spidermike007

What is happening in Burma, is tantamount to genocide against the Rohinga people. They are systematically abused, raped, tortured and killed. Why? Their faith, and the fact that they just do not fit into the tiny box that the Burmese people, and government have decided to occupy. There is no justification for any of this. These are not extremist people. They are simply poor, uneducated, and trying to survive, against all odds. 

Once again, the point is being missed, by those within the government side of the tourism industry. It is not about cracking down on zero baht tour operators. That is only going to damage tourism. It is about encouraging others, from countries that spend real money, to come here and visit. That message seems to have gotten lost, in the fervor to court the Chinese tourists, many of whom do not spend much money at all here. 

I suspect the glory days of the Western tourists, who spend $100 to over $1,000 dollars a day (many people I knew who visited spent $1,000 a night on their hotel alone!) while here in Thailand, are behind us. I am not sure if that market can ever be recovered. Policy is just too off the mark, and there is little that is being done to either address their issues, or attract them back. The decline continues. 

This was a recent post I placed on FB. It expresses how I feel, about how broken the Democratic party really is. Picking Pelosi was the worst move they could have made, and demonstrates to all who have an open mind how ill, terminal, and broken the DNC and the entire party is.

I disagree about the commonly held belief that the election was about irregularities, or Comey, or all of the other excuses I keep hearing. I think it has much more to do with reality TV, than a general lack of knowledge about the world. And when asking why Trump was elected, one must ask why the democratic party could do no better than Hillary. She ran a horrific campaign. She was too PC. She refused to talk about the issues, terrorism, immigration, the economy, or just admit the the nation has some real problems, that are in dire need of addressing. And another real issue was her foundation. Many of us consider it filthy. She just did not connect with many people, and there were alot of democrats who voted for Trump. 

OK, she did win the popular vote. But, considering who she was running against, she should have won by many millions of votes. He did address the issues. In conclusion, there is no way any reform can take place, until we as democrats admit how broken our system and our party is, and begin to take serious action. I see alot of blame game stuff going on, but not much in the way of an admission of how broken our party is, and how poor our candidate performed.

I have been saying that many Trump supporters will feel the same way about him, as I felt after voting for Obama for his first term as president. I was shocked that he abandoned so many of his positions and promises within mere months of taking office. It appears Trump is now doing this PRIOR to taking office. His supporters are going to be devastated when they find out who this man really is, and how little he meant what he said. 

Having said that, his conservative supporters must be quite happy at his picks so far. They have been about as far to the right as he could have possibly gone. So much for reconciliation, and moderation. 

What is most astonishing, is that after lambasting the lobbying industry, giving hope to even some moderates and centrists like me, he is now selecting picks and advisors from the midst of that sewer.

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump, who campaigned against the corrupt power of special interests, is filling his transition team with some of the very sort of people who he has complained have too much clout in Washington: corporate consultants and lobbyists.

Jeffrey Eisenach, a consultant who has worked for years on behalf of Verizon and other telecommunications clients, is the head of the team that is helping to pick staff members at the Federal Communications Commission.

Michael Catanzaro, a lobbyist whose clients include Devon Energy and Encana Oil and Gas, holds the “energy independence” portfolio.

Michael Torrey, a lobbyist who runs a firm that has earned millions of dollars helping food industry players such as the American Beverage Association and the dairy giant Dean Foods, is helping set up the new team at the Department of Agriculture.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/12/us/politics/trump-campaigned-against-lobbyists-now-theyre-on-his-transition-team.html?_r=0

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/11/09/trump-blasted-lobbyists-on-the-campaign-trail-but-his-victory-could-mean-big-business-for-k-street/?utm_term=.451e0fce75ca

A war is typically described as a sustained battle, that goes on until a specific objective is achieved, with great sacrifices made, in order to achieve the end result. 

Is this a real war? Are the authorities willing to do what it takes to achieve their objective, or are they simply trying to save face, due to the continued rising deaths on the road, and the embarrassment that comes with being in control of an area with so many casualties, and a nation with the number two road death rate in the world. It is exactly the same on Samui. The death rate from motorcyclists goes on, and on, from month to month. The authorities continue to jawbone about doing something to prevent it. 

A firm hand is all it would take. Large fines, confiscation of motorbikes, enforcing the use of licenses, and you have reduced deaths, and more safety. This is not a complicated problem. Now, the reason the authorities are not more concerned, is far more complicated.

On 11/3/2016 at 10:04 AM, pookiki said:

I wonder if the junta consulted with the World Bank before implementing this program?

Consulting with outside expertise? Using experts from outside of Thailand for the pursuit of prosperity, economic excellence, innovation, the expression of creativity, or even just trying to keep up with the neighboring countries in the region? Why would they do that? That would be an expression of progressive thought. How dare you even consider such an idea. 

4 hours ago, Thechook said:

I'm sure there is some American who will sponsor her for a couple of weeks in exchange for a few tasks around the home.

There is no such thing as a sponsored visa to the US. That category was done away with many, many years ago. No amount of money from the third party can insure a visa, unless it is a marriage visa, or you are a specialist, applying for a work visa, and you fit into the quota, and have both experience and a degree in that respective field.

It is very difficult for the average Thai to get a visa to visit the US. She should be no exception. 

8 hours ago, robblok said:

Sad, that he best the US could muster is a Clinton and a Thrump, now of course Clinton is the least bad choice of the two. Lets hope she wins. 

