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Posts posted by spidermike007
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16 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:
I wanted to take just these two particular points because many of the others are largely subjective. That said, I broadly agree that Thailand stands out as a significantly better destination for foreigners compared to its neighbouring countries.
However, healthcare remains a serious concern.
First, there's the issue of dual pricing. At the lighter end of the scale, we see it in places like national parks - and while it's objectionable in principle, most people aren't too bothered. In the private sector, we have the freedom to take our business elsewhere. The real problem arises with state-sanctioned dual pricing in government hospitals. If we fall seriously ill, we're can be charged substantially more than a Thai citizen would be for the same treatment (i.e. long term cancer treatment and operations costing 2 Million Baht instead of 1 MB.
In my view, this is indefensible. When it comes to healthcare, there should be an option for long-term residents to pay into the system and receive equitable care. For me, this is where dual pricing becomes genuinely troubling - it's the big stuff that matters.
Secondly, while the quality of treatment is generally excellent, there's a troubling lack of accountability when mistakes are made - a factor that certainly helps keep costs down. Personally, I’d prefer to be in a private hospital in Bangkok over most places in the world. But the question is - at 80, will I still be able to afford the premiums? And that brings us full circle, back to the need for a system that ensures long-term, affordable care.
I can’t say whether neighbouring countries offer anything better in this regard, but this remains a major red flag when considering a long-term life in Thailand, especially if one hopes to grow old in comfort with the security of health care.
I agree with what you said about private hospitals here, but I also feel that I'd rather be in a public hospital in Bangkok than most other hospitals anywhere else in the world, unless I had a great healthcare plan which I don't. So, as someone who's self insured the top public hospitals here work for me very well.
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16 hours ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:
Yes it is - but that is not the4 main problem here. If anyone wants cheap living with English speaking and reasonable services etc etc then India is the best bet. However, India has some disadvantages - and unless you have been there, you will never know - suffice to stay I will never visit there again.
I lived in working India for a long time and I've been there in several occasions before and after, and I love India, and so does my Thai woman. I'd go back there in a nanosecond, it's a fascinating country with a super rich culture. But it's not a destination I would choose as an expat, on any level.
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It is no doubt a display of absolute moral bankruptcy on the part of the highly toxic CCP. They just care about the optics. They never have.
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Now Sen is denying the leak. He is a pig, and cannot be trusted. Ever.
I predict we have seen the last of the army coups. The biggest element is the total loss of moral authority. Next, Thai parents would not tolerate Burmese style violence against Thai people. Won't happen. The days of army rule (dictatorships) are over here.
Hopefully the young PM will be dismissed. She was a terrible choice. Somehow her party was deluded into thinking she would appeal to the youth. She is an incompetent imposter. Everyone knows that.
The people prefer the PP, but the toxic powers will try not to let it happen. The drama continues.
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Yes. Trump is always confused. It is a combination of his extreme dogma, extremely partisan nature, and senility that seems to cause this confusion. He is lost in space. Checked out a long time ago. Which make him an incredibly dangerous man considering the position that he's in.
Let us hope the circus goon doesn't start another 20-year war, by using American equipment to invade Iran.
Donald Trump entered office vowing to bring a swift end to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. Five months in, foreign conflicts are now threatening to overshadow Trump's second term as a new war escalates between Israel and Iran and concerns grow that the United States could soon take an active role in fighting Tehran.
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They put so much fish sauce, oyster sauce, shrimp paste in addition to dried shrimp, in so many Thai dishes that for anyone suffering from seafood allergies I recommend eating only in vegan restaurants, or avoiding Thailand altogether.
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1 hour ago, RAZZELL said:
The simple fact is that in many ways Thailand is no longer "cheap".
Prices are literally double what they were from 20 years ago (in £, $ or €.)
Unless you want to eat in cheap restaurants or drink on the steps of a 7-11 it costs a mint
I haven't been to Vietnam in 6 years but I will go again soon.
