Channel 11

[martaway]

Has anyone been watching the programme on Ch11 at 20.30 Mon/Fri ?

It has now been stopped after Sonthi had pressure pi on him to withdraw.

Now you have to have ASTV to be able to watch.

It's the best thing on Thai TV and tells it as it is.No bias,just the truth.

Ah well back to Soaps and Quiz shows for the Thai populace.

[Hampstead]

Has anyone been watching the programme on Ch11 at 20.30 Mon/Fri ?

It has now been stopped after Sonthi had pressure pi on him to withdraw.

Now you have to have ASTV to be able to watch.

It's the best thing on Thai TV and tells it as it is.No bias,just the truth.

Ah well back to Soaps and Quiz shows for the Thai populace.

sondhi is a puppet for his masters

as for the truth, then maybe sondhi should provide the world on how corrupt he really is, and how he has no care or feelings for thousands of employees he has bankrupted and left penniless due to his greediness over the last 20 years in business in thailand and hong kong.

sondhi has been dumped ......GREAT NEWS

Edited February 28, 2007 by Hampstead

[martaway]

Has anyone been watching the programme on Ch11 at 20.30 Mon/Fri ?

It has now been stopped after Sonthi had pressure pi on him to withdraw.

Now you have to have ASTV to be able to watch.

It's the best thing on Thai TV and tells it as it is.No bias,just the truth.

Ah well back to Soaps and Quiz shows for the Thai populace.

sondhi is a puppet for his masters

as for the truth, then maybe sondhi should provide the world on how corrupt he really is, and how he has no care or feelings for thousands of employees he has bankrupted and left penniless due to his greediness over the last 20 years in business in thailand and hong kong.

sondhi has been dumped ......GREAT NEWS

I would be interested to know more of his past ?

Any information would be appreciated.

As for being a 'Puppet for his masters'...who would be his 'masters' ?

He seems to be critical of every faction depending on the topic

[ColPyat]

sondhi has been dumped ......GREAT NEWS

Thank god. That notorious liar and corrupt megalomaniac on Channel 11 had the potential to start serious disturbances.

[martaway]

sondhi has been dumped ......GREAT NEWS

Thank god. That notorious liar and corrupt megalomaniac on Channel 11 had the potential to start serious disturbances.

megalomaniac ?

hardly...exactly how much power does he have ?

doesn't seem to be running for any ministerial post ?

Now Thaksin...there's your megalomaniac

[tijnebijn]

In Thailand it is all same same..............

[ColPyat]

sondhi has been dumped ......GREAT NEWS

Thank god. That notorious liar and corrupt megalomaniac on Channel 11 had the potential to start serious disturbances.

megalomaniac ?

hardly...exactly how much power does he have ?

doesn't seem to be running for any ministerial post ?

Now Thaksin...there's your megalomaniac

I guess you have not been here during the era of 'Asia Times', where Sondhi has imagined he can outplay all regional newspapers and magazines, hired some really high payed journalists from all over, borrowed vast funds, and went flat broke, leaving his staff hanging, and still owing lots of money to former staff, while living the high life himself.

Even today his present staff always complains of late payments of their salaries.

As to liar, he is the one who invented and promoted the infamous 'Finland declaration' lie, and many other such rubbish.

Thaksin, by the way has bailed Sondhi out after the crises, and Sondhi was one of his staunchest supporters, even and especially during the drug war killings. Rather funny though that both he and Thaksin are very quiet about what actually initiated that fall out, there are lots of speculations around, and the most credible ones are about TV concessions that Sondhi demanded.

Which, was also the first thing Sondhi was busy with right after the coup.

[martaway]

sondhi has been dumped ......GREAT NEWS

Thank god. That notorious liar and corrupt megalomaniac on Channel 11 had the potential to start serious disturbances.

megalomaniac ?

hardly...exactly how much power does he have ?

doesn't seem to be running for any ministerial post ?

Now Thaksin...there's your megalomaniac

I guess you have not been here during the era of 'Asia Times', where Sondhi has imagined he can outplay all regional newspapers and magazines, hired some really high payed journalists from all over, borrowed vast funds, and went flat broke, leaving his staff hanging, and still owing lots of money to former staff, while living the high life himself.

Even today his present staff always complains of late payments of their salaries.

As to liar, he is the one who invented and promoted the infamous 'Finland declaration' lie, and many other such rubbish.

