jonclark

Odd one this as China doesn't allow duel citizenship so if she holds Thai citizenship she cannot be Chinese. China actively forbids this and does not recognize those with dual citizenship as being Chinese. You need to choose either Chinese or Thai (from a CCP point of view) . She may have been born in China to Chinese parents but she isn't from a Chinese legal standpoint Chinese, as she has effectively cut herself off from that by holding Thai citizenship.

Next he will want to reduce the top rates of taxation for the rich and wealthy so this waste of money will be funded solely by the middle classes

Surely he is covered by the 300 bath tourism fee for tourist insurance now being levied at airports???? If a tourist can't pay his or her hospital bills or has no insurance then won't this fee cover any medical costs. That was how this was promoted if memory serves me correct. "Citing a study by Thailand's ministry of tourism and sports, Ms Traisulee said Thailand is the first country in the world to collect a tourism fee and at the same time provide welfare benefits for tourists, including a personal accident insurance protection."

If we live in a pluralist society then what the majority want is irrelevant and cannot impose their views, morals or way of thinking on those in a minority. 55% dislike alcohol, cannabis and gambling - fine, the people that make up the 55% do not need to advocate or take part in those activities. But let those who do, get on with it in a safe and considerate way. Thus we all live together and enjoy our respective lives - This is not a winner take all argument and those who seek to make it into one are damaging the nation in a way far greater than the alleged evils they seek to curtail by creating social and political division by through their moral crusades.

Yep. Like pretty much every commodity we produce and trade it comes down to money. Profit margins are narrow anyway and physically removing it takes more time and hard work. So burning seems to be a winner and when the density of sugar cane farms was much less, 20 odd years ago you could get away with it Air pollution has a financial impact. I read somewhere that something like 300'000 people went to hospital with respiratory complaints on a single day of particularly bad pollution in Bangkok this year.. Maybe the solution is some form of government assisted clearance program. The farmer pays the government a fee. Equal to the usual burning cost. And the government sends in a clearance team who remove and package the cane.

Good ideas, but you cannot no matter how righteous just steal another persons land and then deny them recourse to the law. Once you start down that dark alley, well you are on the path to total authoritarianism. The framers are doing this for economic reasons. I think before we all (correctly) tell farmers to stop burning sugar cane we should go and spend a day or two in the fields chopping the dam stuff down under a baking sun for a pittance. Maybe we would understand why then it is burnt and not cut. Understand the problem is the first step to solving it.

Democracy is also banned in HK. So it seems CBD is in good company.

Proton - A bit of perspective please. Millions of tourists and foreign visitors here every year and a only few hundred get into financial difficulties with lack of, or poor insurance that doesn't cover their medical claims. Do we focus on the few or the many? I know (and I am sure other members will understand the sentiment) my Thai family here (and my Thai friends) turn to me when they have financial difficulties and I am happy to help, its what family and friends do for each other. Unless of course you feel that Thai families shouldn't "ponce" off the falang in the family and it's every man for themselves?

We can moan all we like, but just remember and be thankful that VFSglobal are not in charge of issuing visas to all expats here!!

If Thai people (in this case IO's) consider it "unfortunate to be born in Thailand" then it can hardly be considered a "privilege to live in Thailand" can it? From your post it sounds more like a hardship.

You are right..but that is not the point. It's the dishonesty of not using a meter to milk extra cash. That being said. I remember many, many years ago in one of the lonely planet guides - south east Asia on a shoestring - the advice was always negotiate a price with taxis before getting in. So maybe the taxis are just going by the book.

In a country where greng jai is a taught characteristic, where positions of power are bought and traded, where nepotism is rife and police salaries are low aIs it any wonder that corruption is rife and practised? Corruption is just an expression of these underpinning elements. All elements need addressing if you wish to tackle corruption.

Good grief what nonsense is this.

Cause burning is the cheapest method and the profit margin on sugarcane etc is very small. So farmer burn in order to maximize their meger profits.

Agoda and booking.com all same price.

Sorry to be a grammar Nazi, but third world is not a phrase to describe economic development. It refers to political alignment. 1st world USA etc. 2nd world russian / China. 3rd world non aligned countries.

In a rescue situation putting oneself back in danger by jumping back into the water, in this instance, is a stupid thing to do. I hope he is found safe and well (again).

Let's get one thing straight. There were the correct number of life jackets. It's just that that there were the incorrect number of crew.

Having some of that. Always found claiming tax rebates relatively simple here.

As respectable and socially conscious as all companies profess to be I would have thought that they would be willing shut up and pay....rather than suggesting that their customers..aka the taxpayer bails them out again.

Most of the Thai TV 'analysis' of the incident is putting alot of emphasis on multiple 'reports' of there being a number of repairs being either substandard or delayed. As there was pressure to move the budget for the purchase of the submarines.

Apparently god is white, loud, brash and cocky....so good luck with that one mate.

A very narrow and massively erroneous view. My gran used to go on weekend trip to Amsterdam...she loved tulips and clogs. What have you got against my gran???

Bob, I hate to burst your bubble but these types of people have been coming to Thailand for at least the 20 odd years I have been living here. Its also probably very likely that at some point in your time here in Thailand you have been within earshot of Chinese, Malays, Indians who were talking about the exact same thing....but you just never picked up on it. When I first came to Thailand back in the early 90's as a much younger (and less wiser) person, drugs and chicks were my two priorities in life. I also think you do yourself a disservice by describing people you don't actually know as 'white trash'. And as for being loud, brash and cocky....well maybe you just misunderstood their level of confidence in themselves. We live in a pluralistic society and need to accept that we are all different. There is no right or wrong..

Thailand should get a better teacher !