toward picking one, any one but just one). Saudi Arabia? Arabic and Islam ... On occasion over my 41 years of teaching, I oft pointed this out to my students also citing my nature inherited nearsightedness (thanks Mom) and cholesterol heart issues (thanks, Dad). the kind of academic discussion enjoyed along with a glass of red wine (for the heart, of course).

All I can do is guess. You cited checking the phone off to the side and the IO went off on people taking photos. Just a guess but the phones might have set the IO off ...

But … Trump will lock him up only on the first day … ha!

True enough, 41 years professional life and now freely retired here in Thailand.

Absolutely.

Diarrhea of the mouth, constipation of the brain.

A friend told me about his buddy who had this. Said the ladies loved it as he could hold an erection for a loooong time!

Visited Chae Hom. Great drive/climb. I drove up part way by my stomach told me The road was too steep and narrow and so, back down and left the driving to the songtaw. Then the hike to the top. One Thai lady asked my Thai Wife how old I was … disbelief that I was 74 at the time. At 76 and having heart issues, just glad that climb is checked off the “bucket list”.

Point understood ... then again, as an American with British roots, I too would be blocked. 26,400 pounds based on last years USA total retirement income.

Understood and some acknowledged justification. Even Biden said he would not be running if the threat of Trump were not so critical. On that basis, as well as, recognition of what positive legislation has come about being at the hands on Democrats ... my vote will be a decided opposition to Trump and the (current) Republican Party ilk.