Thaksin, by the way has bailed Sondhi out after the crises, and Sondhi was one of his staunchest supporters, even and especially during the drug war killings. Rather funny though that both he and Thaksin are very quiet about what actually initiated that fall out, there are lots of speculations around, and the most credible ones are about TV concessions that Sondhi demanded.

Which, was also the first thing Sondhi was busy with right after the coup.

Ah well and there i was thinking there was at least 1 guy telling it straight with no hidden agenda.

p.s what is the infamous Finland declaration lie ?

[ColPyat]

Ah well and there i was thinking there was at least 1 guy telling it straight with no hidden agenda.

p.s what is the infamous Finland declaration lie ?

The Finland declaration was that appearantly Thaksin and some of his party members who were former communist have met in Finland to hedge a plot to topple the monarchy and declare Thailand a republic with Thaksin as president. What a pile of BS.

Don't despair though - there are many people who do tell things straight and according to their believes. Most of them haven't got much power though, and are mainly found in the academia. If you visit for example this website: http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala/

there you will find many interesting links to very interesting papers and discussions. Another interesting person to read is Giles Ungpakorn. He is a socialist, but has some very interesting points. Another paper to read is: "Toppling Thaksin". There is lots of interesting stuff out there, you just have to pick and chose.

[jayjayjayjay]

sondhi has been dumped ......GREAT NEWS

Thank god. That notorious liar and corrupt megalomaniac on Channel 11 had the potential to start serious disturbances.

megalomaniac ?

hardly...exactly how much power does he have ?

doesn't seem to be running for any ministerial post ?

Now Thaksin...there's your megalomaniac

He owns a newspaper(the Manager), he had corrupt associates Toxin kicked out of the PM's office (5 of them), he got upset and went public in revenge of Toxin, he lost satellite concession to Toxin in the 90's, look into Sondhi's history, your not talking about a mr clean here!

[soundman]

Ah well and there i was thinking there was at least 1 guy telling it straight with no hidden agenda.

p.s what is the infamous Finland declaration lie ?

The Finland declaration was that appearantly Thaksin and some of his party members who were former communist have met in Finland to hedge a plot to topple the monarchy and declare Thailand a republic with Thaksin as president. What a pile of BS.

Don't despair though - there are many people who do tell things straight and according to their believes. Most of them haven't got much power though, and are mainly found in the academia. If you visit for example this website: http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala/

there you will find many interesting links to very interesting papers and discussions. Another interesting person to read is Giles Ungpakorn. He is a socialist, but has some very interesting points. Another paper to read is: "Toppling Thaksin". There is lots of interesting stuff out there, you just have to pick and chose.

I'm not so sure the allegged "Finland Plan" was BS. I don't know of any communists, or of any meeting in Finland.

But I do personally know one of "toxin's" ex personal bodyguards. The stories I have heard from him confirm many things with regards to allegations made in the media by those brave enough to speak out.

Best to leave this subject alone.

Soundman.

[ColPyat]

I'm not so sure the allegged "Finland Plan" was BS. I don't know of any communists, or of any meeting in Finland.

But I do personally know one of "toxin's" ex personal bodyguards. The stories I have heard from him confirm many things with regards to allegations made in the media by those brave enough to speak out.

Best to leave this subject alone.

Soundman.

It is not a hidden secret that things are not as unilateral as they are made out to be, but it's a bit of a far fetched conclusion to straight away jump to such conspiracy theories, especially when there is not one tiny bit of proof or evidence..

[soundman]

I'm not so sure the allegged "Finland Plan" was BS. I don't know of any communists, or of any meeting in Finland.

But I do personally know one of "toxin's" ex personal bodyguards. The stories I have heard from him confirm many things with regards to allegations made in the media by those brave enough to speak out.

Best to leave this subject alone.

Soundman.

It is not a hidden secret that things are not as unilateral as they are made out to be, but it's a bit of a far fetched conclusion to straight away jump to such conspiracy theories, especially when there is not one tiny bit of proof or evidence..

Conspiracy theories are not my thing.

Lets not forget that a "David Copperfield" or "Mr Blain" can make a ice cream into a Rolex into a ribbed condom before your eyes. A person like "toxin" can walk on water in front of the masses while handing out un-levened bread with anchovies. He can also sell ice to the eskimos, perform a five ball juggle in one hand whilst stealing candy from a baby in the other.

