Felton Jarvis

Linkage of the gun problem with the illegal immigration problem is an amazing work of fiction.

America.....the land of the gun. Reaping what it sowed. This Yank never owned a gun and never missed it. A former Chief Justice said ""The gun lobby's interpretation of the Second Amendment is one of the greatest pieces of fraud, I repeat the word fraud, on the American people by special interest groups that I have ever seen in my lifetime." Warren Burger.

Not many expats can afford the exorbitant rates charged for insurance premiums. Especially given the likelihood that the insurance will never pay off. National Health Insurance is the answer, but Thailand will never create such a program.

I was under the impression that Thaksin could get a royal pardon at any time. Is this still an option?

April Fools

The beauty of being a billionaire. They don't have to endure the ignominious treatment reserved for the plebeians.

Wonder when China will decide to protect their nationals who live in China? The CCP has murdered more Chinese than any other country.

Most decent blokes can find a girlfriend who is not a bargirl. I have dated four different ones since I moved here seven years ago. Unfortunately, I have found that the bank employee or the waitress are frequently little different from the bargirl, as concerns their priorities. Money, money, money.

Your definition only. Most of us want to be left alone. Drugs threaten no one except the cartels who can no longer profit from them.

Libertarian. Google it.

Pay up and shut up. It's the way business is done.

Most all drug laws are idiotic and counterproductive. In Thailand, they serve only as a conduit for bribe money. I am in favor of total legalization of ALL drugs, including heroin, cocaine and what have you. The penalty for misuse is usually death and the users do not even have to go through the court system. Let drug abusers weed themselves out.

Not all agents charge this much. My landlady is also my agent and I give her 14000 baht to renew my extension of stay each year. She and her British husband own a number of condos here in Pattaya and seem to have a very good connection with IO. Knowing Thailand's ever-changing rules on Non-O visas, I do not expect this situation to last any longer than it takes them to find a way to make things more miserable. Making things smooth and simple is contrary to their policy of making it as difficult as possible to live here.

Anutin

Religion is useful for scaring children into behaving. Beyond that, I see no useful function. I was brought up Catholic, but by age 15, I decided that I didn't believe.

It is still available, but I believe the formula has changed. I no longer see the ingredient "tincture of opium". That was the active ingredient, so worthless.

Sounds like a rational way of living. The sexual orientation of others is none of my business unless it involved underage persons or has something to do with sex trafficking.Other types of gossip bore me and make me wonder what the individual says about ME when I'm not around. Minding one's own business is incredibly easy.

Exactly how the insane rumors against farangs begin. Thais will believe ANYTHING as long as it is an attack on foreigners. They want the money we bring, but they expect us to act and think exactly as they do in all respects. Can a more unrealistic mindset exist anywhere in the world???

STILL a better system than anything the USA has. NHS will eventually sort its problems out and go back to being the envy of the world. I have not yet had dental work done in Thailand, but prices seem to be on par with Colombia. I was quoted 3000 USD for a crown in the USA. I vacationed in Colombia and had the crown installed for 500 USD. Modern clinic and beautiful, mostly female staff. The dental assistant actually held my hand while the dentist was drilling. Definitely a unique experience. My USA dentist told me the work was top quality.

Thailand is cheaper compared to the United States. That does not mean that you can't run up a bill that you will have difficulty paying. I wish we ALL had access to a system like the UK's NHS.

How would you define "real"?? The latest Supreme Court Justice cannot even define "woman" and she IS one. I am convinced that I am real.

Retirement. I am beginning to think it was a mistake. Other places are more welcoming.