spidermike007

This economic lockdown must end May 1st. Millions are without work, and the subsidy program has been both an abysmal failure, and woefully inadequate, due to the incredible stinginess of this administration. 

The only ones who are hoping for a longer lockdown, are the wealthy, the expats with a fat pension, and those with big bucks in the bank. The rest of us are far more attuned to reality. This thing is gone, baby gone. More people are dying in vehicles and motorbikes each day in Bangkok, than being taken out by Covid in the entirely of Thailand. 

16 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Pierce Brosnan is nearly my age ...............

Whenever I think it might be nice to go and live back in the west, I look at this photo of him with his wife.

 

Often when I am walking around with my rather young and very attractive wife, both of us get a lot of looks from Western men, who are with or without their rather unappealing and old wives. Especially when I am in the US. And the Western women give me these looks like you are a bad man for not having to jump over ridiculous hurdles to be with that woman! What you are doing, and how you are living is not right at all. Not on any level! We do not approve! Sometimes, when I am back in the US I will get together with a friend who is in his 60's or older. And his wife is usually the same age. It is an astonishing thing to behold, and makes every atom in my body grateful for the life I live. Some may call me an ageist. Go right ahead.

And in terms of "embracing lockdown" that is a fairly easy thing to do with a net worth north of $100 million. For those of us who work for a living, and those of us who are self employed small business owners, embracing lockdown has a totally different meaning. All health concerns aside. 

1 hour ago, CraigInBangkok said:

I am happily married and not in to banging other mens wives, but I don't see it as his problem. If your wife is banging someone else, you'd have to blame the wife not the bloke banging her. 

Nah. I see it as a two sided case of moral and ethical degradation. You can justify it any way you want. That does not make it right, does not make it cool, and does not make it a decent thing to do. Plenty of single women out there. 

Dr Manoon Leechawengwong should be arrested and locked up, for spreading panic among the masses. Completely ridiculous predictions, damaging to the mental health of the people, and reckless, to say the least. There are totally different dynamics at work in Italy. 

Will take some time to see how this all shakes out, but it is my opinion that the economic fallout from the inane economic shutdown, is going to be 200 times worse than Covid itself, and the recovery "ramp up" will be long and excruciating. Far longer than they say. It will not just bounce back. In the history of the world, as far as we know, there has never been a deliberate worldwide economic shutdown. It is light years beyond dumb.

The "slowdown" will last well into 2021, for certain. And some industries may never come back, or will be a pale shadow of their former selves. No doubt homelessness will skyrocket in the US. Here? Who knows. Tourism in Thailand will never recover to even close to it's former levels, and that leaves millions out of work.

What about concerts? Will people be willing to hang out with crowds of 20,000, at a small fortune for a crappy seat? Same with sports. Will people be willing to go into a stadium or an arena with 20,000 to 100,000 people close together, and pay crazy money for a seat?

Movie theaters? Cruise ships? Will the hordes just start descending on restaurants again, and pay high prices for a gourmet meal? The list goes on, and on and on. 

And in the end, hundreds millions worldwide could end up far poorer than they were before. And tens of millions could end up starving to death, compared to perhaps 200,000 or so total deaths worldwide from Covid. OK. The rich stay safe and financially secure. And the rest of us? And those of us who are self employed, without fortunes in the bank? 

The Pattaya administration people should have been able to anticipate this, and use police to control the crowds. This is a very simple thing to do. Instead the wealthy fatcats displayed an incredible lack of sensitivity to the masses who are without jobs, without savings, and without food. After all, they have not been hoarding the "peoples funds" for years now, as the officials have. 

4 hours ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Don't let the door hit you on the way out. I don't think Thailand or anyone else, me included, are going to miss whiners and complainers like yourself. I live here in Bankok and have traveled all over the area including Cambod and Laos, and the Thai people have treated me just fine. The only real a$$ho/es I've ever come across in 7 years have been farang, mostly bad behaving brits. A very  few other nationalities. And the only people who seem to badmouth Thailand on a regular basis have been brits who have gotten into trouble of their own making and want to blame Thailand. So goodbye to you, good riddance. The baht exchange is improving and life is good as far as I'm concerned. It will only get better in Thailand, everything changes and the pendulum swings both ways over time. Thailand has been here a lot longer that you and your forebears, and it will be here long afterward. I'm sure there are plenty of people like me who are happy to come here and maybe stay. So Get over yourself. BTW, I don't followup on topics nor do I read responses to posts, haven't got the time or inclination. I read one news story once, 5 minutes is all you get of my time.