Point: Keep the public distracted while performing your dirty deeds. Easy to do. Have a war on drugs while you are setting up major scams in govt. procurement. Need I go on....... thankfully no mega-projects scheme, otherwise we would see him as the richest person on the planet.

<deleted>, I've forgotten what the OP was. Never mind, just this once I might be forgivven as this my hundreth. At least 50 given in the best spirit of the fiorum, giving info on subjects I have some knowledge on, and the rest on, I don't know, whatever I felt like at the moment of replying to whatever was going down at the time.

Cheers,

Soundman.

[thaimeup]

sondhi has been dumped ......GREAT NEWS

Thank god. That notorious liar and corrupt megalomaniac on Channel 11 had the potential to start serious disturbances.

megalomaniac ?

hardly...exactly how much power does he have ?

doesn't seem to be running for any ministerial post ?

Now Thaksin...there's your megalomaniac

He owns a newspaper(the Manager), he had corrupt associates Toxin kicked out of the PM's office (5 of them), he got upset and went public in revenge of Toxin, he lost satellite concession to Toxin in the 90's, look into Sondhi's history, your not talking about a mr clean here!

Whatever you say about Sondhi, I'll always be grateful to him for causing Taksin to leave the country in a hurry. If it hadn't been for Sondhi, we would still have to put up with his dictatorial regime. I mustn't forget dear old Chamlong!

[ColPyat]

Whatever you say about Sondhi, I'll always be grateful to him for causing Taksin to leave the country in a hurry. If it hadn't been for Sondhi, we would still have to put up with his dictatorial regime. I mustn't forget dear old Chamlong!

Chamlong, whose vision on Thailand would be an abstinent, vegetarian agrarian society based on religious fundamentalism. Yes, we really need that...

And as to the definition to dictatorial, what we have right now fulfills that definition far closer than the TRT government that came to power through elections, and was elected again.

[jayjayjayjay]

Whatever you say about Sondhi, I'll always be grateful to him for causing Taksin to leave the country in a hurry. If it hadn't been for Sondhi, we would still have to put up with his dictatorial regime. I mustn't forget dear old Chamlong!

Chamlong, whose vision on Thailand would be an abstinent, vegetarian agrarian society based on religious fundamentalism. Yes, we really need that...

And as to the definition to dictatorial, what we have right now fulfills that definition far closer than the TRT government that came to power through elections, and was elected again.

TRT was elected, Taksin was the first truely wealthy PM Thailand has ever had, the dealings re sale of Shin were complicated because he had to divest his wealth to follow the '97 consitution. I still work here and contribute to this society but was close to leaving due to the scurge of drugs that was looming, causing me many long days thinking about the long term exposure my 2 daughters would be faced with... Thank you to Taksin for making a real effort to clear this problem......I don't say everything he did was just or right, far too many of his relatives appeared to benefit, but he made a real effort and if you have ever taken a position of responsibility, you will know you cannot control the actions and thoughts of those around you... I feel the constant criticism of Taksin comes loudest from those who really do nothing to contribute!

[ColPyat]

TRT was elected, Taksin was the first truely wealthy PM Thailand has ever had,

That's not exactly true.

Almost every Thai PM has been very wealthy, apart from Chuan and Prem (who was never elected).

Banharn, Chavalit, Chatchai and all the military dictators have all been very rich.

As to the drug war, nobody denies that something had to be done, but the summary executions were way out of order. Nevertheless, the killings were not just Thaksin's doing, it was clearly a concerted effort of all power networks in Thailand, and many of them are right now in power as well.

[t.s]

It's the best thing on Thai TV and tells it as it is.No bias,just the truth.

Do you really believe that?

[h90]

Has anyone been watching the programme on Ch11 at 20.30 Mon/Fri ?

It has now been stopped after Sonthi had pressure pi on him to withdraw.

Now you have to have ASTV to be able to watch.

It's the best thing on Thai TV and tells it as it is.No bias,just the truth.

Ah well back to Soaps and Quiz shows for the Thai populace.

sondhi is a puppet for his masters

as for the truth, then maybe sondhi should provide the world on how corrupt he really is, and how he has no care or feelings for thousands of employees he has bankrupted and left penniless due to his greediness over the last 20 years in business in thailand and hong kong.

sondhi has been dumped ......GREAT NEWS

To much Toxin propaganda?

Like Sondhi or not, check what he told say 1 year ago and how much is now proofed to be true....