One of my extremely well travelled friends raves about parts of Indonesia.
I need to explore that more to.
That can be said about anywhere in the world, covid seemed like it was a generational opportunity for people to engage in price gouging, and prices continue to go up in price. In the US I am fairly certain inflation continues to rage at about 20% annually, every time I go back things have gone up 10 to 15% in 6 months or less. So this is not exclusive to Thailand. I do notice that inflation here is less than it is in most other places, and though Thailand has gotten more expensive it's still very reasonable.
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1 hour ago, RedRoadRunner said:
Oh Really...???? 😳😳😳
this has been going on for more than 20odd years, and now they suddenly realize?
This is another classic example for the shortsighted people running the show there....
I came to the country in late 70s and spent a lot of time there and saw this ship going down coz of stupid people.
Not there anymore, better places around than Thailand !!!
Different strokes for different folks I guess, when I travel after a few weeks more than anything I want to be back in Thailand, and when I finally get back here it's it's like a celebration. For me everyday here is a very good day.
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1 hour ago, candide said:Long story!
(This is from 2019)
Report: Trump Happily Employing Undocumented Workers While ICE Rounds Them Up
I think most people know by now that Trump is the biggest hypocrite to ever occupy the White House, so if he says something expect that he's doing the exact opposite, if he takes a position expect that his belief system is the exact opposite.
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5 hours ago, save the frogs said:
Trump is such a goon, his lack of understanding about Putin, Russia and geopolitics is rather stunning. I don't know if a more ignorant, corrupt and compromised man has ever occupied that office of US president.
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Illegal and criminal activity activity in Pattaya, that's absolutely astonishing, and almost boggles the mind to think that that's even possible.
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This is a good thing, the young PM was a terrible choice to begin with, she appears to have been highly incompetent, and anything that the nation can do to distance itself from her toxic father is likely a good thing in the long run.
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As far as I'm concerned Trump is open to any form of criticism by anybody, anytime. The man is ripe for criticism, his grotesque personality, his juvenile, divisive and hateful antics, his policies, they all deserve criticism.
Everything about the man is repugnant, and everything about the man deserves criticism from every quarter possible. Kudos to Acosta.
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If this were to have some kind of negative effect on public hospitals here I would be concerned, but I could not give one hoot over whether or not it affects the private hospital industry, which makes far too much profit as it is.
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I wonder what the offense was, arrested for not paying a traffic fine? That's got to be a new policy of some sort. Seems a bit draconian.
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For me there are a few reasons why I would never consider Vietnam.
1. From what I understand the retirement Visa is still an issue in Vietnam it's a fairly simple process here.
2. I find a lot of the people to be a bit like cold wet fish, very similar to the Chinese people on the mainland, not much humor, kind of heavy-hearted, they still have a bit of a chip on their shoulders, and it's never been my favorite country in the region.
3. I don't feel like the culture there is as welcoming for mixed couples as it is here in Thailand.
4. I don't like the government here and I never have, they keep on reaching towards the bottom of the barrel and the policy here is incredibly regressive, but I would not want to live in a country where I'm constantly having to deal with communist officials.
5. I've had some very positive experiences with the healthcare system here in Thailand, and I consider it to be on par or better than it is in the US for a fraction of the cost. Can Vietnam rival that?
The upside there is the food is excellent, access to fine wine at reasonable markup, much higher quality beer, a highly varied topography, with stunning beaches and very clear water, high quality seafood, and stunning women.
I might be an exception as I see so many guys on here complaining about the Thai people, but I really like them. I find them to be quite delightful, light-hearted, humorous and fun to be around.
What am I missing?
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1 hour ago, BangkokReady said:
Exactly what I was about to write. He normally seems fairly smart and open to most Thai cultural norms and traditions.
If it works, everyone is happy, and it's the norm in the country you are in, why the need to avoid something just to prove how much of a "man" you are?
