MangoKorat

Some of what I've seen is nothing short of modern day slavery.

Yes I did. I don't think tinted window film was so popular in those days but whatever, this one didn't have them.

Well I will in fact answer you, if for no other reason than to give someone something to do (removing my post). There is no way that I was indoctrinated either way by my experiences at Uni. I was far too long in the tooth for that (40). What it did however, was to offer an alternative explanation of the effects of capitalism and make me consider differing points of view. I still believe that those who take the risk of running a business should get the greatest rewards but they must also realise that they most likely wouldn't be where they are without their staff. There is no need for exploitation or greed. Thailand with its long hours and low pay rates is a prime example of all that's wrong with the bad side of capitalism. The gap between rich and poor in Thailand is massive - its changing but very, very slowly as the dinosaurs continue to control the politcal situation and therefore their grip on power and wealth. One of my very first visions of Thailand 21 years ago, and one I'm sure many here will have also witnessed- was a young man with no legs pulling himself along the pavement on Sukhumvit Rd, Bangkok. He was on on a piece of what looked like cardboard but it must have been something stronger. At the very same moment, the slow moving traffic allowed me a glance of a passing huge chauffer driven Mercedes Benz with a middle aged Hi-So woman sitting in the back, dripping with gold. For a moment, the woman was directly in line with the poor guy on the board and I just thought, what a contrast, what sort of a country is this? Those who object to an increase in the minimum wage should maybe give some thought to the fact that for many - 300 baht per day = 30 baht an hour. I don't even think its possible to buy 2 coffees in Starbucks for 300 baht now and most Thai's have probably never bought a coffee there. Yes, people get by on 300 baht but would you want their diet? Have you seen the cuts of meat they think of as normal? Good health should be the right of every Thai citizen, not an aspiration. Any increase in the hourly rate will be welcome to most people, I'm sure but I doubt it will come close to covering the cost of living increases seen over the last 2 years.

There is a reply but it would be off topic and I'm already in dispute on that matter. Leave it.

If you intend employing a double wall - Western style, concrete blocks outside, autoclaved areated concrete blocks/Q Con/lightweight blocks inside - although I don't recommend them at all now. Also, in the light of recent probems in other countries, never use AAC blocks structurally. Why never use them outside? Using Thai construction methods you might think they are OK because the house will most likley be concrete framed and from a structural point of view, that's fine. However, one of the 'selling points' of AAC blocks is that you can cut them very easily with nothing more than a hand saw. So, if you want someone to be able to almost sliently saw their way into your house - go ahead. In a single wall construction, it would not surprise me at all if they can be 'kicked in'. It is also, impossible to get a strong fix into an AAC block - they just break up without much pressure. I've seen door frames simply pushed out because a door has been slammed ect./ect. When I went to fix some security bars behind my French Doors, the blocks just shattered - I didn't realise that I might need to add security when I used QCon blocks. Yes, you can get what looks like a decent fix into them if you are very gentle with the drill but what you are fixing won't take much weight or offer much resistance. Try fixing something to them and then give it a tug - it will break away quite easily - plastic plugs pull out without much effort. One tip to get a better fix (if you must) in AAC blocks is to use a drill bit 1 size smaller than is normally required for the plugs and don't use the hammer function on your drill. Using the correct sized drill bit usually results in a hole a little bigger than the drill size because they are so soft. There are various types of special plastic plugs that are designed for use in lightweight concrete blocks - I find the above works just as well. However, overall, the fix is only as strong as the block. The special fixings can also be hard to find in Thailand. I used Q Con blocks because of their insluation properties, I won't be using them again.

Just remember please that we are talking about Thailand. In many cases, people are not trying to support 'offspring' they are simply trying to support themselves and because of the way Thai society is organised, they may well have to support their parents. People can choose whether to have 'offspring' or not but I've yet to hear of anyone who chose not to have parents.

Correct, as confirmed by both Pattaya and Bangkok police chiefs.

Well then, in that case, that particular model doesn't work. That doesn't mean it can't - far from it. It can be an excellent way of both parties achieving what they want.

I have to say that many years ago, I held similar views (to the ones you have quoted from Jackgats). I was a proper 'right winger' and ran my own business. However, midway through life I decided to change careers but needed to go to University to obtain a degree to enable that career. I'd never bothered much about education when I was younger - not formally anyway, so I didn't even have the qualifications necessary to get into Uni. The University agreed that if I took a foundation degree and passed (choice of subjects), they would let me on to the course. I looked at the range of subjects and purely as it seemed the easiest choice, I chose Social Science. Boy did that change my way of thinking - especially as my 'right wing' views prevented me from totally accepting the 'left wing' bias of the course. What it did for me though, was to cause me to stop and think about people's life chances, the uneasy 'balance' between rich and poor and the exploitative reality of capitalism. I'd previously thought that capitalism was the only way, I still do to a point but capitalism does not need to encompass exploitation - that comes out of greed.

A little contradiction in your post there Al - whilst you clearly understand the rich vs poor and education thing, you also state that significant wage rises would lead to less customers. Clearly I don't know your lady's business but would say a 5 or 10 baht increase per meal give staff a better deal without forcing customers away?