[jayjayjayjay]

TRT was elected, Taksin was the first truely wealthy PM Thailand has ever had,

That's not exactly true.

Almost every Thai PM has been very wealthy, apart from Chuan and Prem (who was never elected).

Banharn, Chavalit, Chatchai and all the military dictators have all been very rich.

As to the drug war, nobody denies that something had to be done, but the summary executions were way out of order. Nevertheless, the killings were not just Thaksin's doing, it was clearly a concerted effort of all power networks in Thailand, and many of them are right now in power as well.

Beg to disagree, in terms of wealth, these three did not enter politics with the type of wealth Taksin did. Taksin was the first that did not have to REPAY anybody for their financial support. Certainly Banharn, Chavalit and Chatchai left more wealthy!! Mor Chaiyut (owner) of Italianthai told me personally that Chavilit asked for 1billion baht payment due within a week of his being elected if Italianthai expected a single government contract during his tenure. Mor Chaiyut paid!! Chavalit sent PK over to collect it in black suitcases!!

Taksin had a bigger problem, the godfather influence that the likes of Newin Chidchob's family have in Buri Ram.

[ColPyat]

Beg to disagree, in terms of wealth, these three did not enter politics with the type of wealth Taksin did. Taksin was the first that did not have to REPAY anybody for their financial support. Certainly Banharn, Chavalit and Chatchai left more wealthy!! Mor Chaiyut (owner) of Italianthai told me personally that Chavilit asked for 1billion baht payment due within a week of his being elected if Italianthai expected a single government contract during his tenure. Mor Chaiyut paid!! Chavalit sent PK over to collect it in black suitcases!!

Taksin had a bigger problem, the godfather influence that the likes of Newin Chidchob's family have in Buri Ram.

Accepted, Thaksin was wealthier, but he had to repay the different cliques for their support in gathering votes. In reality, the corruption regarding government contracts went on as usual. And that will definitely not change now either, regardless the nice speaches.

[steveromagnino]

TRT was elected, Taksin was the first truely wealthy PM Thailand has ever had, the dealings re sale of Shin were complicated because he had to divest his wealth to follow the '97 consitution. I still work here and contribute to this society but was close to leaving due to the scurge of drugs that was looming...... Thank you to Taksin for making a real effort to clear this problem......I don't say everything he did was just or right, far too many of his relatives appeared to benefit, but he made a real effort and if you have ever taken a position of responsibility, you will know you cannot control the actions and thoughts of those around you... I feel the constant criticism of Taksin comes loudest from those who really do nothing to contribute!

1. As Colypat points out, Taksin was not the first 'jao por' type PM with money, although his funding far exceeded previous business tycoon type PMs (Banharn); unlike the previous PMs who had faceless backers operating and funding behind the scenes e.g. CP family, Asahi glass family he actually fronted up and did it himself, primarily to defend his own wealth which would have been decimated if they telco deregulation happened in a way that didn't favour AIS (which accounts for around 80% of the profitability of SHincorp). That was fairly obviously why we went into politics, and possibly to build a LKY legacy as per Shingapore.

2. 1997 constitution merely requires disclosure of wealth, not divestment; however he chose to lie about it presumably to have some sources of money to buy votes etc that others would not know about; this is not abnormal, but usually it would be the backers proviiding funding not the politician themselves

3. I do admire some of his initiatives in principle, but didn't like the execution much such as 30b healthcare (poorly implemented, hugely corrupt and benefiting then health minister Sudarat alledgedy of course and available to far too many people who could actually afford regular healthcare thus making a viable program developed and implemented by the previous Chuan administration which was the forerunner to 30b healthcare a major expense); war on drugs (no major suspects were ever apprehended and internal dfrug dealers within policeforce/army never dealt with) and some grass roots spending (village fund has left people in more debt and encouraged villagers to borrow rather than working harder/smarter, lottery expansion is effectively a 'poor tax' that the poor love to pay but again discourages saving and hard work). Micro credit is a great idea, OTOP was a good idea. And yet every one of these ideas was mostly done, at least IMHO to get votes so he could do the dirty work - airport, telco deregulation, selling off state assets like PTT to himself, land deals, attempts to ave the Thai casino, FTAs with other countries that were basically for himself (e.g. Australia) etc - so he and his friends without having to worry that he would be voted out (keep the poor on his side, media control, get at least some BKK academics and universities on his side).