I guess even someone who generally comes across as intelligent can still be a slave to their upbringing.
It's actually the polar opposite of being a slave to my upbringing, my upbringing dictates that the woman's in control because that's just how things work in America. The man is allowed to assume more control here, to whatever degree he wishes.
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1 hour ago, Hummin said:
Useally agree with you, but if that's what is needed for you to feel like a man, I can't argue against you, but politely disagree.
That certainly not what's needed for me to feel like a man, but my woman and I enjoy role playing and she enjoys manifesting the dignity within femininity, and I enjoy playing the role of the provider, so it comes naturally for me to pay for stuff, that combined with the fact that I love carrying cash, it's just a very natural role for us.
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Yeah I see this a lot too, and a lot of my friends don't carry cash, their wife carries cash or she puts everything on a card. I don't get it, it's never been my style. I've always liked to carry a lot of cash, my woman has access to some money but she doesn't control our accounts. It's really up to the man if he wants to surrender all of his masculinity and his dignity that's on him, but I'm in your camp. The man's camp. I don't understand it, and I don't know why a man would want to do that.
One of the things I have noticed over the years is that somebody has to be in control of the ship, in this particular case a relationship. If the man's not willing to assume control, then the woman is forced into that position by his lack of cojones and masculinity. So that might be a factor, but I'm just speculating. I don't get the impression that that's required here, where in a lot of relationships in the West it does seem to be required. I know a lot of guys that are required to check their cojones at the door and they have no control over the finances back there. It is a sad thing to witness. No thanks.
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Thankfully, this is starting to happen. I do have some friends that will come right out and say the man is a butthead, he's an idiot, and he's an absolute clown, but I like some of his policies. Those are the Republicans I admire.
During the 20 years that Clinton, Obama and Biden were in office I was continually critical of their policies. Just look back at some of my posts when Obama and Biden were in power. I was not a big fan of Obama for many of the years that he was president and my posts reflect that. As a centrist democrat I criticized a lot of his policies. So, why are republicans so unwilling to be critical of this guy?
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1 hour ago, wensiensheng said:
Having now see the video, I think it’s quite wrong to say that Trump was brutally shut down.
Trump was rambling on and finished his point. Media persons were shouting out more questions(hard to hear about what because they were all shouting over each other), Carney turned to Trump and seemingly said to him that he would like to step in and Trump nodded his agreement. Carney then spoke and said he was going to exercise his chairman’s role and move on.
Nothing brutal about it, politely done with the involvement of Trump. Which is exactly what I would expect from Carney, the man is a consummate experienced professional.
While I do agree about Carney being quite professional and polished, it did appear that Trump was willing to whine on and on and on, so in a sense Carney did shut him down, which was a beautiful thing to witness.
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57 minutes ago, cdemundo said:
Is there an objective test for immune system strength?
I have tried a number of approaches to strengthening my immune system but no matter what I try I always seem to be catching upper respiratory infections: colds, flu, persistent coughs.
These are not life-threatening but definitely impact my quality of life.
Big advantage in Thailand over USA I can get antibiotics and even antivirals whereas in the US the medical establishment seems to consider it their sacred mission to restrict access to these.
But it seems any supplements or dietary changes I try don't seem to help.
I create my own green drink from a mixture of organic spinach, barley grass, blue green spirulina, kale powder and broccoli powders. They're all very powerful, huge levels of antioxidants and they really do build up the bodies power and immune system. And they're all available online here in Thailand.
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Thailand in Trouble: Expats Exit as Vietnam Steals the Show
in Thailand News
Posted
Total agreement here. I travel back to the States frequently, a minimum of twice per year and I can tell you for a fact that Americans right now are rather joyless, and lacking in humor, they don't seem to be enjoying their lives very much, they're living, working, eating, and sleeping. Not much of a life, and many of them seem bitter, disenfranchised, disappointed, highly divided, and utterly joyless, no thanks.