Be careful what you wish for

[Brunolem]

These days I see many, not only in Thailand, calling for more restrictions, in order to protect us.

 

Before making such calls, they should keep in mind that governments are much faster at increasing restrictions and putting red tape, than at removing them.

 

Many emergency decisions implemented right after 9/11 are still here today, and the "war on terror" has become a permanent fixture, as a "war on viruses" could also become.

 

Closer to us in Thailand, remember how much time it took to get rid of this pesky TM 28 (report of our every move), and that was a minuscule administrative issue.

 

Now, how much time will it take to get back to international travel as we knew it? Will it ever come back, or will many of these new "temporary" restrictions (medical certificates, insurances...) become permanent?

 

An American politician, whom I won't name, said: "you never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before".

 

This virus crisis and its fallout are going to be with us for a long long time...

 

 

 

 

[Kadilo]

They have already screwed some with compulsory Health Insurance to renew their extensions, now they will use this latest crisis to get as much money out of foreigners as they can once this all calms down. 
 

So we can expect the list to be added to for requirements to renew or get anything.......as long as it’s done by a Thai company and brings in extra revenue to their coffers.
 

Once their economy is ruined post CV they will stop at nothing to rob us blind imo, especially as we are to blame ????

[petedk]

Quote

They have already screwed some with compulsory Health Insurance to renew their extensions, now they will use this latest crisis to get as much money out of foreigners as they can once this all calms down. 
 

Don't forget the new sim cards that they use for tracking foreigners. They tried to introduce this several times before. Will that stop when the infections disappear?

 

[Tagaa]

20 hours ago, Brunolem said:

An American politician, whom I won't name, said: "you never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before".

Why would you not want to mention that Rahm Emanuel, senior advisor of Bill Clinton, Obama's Chief of Staff, at the time the statement was made, and the previous Mayor of Chicago (D), made that statement?

 

Another little known fact is that he went to Sarah Lawrence College on a full "ballet scholarship."    You can do that?

[Rancid]

Governments either create or capitalize on fear to have citizens demand it protect them, at the permanent loss of their civil liberties of course. Movie V for Vengeance was an interesting analogy. At home it is progressives screaming the loudest to lock us all away for 6 months, to protect us of course. Wasn't there an old adage, "empty vessels make the most noise"?

[Sing_Sling]

On 3/21/2020 at 12:29 PM, Tagaa said:

Another little known fact is that he went to Sarah Lawrence College on a full "ballet scholarship."    You can do that?

It's only 'little known' because it's not important.  This is an issue for you?

[3421abc]

Good point. I am also concerned about what comes after the virus is gone. I have a feeling this country will be very unstable in many ways.  

[otherstuff1957]

The full quote (from that hot bed or radical thought The Wall Street Journal):

 

Emanuel, Nov. 19, 2008: You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before. I think America as a whole in 1973 and 1974, and not just my view but obviously the administration's, missed the opportunity to deal with the energy crisis that was before us. For a long time our entire energy policy came down to cheap oil. This is an opportunity, what used to be long-term problems, be they in the health care area, energy area, education area, fiscal area, tax area, regulatory reform area, things that we have postponed for too long, that were long-term, are now immediate and must be dealt with. This crisis provides the opportunity, for us, as I would say, the opportunity to do things that you could not do before. The good news, I suppose, if you want to see a silver lining, is the problems are big enough that they lend themselves to ideas from both parties for the solution.

 

So the 'things that we could not do before' is to enact bipartisan solutions.

[Brunolem]

39 minutes ago, otherstuff1957 said:

The full quote (from that hot bed or radical thought The Wall Street Journal):

 

Emanuel, Nov. 19, 2008: You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before. I think America as a whole in 1973 and 1974, and not just my view but obviously the administration's, missed the opportunity to deal with the energy crisis that was before us. For a long time our entire energy policy came down to cheap oil. This is an opportunity, what used to be long-term problems, be they in the health care area, energy area, education area, fiscal area, tax area, regulatory reform area, things that we have postponed for too long, that were long-term, are now immediate and must be dealt with. This crisis provides the opportunity, for us, as I would say, the opportunity to do things that you could not do before. The good news, I suppose, if you want to see a silver lining, is the problems are big enough that they lend themselves to ideas from both parties for the solution.

 

So the 'things that we could not do before' is to enact bipartisan solutions.

This is typical politician talk... big declarations with nothing of substance to support them.

 

What should America have done in 1974 with regards to energy? 

 

And what in the education area, and when? 

 

And anyway why would the government need a crisis to implement reforms leading to improvements? 

 

The fact is that the 2008/9 crisis was not wasted for the bankers, thanks to Emmanuel and his gang of weasels, and that the actual ongoing crisis is not going to be wasted for the recipients of the 6 trillion dollars rescue plan unleashed by the government and the Fed. 

 

But much needed reforms there won't be any, no more than after 2008/9...

 

[Assurancetourix]

On 3/27/2020 at 12:47 PM, 3421abc said:

Good point. I am also concerned about what comes after the virus is gone. I have a feeling this country will be very unstable in many ways.  

Good point .. Why?

Do like the Thai people and like I do too;
don't ask yourself existential questions.
Tomorrow does not yet exist.
and as we say:
Time will tell

[meechai]

4 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

Good point .. Why?

Do like the Thai people and like I do too;
don't ask yourself existential questions.
Tomorrow does not yet exist.
and as we say:
Time will tell

 

????????

 

Classic...you have been assimilated Thai proper

 

No Tink Too Mutt

Good Luck...I think you may need it....or not ????

[Davo369]

The last thing  going through my mind is hoops..

[transam]

I never got one............????