4. In order to get an absolute majority large enough to avoid censure and public debate, he also needed to get the godfather figures that Jayjay talks about; Newin is a lightweight and was an easily used and abused strongman coming from a province not known for high education standards; Sanoh, Suriya, Khunpluem and others were the other factions, and some of those people are not nice guys and not into 'making a real effort' for anyone other than themselves. The party started to self destruct when he started being unable to dole out the 'extra benefits' at a rate fast enough and equitable enough to keep everyone happy. These factions also dictate why the war on drugs was never going to be successful.

Many of the benefits the poor saw during the last few years in commodity prices were either him propping prices up with money that could otherwise have been used for something else (e.g. diesel subsidy, which cost the country billions of baht, but kept people driving pick up trucks happy) or actual growth (e.g. rubber prices have risen, nothing to do with TRT, but all the rubber tappers think it was his work, my family own some rubber plantations, this is one of the few connections I have with rural Thailand).

Then you have some blatant vote grabbing; e.g. giving free taxis to the poor, debt forgiveness, actual vote buying.

Therefore in summary, I just don't buy he was making 'a real effort' to help anyone other than himself.

Thailand has not yet had a PM that is a David Lange type - a person the communicates well, is fair, mostly honest and actually has a long term plan for the country rather than themselves. Chuan, Chavalit, Prem - they were all PR disasters who couldn't talk their way out of a paperbag. ONe day when that happens, THEN we will see some progress. I totally believe that it will happen, but a lot will occur prior to that; Taksin 1 and 2 has merely delayed the pain of deregulation with a party; there will be pain prior to globalisation and it will affect many people. NZ went through it in the early 90s. Thailand needs to go through it at some point; we were close in late 90s/early 2000 to sorting things out before we went back to 'anti capitalist mode'.

Edited March 1, 2007 by steveromagnino

[ColPyat]

Thailand has not yet had a PM that is a David Lange type - a person the communicates well, is fair, mostly honest and actually has a long term plan for the country rather than themselves. Chuan, Chavalit, Prem - they were all PR disasters who couldn't talk their way out of a paperbag. ONe day when that happens, THEN we will see some progress. I totally believe that it will happen, but a lot will occur prior to that;

Many people look back in nostalgia to Chuan's time. Which, if you had money to spend, were great days of personal freedom.

But, from the village angle of the rural poor it were disastrous days. No development went to the villages, their problems were simply ignored. Politicians made their Wais at election times, never to be seen again. Simply devilizing Thaksin will not help. He was, and still is loved by the majority because he did give attention to those villagers (it doesn't really matter in this context if he just pretended to for self serving reasons, or believed his own propaganda, i personally guess the truth is somewhere in the middle).

Thailand deserves better than Thaksin, Chuan, or the present military dictatorship. And i fear that you are right that a lot will have to occur before that will happen.

[jayjayjayjay]

1. As Colypat points out, Taksin was not the first 'jao por' type PM with money, although his funding far exceeded previous business tycoon type PMs (Banharn); unlike the previous PMs who had faceless backers operating and funding behind the scenes e.g. CP family, Asahi glass family he actually fronted up and did it himself, primarily to defend his own wealth which would have been decimated if they telco deregulation happened in a way that didn't favour AIS (which accounts for around 80% of the profitability of SHincorp). That was fairly obviously why we went into politics, and possibly to build a LKY legacy as per Shingapore.

2. 1997 constitution merely requires disclosure of wealth, not divestment; however he chose to lie about it presumably to have some sources of money to buy votes etc that others would not know about; this is not abnormal, but usually it would be the backers proviiding funding not the politician themselves

3. I do admire some of his initiatives in principle, but didn't like the execution much such as 30b healthcare (poorly implemented, hugely corrupt and benefiting then health minister Sudarat alledgedy of course and available to far too many people who could actually afford regular healthcare thus making a viable program developed and implemented by the previous Chuan administration which was the forerunner to 30b healthcare a major expense); war on drugs (no major suspects were ever apprehended and internal dfrug dealers within policeforce/army never dealt with) and some grass roots spending (village fund has left people in more debt and encouraged villagers to borrow rather than working harder/smarter, lottery expansion is effectively a 'poor tax' that the poor love to pay but again discourages saving and hard work). Micro credit is a great idea, OTOP was a good idea. And yet every one of these ideas was mostly done, at least IMHO to get votes so he could do the dirty work - airport, telco deregulation, selling off state assets like PTT to himself, land deals, attempts to ave the Thai casino, FTAs with other countries that were basically for himself (e.g. Australia) etc - so he and his friends without having to worry that he would be voted out (keep the poor on his side, media control, get at least some BKK academics and universities on his side).