Quite lame. Nearly every time I see someone complaining, or observing a shortfall about the policies here, or the culture, some guy who has not taken the time to think things through, nor to devote any time, study, or focus on the issue at hand, says something like "Perhaps Thailand is not for you", or "maybe you should leave", or "it's not fair", or the top prize, "if you do not like it here, go back to your own country". Or in this case, don't let the door hit you on your way out. Good one! Funny. Ever try stand up? I suggest one of the less crowded improv type spots, to avoid the embarrassment. 

Why should I leave? Because I have some issues with the place, I am not entitled to complain, or voice my opinions? Half of the posts on this forum are complaints. What is wrong with that? Don't we need someplace to vent? Why the sensitivity? Why such thin skin? Though absolute contentment must be a beautiful thing to be blessed with, it is not something most of us enjoy. The fact that I complain does not mean I do not love Thailand, my lifestyle, and most of the Thai people. It is the government, the army and the administration I have a hard time with. 

I have a good life here. But, I do have some issues with the place, as most do, and there are some things I would like to see improved. Do you not see any room for improvement? I should leave because I complain? Lame. You can do better. And frankly, whether of not your read this reply, as you claim you will not (LOL) is of zero concern to me. 

18 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

Well, do you love the military government?

No. I despise them as do the vast majority of Thais and expats. They are unredeemable. 

18 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

 

Pollution?

The air quality here is horrendous. And the hapless army is doing nothing about it. It is a huge concern of mine. 

18 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

 

Over-crowded roads?

That is also a big issue. High speed passenger and cargo trains is the obvious solution for roads choked with trucks. But, that appears to be over the heads of the current administration.

18 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

 

Corruption?

Horrendous. Another area where the army is doing less than zero. However corruption in the US is just as bad. It is just less transparent. If you have two to five million dollars, you can usually get away with any crime, including murder, in the US. A high priced legal team equals a stunning degree of judicial corruption in the US. Also, the porn and escort industry in the US is larger than the entire sex industry here. Moral corruption? If you must label it as such. Medical corruption? How about a big pharma that owns both the CDC and the US govt? Corruption? Big time. I could go on. Not to mention the cultural corruption inherent with gorging on toxic reality TV for three decades. 

18 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

 

Handling of CV, floods, droughts?

The handling of Covid has been fantastic. Absolutely blows away the medical incompetence, and both inane and ineffective protocols we are seeing in the US. Kudos to the Thais on this!  

Floods. Droughts. What can one say? They happen everywhere. 

18 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

 

Or are you financially trapped there?

I would not say we are trapped. But, I would say we live infinitely better here, than we would back in the US. And neither my wife nor I, would want to live back there. She has visited many times and we have traveled all over the country both here and there. Thailand blows away the US on so many levels. We love it here!

18 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

 

You have commented over and over and over how expensive it is in the USA and you would need a million dollars a year to live there?

Asked and answered. 

18 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

 

You already have the love of your life. Is Thailand the only life you can give her?

No. But we both love it here. For now. At some point we may buy a home in Spain. And spend half the year there. 

18 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

 

What's the age difference?

Enough to make me very happy. I never liked women my age. On a dozen different levels. She keeps me happy and youthful, and is an amazing companion, an amazing woman, and a wonderful wife. 

18 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

 

Going to leave her set for life when you pass?

She will be very comfortable. 

18 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

 

Western education?

Thank God no. It would have stripped her of her best qualities. She does not have a university education. But she is smart as a whip, very street smart, can think on her feet, is fluent in reading, writing and speaking English and runs a successful business here. 

18 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

 

Any education or tools she can use to ensure her quality of life continues?

 

Or as you living the standard Thai life, just brushing by with enough each month?

She has her own business as well as a large and profitable orchard that we own. And I have a successful business in the US. So, we do quite well. Thanks for your concern. 

18 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

 

Own any cars, real estate, land, farms?

 

 

Yes, yes, yes and yes. And you?

Most just want a sip of beer or some wine. Denying them this pleasure is a form of sadism, at this point. Life is tough enough for most of us. Very few will be idiotic enough to gather in groups and if we do, we sit two meters apart. Pretty simple stuff, but complicated for the vast brain reserves at the army.