Obviously I don't know the rates at your company but I can see situations where that could work out quite well for both employer and employee. Providing the rates are set right, the employer gets the productivity they require whilst the employee only gets their bonus if they achieve targets. What's wrong with that?

I store quite a lot of stuff in there. I also seem to have spent a hell of a lot (too much) of time up there either fitting electrical gear, camera wiring etc. or fixing electrical faults - all the electrics and wiring are up there. I'd probably store far more if it was fully boarded and had better access which would also mean I'm in and out quicke - as you say, its hot as hell. My next house (new build) will incorporate a fully boarded storage area with a hinged access hatch and a drop down loft ladder - if I can find one that accomodates Thai ceiling heights.

Don't you mean 'kept stupid'?

Tosh!

And you've tried that in Thailand have you? Educated in Thailand were you?

I understand exactly how a market works - its called exploitation! Many employers try to pay as little as they can rather than what the job is worth - in fact, that is rarely the best policy. When I was an employer I found that when I paid better wages I had happier staff that were far more productive and staff retention rates were much better - the capitalist model doesn't always work. One of the biggest costs I faced was training staff up to be proficient at their given task, staff constantly leaving can be a huge drain on finances. I also understand that if people cannot find better paid work, they are often forced into accepting low pay. People don't usually 'volunteer' to work as you suggest, they HAVE to work to support themselves and their families. In Thailand, people from poor backgrounds are often very poorly educated and that limits their ability to find well paid work - they therefore find themselves stuck in a circle of poverty and debt. I don't know how many Thai people you know but most of those that I know have bigger debts than they can reasonably service and work much longer hours than their Western counterparts do - 10 hours per day, 6 days per week is the norm. We no longer live in the dark ages and in all countries, the labour force has a right to expect that their pay and conditions will improve with time. If we were talking about the UK, I guess the term I would use is 'we no longer send young boys up chimmneys' - even if some employers would still like to. Its all very well for you to quote me the 'market model' - I very much doubt that you would accept the minimum wage and I suspect that you come from a country where the education is far better and where people have the ability to affect their life chances.

Worked = past tense. Everyone has a right to a decent standard of living - one that doesn't shorten their life.

Yeah and you'd be happy to work for 300 baht per day or whatever pitiful amount it is wouldn't you?

The cash is kept in the back - it follows then, that the 'operative' who was passing the money was in the back - chai mai?

Totally agree. There have been several cases in the UK (and 1 is too many) where supposedly loving and calm dogs have suddenly gone crazy, without any provocation and killed people. One I seem to remember, killed an elderly female neighbour of its owner.I've had several breeds of dog over the years - all seemed OK but would I leave them alone with say, young children? Not a chance. It seems however, that with these type of breeds (bull dog types), they just snap without warning. In another recent case in the UK, this time involving XL Bully's, the attack was carried out by more than one dog so there must also be a 'pack instinct' thing going on. In that case they killed a man on the street who was apparently out walking his own dog when the XL Bully's attacked. I believe that case is still live but the suspicion is that they attacked the man's dog and he tried to protect it. His throat was ripped open. I believe that these types of dog have been bred over the years for fighting so even if one appears to be placid, its in its nature to attack. You don't wait for a time bomb to stop ticking, you defuse it or destroy it first. I've heard all the stories where owners claim their dogs are soft and 'wouldn't hurt a fly' - next thing you know they've attacked a child. Ban any type of bull dog breed and all their derivatives and crosses, that's the only way. Today's 'soft' dog could be tomorrow's killer. XL Bully's, along with Pit Bulls, are now a banned breed in the UK.

Its very widespread across the North in particular and its also almost certain that it goes on with the knowledge of the local police. There are many bars and karaokes that offer girls much younger than 15. Of course, they don't want this becoming 'common knowledge' and tarnishing the country's 'good' reputation. If an adult chooses that career path, up to them - it should be legalised but kids? Hang the people who run such operations and their customers.

Thankfully most of my travel is on my motorbike - as yet, I've never been caught for speeding on my bike because the cameras only capture the front view and bikes have no front plate. Unlike cameras in the UK which capture both front and rear views.

Don't get me going about Thai insurance companies. My house was insured with the same company for 8 years without a claim. Then a couple of years ago it was broken into and a lot of stuff stolen + a damaged expensive entry door. Not only did they refuse to pay out on several items such as my 25,000 baht crash helmet which they refused to class as either a personal item or personal clothing, when it came around to renewal time my premium went up from 7000 per year to over 20,000. I told them to stick it and spent the money on additional security.

It is if you hit someone. The compulsory insurance pays out a pitiful amount and heaven forbid you are held responsible for an accident in which someone dies - you will almost certainly be taken to court to extract every last baht from you. The thing that I find annoying about car and bike insurance is the age limit on which they will provide first class cover which with most companies is 5 years. Some will continue first class as long as you continue the insurance but if there's a break, no chance. I didn't keep up my insurance during covid as I couldn't get back to Thailand and the bike was locked away safely anyway - after which my insurers refused to re-instate first class cover.

Thanks, sounds like it would be too restrictive for what I want then.