4. In order to get an absolute majority large enough to avoid censure and public debate, he also needed to get the godfather figures that Jayjay talks about; Newin is a lightweight and was an easily used and abused strongman coming from a province not known for high education standards; Sanoh, Suriya, Khunpluem and others were the other factions, and some of those people are not nice guys and not into 'making a real effort' for anyone other than themselves. The party started to self destruct when he started being unable to dole out the 'extra benefits' at a rate fast enough and equitable enough to keep everyone happy. These factions also dictate why the war on drugs was never going to be successful.

Many of the benefits the poor saw during the last few years in commodity prices were either him propping prices up with money that could otherwise have been used for something else (e.g. diesel subsidy, which cost the country billions of baht, but kept people driving pick up trucks happy) or actual growth (e.g. rubber prices have risen, nothing to do with TRT, but all the rubber tappers think it was his work, my family own some rubber plantations, this is one of the few connections I have with rural Thailand).

Then you have some blatant vote grabbing; e.g. giving free taxis to the poor, debt forgiveness, actual vote buying.

Therefore in summary, I just don't buy he was making 'a real effort' to help anyone other than himself.

Thailand has not yet had a PM that is a David Lange type - a person the communicates well, is fair, mostly honest and actually has a long term plan for the country rather than themselves. Chuan, Chavalit, Prem - they were all PR disasters who couldn't talk their way out of a paperbag. ONe day when that happens, THEN we will see some progress. I totally believe that it will happen, but a lot will occur prior to that; Taksin 1 and 2 has merely delayed the pain of deregulation with a party; there will be pain prior to globalisation and it will affect many people. NZ went through it in the early 90s. Thailand needs to go through it at some point; we were close in late 90s/early 2000 to sorting things out before we went back to 'anti capitalist mode'.

Here here to both Copycat and Steve, i agree pretty much with both of you. I do not stand by Taksin's side, I believe he made an effort, Chuan barely did anything, making him the perfert PM for Thailand. Thailand will need to go through 15 to 20 years of painful transition, but if the result in a Thai-apore, then I would rather the status quo. I have arguements for both sides, needless to say I did enjoy life here in the late 80's and early 90's more than today...

[Hampstead]

Has anyone been watching the programme on Ch11 at 20.30 Mon/Fri ?

It has now been stopped after Sonthi had pressure pi on him to withdraw.

Now you have to have ASTV to be able to watch.

It's the best thing on Thai TV and tells it as it is.No bias,just the truth.

Ah well back to Soaps and Quiz shows for the Thai populace.

sondhi is a puppet for his masters

as for the truth, then maybe sondhi should provide the world on how corrupt he really is, and how he has no care or feelings for thousands of employees he has bankrupted and left penniless due to his greediness over the last 20 years in business in thailand and hong kong.

sondhi has been dumped ......GREAT NEWS

To much Toxin propaganda?

Like Sondhi or not, check what he told say 1 year ago and how much is now proofed to be true....

Feeble to say the least

where is the name taksin quoted in my quote.

Why do such fools claim one forum member is taking sides if he or she openly tarnishes an opponent of the last Gov.

This is about sondhi being able to have too much say and influence on uneducated minds in this country with his rethoric bs and is underlying premise to make as much money as possibe for himself, and it seems that maybe your mind is swayed by this corrupt, selfish and two-faced ego maniac.

Edited March 1, 2007 by Hampstead

[pete_r]

I find it a bit strange that Sondhi let go of his slot on Channel 11 without a fuss. Is it that he has gone too far and angered someone really big in the CNS or government? Or is he just getting a better position somewhere else?

Edited March 1, 2007 by pete_r

[ColPyat]

needless to say I did enjoy life here in the late 80's and early 90's more than today...

Definitely so.

That was a time when things were still somewhat shit, but there was this hope that things will get better soon. I have missed that hope in a very long time.

Thaksin has wakened this hope in many of the rural poor, but he was far too authoritarian for anybody else.

And right now, well, things are shit, and there is very little hope left that things are getting better any soon.

[steveromagnino]

Thaksin has wakened this hope in many of the rural poor, but he was far too authoritarian for anybody else.

And right now, well, things are shit, and there is very little hope left that things are getting better any soon.

