ThailandLovr

So much for Oxford's "How to control the mob" poli sci classes....

Jing (or others), do you still believe Abhisit has a chance to prevail somehow? If so, how? Emergency order decree?

A government which cannot command the police or military is no government.

Couldn't agree more, though it seems that governments of any colour cannot command either the police or military, so maybe it's time to disband both? I honestly don't know how any government can effectively run a country it can't tax and with no ability to enforce law.

...herein lies the problem 1002. As long as the Army has a mind of it's own I can't see Thailand's system of government ever being stable. (18 coups since 1932?????)!

Apologies if the Thai is incorrect, google translate isn't great, and neither are my photoshop skills! Btw seriously this shit's just getting ridiculous now. There is no government it seems.

A government which cannot command the police or military is no government.

For three weeks the red shirt leaders have been spreading their propaganda screaming from their stage, and they are making their case against Abhisit virtually unchallenged. With so many more people coming to BKK, it appears their strategy is winning -- and Abhisit's isn't. Nice guys finish last. Abhisit should have nipped this in the bud when he had the chance. Now even he seems to be saying it is too late.

Another setback for Abhisit -- makes him look foolish for asking. He already had the authority, can't he take "yes" for an answer?

ThaiVisa has some really intelligent, knowledgeable, helpful and hilarious members.

Unfortunately, some eat their young.

You gotta hand it to the Red leaders for their exercise of brinkmanship. Amazing. Exert maximum pressure then back off.

If this isn't inciting to riot, I don't know what is. Geezuz! Screaming at the top of his lungs to the crowd!

I believe it will all come to a head tomorrow. Abhisit has been backed into a corner.

to say it takes a long time for change is just a cheap excuse. Everything can be implemented when it is good. This is what I liked with Thaksin, when he acted he acted fast and without delay. I'm not talking about his character issues here. I just mentioned that because things are possible in a timely manner if they (gov) really want too.

I nominate elcent for the "Optimist of the Year" award. Cheers.

The army has too much power in Thailand. That is clear.

But can Abhisit or any politician do much about that now?

If Thaksin was back here (and when he was here) he wouldn't change anything, he would just put his people in positions in the army. He would have as much luck of reducing the army's power as any other politician. He wouldn't actually want to reduce it. He would just use it.

It's not worth trying to reduce the power of the army overnight. It's a long term effort. Build the democracy. Get rid of the corruption. The army will slowly change to be about protecting the civilians rather than ruling them.

Did you mean to say "it's not possible to reduce the power of the army overnight"? Either way, it is absolutely a long term effort. Building the democracy, eliminating the corruption, helping the plight of the poor...light-years away. Such a shame Thailand has so far to go, we'll all be in the here-after before that happens.

29 trillion Thais converge on Bangkok.....

Ah trillions, now I can understand you. Being American, I don't understand small numbers like millions, because everything has been in trillions lately.

BTW, can't the gov't just print or borrow a few hundred billion or better yet a trillion baht, then substantially improve conditions for the rural poor? Future generations of children for decades to come shouldn't mind footing the bill.

Before the last thread was closed, somebody said it wasn't possible for negotiations to be done in public (or similar words). Perhaps for the details yes, but so far this has substantially been negotiations on a timetable since the PM already agreed to dissolve. Timetable discussions can certainly be done publicly as they have been.

I gotta' give kudos to the Bangkokians for putting up with this. <snip>

Seeing what I had seen over the weekend, I'm not sure how much longer the nice city folk will allow themselves to be trampled on. Protesting is fine, but keep it confined. People are getting a little tired of this.

I've read other posters saying the same thing, but realistically what can the "city folk" do?

That one Red Shirt leader must have gotten a stout kick under the table when he threw out the 2-3 months statement.

I'm in that in-between "limbo land" of not feeling like anywhere is my home at the present time. Yes, I am a U.S. citizen, but without a house, condo, car, nothing to return to back there I can hardly say that is home or feels like home. Then again, I have been in Thailand only 2+years full time, staying in my gf's house, paying for a car in her name, buying some land in her name - this doesn't feel like home either because I don't actually own ANYTHING here (except my pc!).

But I enjoy most aspects of my life in Thailand, and slowly, slowly it is beginning to feel a little like home here. Takes a number of years for some of us I guess.

I worry about the day my health completely craps out on me, forcing me to go back to the U.S. for treatment under Medicare, or if the $USD gets so weak I can't re-qualify for my visa.

So I try to live like the Thais do: live for today.