It is exactly what the US deserves after gorging on a diet of morally and socially bankrupt reality TV for over a decade. Both candidates are fabulously inferior. Of course Clinton is the lesser of the two evils. Trump is a potential fascist ruler in waiting. He is a megolamaniacal man child who is capable of any manner of evil and destruction. 

Rarely are the police held to account for any crimes they commit here. Just the concept that it would go higher up the good chain is ludicrous. Of course it is a positive move, that the prosecutor is even calling for charges to be brought. But, it will not happen, and if it does, nobody will be sentenced to prison time. The police continue to be "above the law".

1 hour ago, AhFarangJa said:

What they expect, and what actually happens are two completely different things.

Precisely. I expect to make $5 million dollars this year. Will that happen? Unlikely. Dreaming and creating a scenario that allows the dream to come to fruition are two completely separate realities. The TAT continues to dream. No reality on the ground could possibly interrupt nor negatively effect their dream. 

On 11/2/2016 at 10:44 PM, adhd said:

sound economics would teach you in school, if cost is higher than yield, 

 

GO WORK IN THE FACTORY .... 

 

 

Or do something entreprenueral. Sell prepared food. Or grow exotic fruits or hydroponic herbs, or start a small business. Anything but that which ensures you remain impoverished the rest of your life. 

Can one even begin to imagine the mindset of someone who would molest an injured woman in agonizing pain? Who is this worm? 

1 hour ago, leeneeds said:

The circle never stops!

 

The pockets of miss bad luck may help,

 

 

Rice appears to be a commodity that virtually ensures a lifetime of poverty. It is perhaps the least creative crop anyone can grow, especially in light of current market conditions. Grow. Adapt. Progress. Move on. Move forward. Get with it. Or suffer. That is the nature of life and the economy these days. 

1 hour ago, CelticBhoy said:

The faces of the "real" monks say it all for me.

The Monks should have rejected him outright. They could have and should have seen how insincere he was. Not insane enough to drive. Only a cowardly denial, and fear of taking responsibility and paying the price. He killed two people! A half man with cash attempts to walk away. 

2 hours ago, Pattaya28 said:

Death seems a little harsh.

But is a good deterrent.

Assuming it's not all "hot-air".

Wonder how death will be administered ?

Cannot believe, as quoted, "axe".

 

It would never happen in a million years. Nobody in a real position of power gets the hammer in the LOS. Period. End of story. The land of injustice. Only the poor are punished. The rich, powerful and connected are protected rather than prosecuted. 

On 11/1/2016 at 1:16 AM, tbthailand said:

Oppression, ... pure oppression... 

Along the lines of the NSA in the US. Watching nearly everything. This is about more egregious censorship no doubt. Watch yourself. Big brother is watching you. 

And what this may really come down to is not so called misinformation. More like stifling critical dissent and squashing the ability to post reasonable comments that are not super supportive of the army, nor ignorant policies. 

15 hours ago, lannarebirth said:

^^ Here's your problem. We can all agree that Trumps a charlatan sleazeball, but for every example you cite someone can post multiple examples of Clinton doing something even more egregious.

True. But the timing of this is not a coincidence. Chances are Comey received many millions for this favor to Trump. At least that is what it appears to be. There is little doubt that most American institutions such as the FBI are severely compromised and partisan, these days. Gone are the days of clean government organizations. 

12 hours ago, trogers said:

Ahhh...must have been Ecstasy...

No. Just a completely self absorbed woman without a redeeming quality in the world, causing distress and financial loss to others. Lock her up. For a long time. 

In all of the years I have spent in Thailand I have never once witnessed a policeman issuing a speeding ticket. Where is the deterrent, other than your desire to protect those you have been entrusted to protect? Or your desire to see that your family members make it to their next birthday? Or just basic decency and respect for others?

It is truly an astonishing  day in the life of this country, when a minister talks about being competitive, or offers an idea that is progressive in its scope. This would be a truly remarkable achievement for the nation if they could get this bill past the xenophobes, and passed into law. Keeping up with the neighbors is not something they have had much success with for the past several years. I for one hope something like this comes to pass. 

2 hours ago, trogers said:

Why write to the Dutch King? Why is the Dutch government not doing anything?

 

Democracy rules!

It it is simply another example of a petty judiciary, that is utterly lost in the wilderness with an agenda of unconvincing moralization. 

The world continues to look on with bewilderment, astonishment, amusement and incredulity. Meantime, Thailand's reputation diminishes daily. 

On 10/22/2016 at 6:31 PM, Yahooka said:

Why not apply through mail ?

There is no doubt the process could and should be easier, simpler and cheaper. At a time when Western (read quality) tourism is declining, there should be a major effort on the part of the government to re-attract (non zero baht) tourists and make it easier for them to get visas. In this fashion the economy will thrive and millions will be more prosperous. 

As a life long democrat I can say we have never had such an inferior candidate. My plan is to sit out this election. I just cannot hold my nose long enough to vote for her.  Even though I despise the alternative. 

6 hours ago, alex8912 said:

I think this article is about Japanese or Chinese students. 

If anything they are not being pushed hard enough. In contrast with overachieving societies like Taiwan, China, Malaysia and several other cultures, many of the Thai kids are not pushed nearly enough. Especially the boys. This shrink is out of touch and barely has a clue. He needs to do some traveling. With their inferior educational system the Thai kids need as much prodding and discipline as possible. No amount of discipline is too much here.