A bit, easy way to make poor happy in any country = give them free stuff. Healthcare, loans, money, cows, trees, taxis, whatever. Toss in booze, lottery, prostitution for kicks. Clamp down on crime, or at least pretend to, and look tough. Poor people like that.

Of course, you have to pay for doing all of this, and it does not much long term. Good vote getter though. Hmmm. the last guy did that, maybe they should hire him to tell them how to be popular :-)

harder way to be loved = give them education, entrepreneurship, no drugs, decent jobs. Actually clamp down on crime. Actually come up with sustainable social welfare.

A bit of hardship at first, but long lasting results. Just like Wrigley Extra. A great taste that really lasts.

But who is man enough to do the second? Believe me, I had HUUUUUGE hopes that Taksin would as he was the first guy to be positioned in a place where he could have. However, instead he stopped listening to advisors not long after he got into power (notwithstanding Burmese fortune tellers) and concentrated on his own wealth thereafter.

Ah well. Big worry for me is that now the poor have been schooled for 4 years to work less than before, and to expect things for free....tough trap.

I guess we can take heart in radio talkback in western countries. I always remember the string of left wing lowly paid loons advocating higher taxes for the rich as 'they have too much money'. I am quite partial to my mum's favourite line she heard once as to why all healthcare should be free (for poor people only) 'the tax payer shouldn't have to pay for healthcare, the government should.'

With audio gems like these, I look longingly at becoming a Lee Kwan Yu type figure and running my own little fifedom without having to deal with stupid voters. Don't worry Colypat, you will one of the first to get a passport :-) to what i am calling, Flyland.

I call it Flyland. It ez not a myth my fren, we 'ave a plentiful array of walls, ceilings and floors for ewe. No crime. No unemployment. Average income of 1,000,000b per month. And an 'ansum ruler who ez well known for a fine taste in ties, and fine ass in tights. Fake accents are for Ze fun Thursdays.

Oh zes is zer life for me, says prickly Pete, as he savours foie grais, served in a pint glass, the national specialty. Wash it down with a jug of Dom Perrignon and the national bankquet served for just 1m baht per guest is over for another year; each guest given a roll of toilet paper made with valueless USD as a token of the benevolent dictators generosity.

A well known patron of the arts, The new empire of Flyland employs 3,000,000,000 monkeys, and is testing the theory, if enough monkeys have enough type writers, they could write about the same as some posters on Thaivisa. To date, they do a fairly good rendition of Bendix, and some have said Monkaaey 2,456,343 is a spitting image of a young Terry 57.

Zer monkaey. Zat is what i zaid.

[kmart]

A bit, easy way to make poor happy in any country = give them free stuff. Healthcare, loans, money, cows, trees, taxis, whatever. Toss in booze, lottery, prostitution for kicks. Clamp down on crime, or at least pretend to, and look tough. Poor people like that.

Post Of The Week.

Nice one, steve.

[h90]

Has anyone been watching the programme on Ch11 at 20.30 Mon/Fri ?

It has now been stopped after Sonthi had pressure pi on him to withdraw.

Now you have to have ASTV to be able to watch.

It's the best thing on Thai TV and tells it as it is.No bias,just the truth.

Ah well back to Soaps and Quiz shows for the Thai populace.

sondhi is a puppet for his masters

as for the truth, then maybe sondhi should provide the world on how corrupt he really is, and how he has no care or feelings for thousands of employees he has bankrupted and left penniless due to his greediness over the last 20 years in business in thailand and hong kong.

sondhi has been dumped ......GREAT NEWS

To much Toxin propaganda?

Like Sondhi or not, check what he told say 1 year ago and how much is now proofed to be true....

Feeble to say the least

where is the name taksin quoted in my quote.

Why do such fools claim one forum member is taking sides if he or she openly tarnishes an opponent of the last Gov.

This is about sondhi being able to have too much say and influence on uneducated minds in this country with his rethoric bs and is underlying premise to make as much money as possibe for himself, and it seems that maybe your mind is swayed by this corrupt, selfish and two-faced ego maniac.

Do you believe that yourself or does someone pay you (if let me know, I also want that job, getting money for posting bs). Sondhi has not much influence on uneducated, they didn't even know him. The influence was on the well educated middle class in the cities. Only he could publish the hugh corruption of Thaksin and they were not bs, they are now proofed. if he is a selfish ego maniac or not he was right.