That is good for your soul and teaches about impermanence. So many people feel totally secure in their shoes but that is a total delusion.

I think you are exactly right Jing. I can remember feeling soo secure years ago.....yeah right.

Another benefit in my state of impermanence: I don't feel trapped here, or anywhere. I can always move on if I need to for whatever reason. That part feels good.

I'm in that in-between "limbo land" of not feeling like anywhere is my home at the present time. Yes, I am a U.S. citizen, but without a house, condo, car, nothing to return to back there I can hardly say that is home or feels like home. Then again, I have been in Thailand only 2+years full time, staying in my gf's house, paying for a car in her name, buying some land in her name - this doesn't feel like home either because I don't actually own ANYTHING here (except my pc!).

But I enjoy most aspects of my life in Thailand, and slowly, slowly it is beginning to feel a little like home here. Takes a number of years for some of us I guess.

I worry about the day my health completely craps out on me, forcing me to go back to the U.S. for treatment under Medicare, or if the $USD gets so weak I can't re-qualify for my visa.

So I try to live like the Thais do: live for today.

Popeye, welcome to TV. You'll quickly find out the liberalism expressed in this forum's posts is the prevalent attitude probably by a factor of 4, 5 or higher. Jing has already said he is far left, and has more than 15,700 posts alone. Just mention you enjoy Fox News and watch them all come 'aflaming and insulting. Hearing the constant liberal mantra here gets so damned tiring.

Don't think (as most of you surely are not) that the no-lifetime limit, acceptance of pre-existing conditions, coverage extension for children, actual increased costs are going to be "eaten" by the insurance companies. They'll be passing the additional costs on one way or the other. I doubt they'll be losing a penny of profits from this bill or so-called insurance reform.

Obama wasn't just being rhetorical when he said he intended to "transform" America. This is just the beginning.

Although transparency was repeatedly promised, he waited until the last &lt;deleted&gt; minute to fully disclose the IRS's role in the reform, knowing it would otherwise deal a death blow to the bill. So just sneak it in, what the hel_l!

Jing must have gone to bed greg. It's been more than an hour now with no reply flame for speaking so disparagingly about his favorite person in the world.

The voice of the people was heard on HR 4872 in a 219 in favor and 212 opposed vote... Those are the representatives elected by the people... I do not see how it could be any simpler than that. The bums may be thrown out come November 2010 elections but it was their chance to vote last Sunday... and if Mitch McC and the other Repubs want to run on the "Repeal-and-Replace" ticket, good for them ... as I said above, from a personal standpoint, I really don't care.

No problems, but we disagree. The people's voice was heard when the House Representatives were elected, yes. But to say that, after being elected, their voting choices still always represents the voice of the people? No way. Not with all the bribery, arm-twisting, threats and other crap going on. No way.

Over and out for me on this.

(In the 1960s)...When someone was dragging his feet on the Medicare bill, Johnson would promise to put an pork-barrel project in the congressman’s district; if someone crossed LBJ, he’d punish the person by canceling some (favorite) pork.

The historian Robert Dallek tells a great story about the time that Democratic Sen. Frank Church voted against one of Johnson’s bills. The Idaho senator told the president that he had been swayed by Walter Lippmann, an influential columnist who had attacked the bill in print. LBJ’s reply: “Frank, next time you want a (&lt;deleted&gt;) dam in Idaho, you call Walter Lippmann and let him put it through.”

AFAIAC, the voice of the people was heard; that's why the bill passed...

Yeah jazzbo, LBJ was a man to be contended with. Nobody ever crapped on him without being bloodied somehow.

BTW, I've been thinking about your "AFAIC, the voice of the people was heard..." comment. That started me thinking about the accuracy, or lack thereof, of the polls which stated 55% of the people against the bill, only 11% approve of Pelosi, etc. I don't know if the pollsters actually reached the correct proportion of the voices of the populace (32 million+) who stood to most benefit. Seems hard to believe they wouldn't have raised Pelosi's ratings more - she is as much responsible for the bill passing as Obama himself, perhaps more. Then again, 32 million people is close to being 11% of the population. Interesting.

You are absolutely right about that Jing. The pre-existing condition thing was a killer too, being stuck in a job, lots of insurance reform was needed. Wish they'd have gone after the damned lawyers so malpractice insurance for doctors could decrease. This would have meant real savings across the board. But everybody in D.C. are lawyers and they take care of their own. Obama's 50 million for a tort reform "study" will result in nothing. He'll be paying lip service to tort reform only. Lawyers own that town. Sure hope I am proven wrong but I doubt it.