Chiang Mai: Thais hit hard as queue for free food goes round the moat

[connda]

On 4/17/2020 at 10:14 AM, bkk6060 said:

Ridiculous.

The government cannot be responsible for everything, everyplace in the world.

Many western countries including the US, have food banks and charities with volunteers that rely on sources other then the government to fund them and help people in need of food.

 

https://www.barrons.com/articles/jeff-bezos-donates-100-million-to-feeding-america-01585936239

 

Bezos gave 100 million and many others made big donations.

 

So, instead of complaining about the government, why don't you go down and help yourself by making a donation.

If Bezos paid his employees and living wage with benefits then perhaps they wouldn't need to line up at a food bank to obtain the food he is donating.  And I'm sure everything he "donates" is completely written off in the taxes his company doesn't pay. 

Philanthropist?  No.

[EricTh]

I think rich foreigners (compared to average Thai) should also help out by giving monetary donations to the donors 

Edited April 19, 2020 by EricTh

[EricTh]

On 4/17/2020 at 9:57 AM, darksidedog said:

Free food being dished out all over the place, but why is it volunteers putting their time and money up, when the government who should be taking the lead are nowhere to be seen?

I believe government gives out 5000 baht per month for the needy. This is not enough. 

 

Thanks for your donation to the needy.

Edited April 19, 2020 by EricTh

[spidermike007]

Hopefully, the inane economic shutdown will end May 1st, as millions need to earn something to get by, and the rate of application rejection of the subsidy program has been nearly 80%, which just shows you how sincere the army was about the assistance. This line for food shows how many people are having a very hard time coping with this bizarre reaction to Covid. It might have made some sense to shut some things down, but nearly everything?

[EricTh]

On 4/17/2020 at 3:43 PM, moe666 said:

Went by there this morning took a while but found someone incharge and gave then a thousand bhat donation. No big deal but they can feed a few for that. Stay safe folks

Where is this place?

 

How many did you see around city center? Is there only one spot or several?

 

[BritManToo]

Just now, spidermike007 said:

Hopefully, the inane economic shutdown will end May 1st,

Sounds hopelessly optimistic to me.

I predict at least another 2-3 months.

[spidermike007]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Sounds hopelessly optimistic to me.

I predict at least another 2-3 months.

Let us hope you are wrong about that. Millions will be bankrupt, and who knows what kind of desperation will set it by then. The economic shutdown must end soon. The rate of new infections has slowed to a trickle, and many industries can now start ramping up safely. 

[sucit]

When nobody has anything to do, people of any culture will line up for free food. I think it is very difficult to draw any real conclusions from these lines. 

[elliss]

37 minutes ago, EricTh said:

I believe government gives out 5000 baht per month for the needy. This is not enough. 

 

Thanks for your donation to the needy.

 

         5000 baht , for only three month's .

         Then virus , Thailand not have.

           TAT figures , will be amazing  again,  soon ...

         

 

Edited April 19, 2020 by elliss

[brokenbone]

1 hour ago, sucit said:

When nobody has anything to do, people of any culture will line up for free food. I think it is very difficult to draw any real conclusions from these lines. 

no i disagree entirely on that. i had a friend and we made it a hobby

to chase balloon gogo for quite some time,

but it wouldnt even have occur to me to chase a free meal if it hadnt been air con & naked woman

and a comfy sofa inside, not ever unless i was desperate.

otoh if it was just a matter of filling out a form to collect 5k, i would do it, that is why i think free meals targets the needing specifically,

while a general handout to everyone filling out a form in a country with so poor

data on who is actually in need is a lot of waste of money that is going to be a deficit for everyone when the economy is to be restored

Edited April 19, 2020 by brokenbone

[soi3eddie]

On 4/17/2020 at 4:38 AM, RJRS1301 said:

Surely this is where the armed services with mobile kitchens, personnel, transport and logistics should be in each major town and city across the country?

 

Also setting up testing stations with the food distribution

Yes, where are the Thai Army helping out the hungry? Would have thought it a perfect photo opprtunity for the military government to show how much they care? As there is no war going on what are all the generals soldiers doing?

[Trujillo]

I think if there was a free food giveaway at any time before the Wuhan virus madness, people would line up just the same. 

Thais love free things. 

[JimGant]

On 4/17/2020 at 11:19 AM, smedly said:

you made a joke right ?

Actually, Smedly, he's right on the money -- governments can't solve all and every problem. Nor should they. But, I guess if you're from a socialist country, you wouldn't understand.

 

America, proudly, has an excellent track record on charitable donations from those who can. Jeff Bezos is only one example -- Gates, Buffett, Zuckerberg, many, many more have donated a large share of their wealth. And maybe this will stand as an excellent example for the Thai 20 richest, that Prayut wisely reached out to, to do the same..... And that folks of modest means, many from the West, are also donating is very satisfying to see.

 

 

Quote

 

"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

Ronald Reagan

 

Yeah, that phrase was said before most US Republicans took the insane pill. But still a tongue-in-cheek phrase with solid meaning.

No, the Prayut government will get all the blame for the covid 19 disasters that are evolving -- and will continue to do so, probably on a worse scale. So too the blame for the drought, as I guess his rain dance was too militarily inspired to resonate with the rain gods. So be it: Gov'ts in good times get kudos,; in bad times they get knees to the crotch. Goes with the territory.

Anyway, rain aside and back to food donations, nice to see the Non Governmental Organizations (NGO's), if that term can apply here, out helping the less fortunate of the country. But, why am I surprised -- this is a Buddhist nation, right? Just like the Christian backbone of the US provides a support system over and above the government.

[THAIJAMES]

On 4/19/2020 at 8:17 PM, EricTh said:

I think rich foreigners (compared to average Thai) should also help out by giving monetary donations to the donors 

I tried sending money but they would not accept.   So I brought them a trunk full of staples (rice, oil, fish cans etc)

[EricTh]

2 minutes ago, THAIJAMES said:

I tried sending money but they would not accept.   So I brought them a trunk full of staples (rice, oil, fish cans etc)

 

Which temple did you donate to?

[THAIJAMES]

7 minutes ago, EricTh said:

 

Which temple did you donate to?

Not a temple.  I saw the video of people queing around the moat. https://www.sanook.com/news/8081874/I then contacted the person behind the private effort to give out food.  He would not take money so I brought him a trunk full of food. delivered at P. Massage house.  There were a bunch of people there packing food to be handed out today I think.

[LomSak27]

They were handing out ready made meals and some rice bags at Wat Upakhut, or in front of the Wat, on the road, at Noon today. No lines but some very erratic driving when people suddenly pulled over.

[Aussiepeter]

We live in Oz now but the missus called the MIL today - she lives in Mai Hia, C Mai, near the airport. The old girl is over  70 y.o. and went to the 'mini' or-por-tor (govt office) today for the third time in the last three months, to get her massive 500 baht a month old-age pension ! Just as happened the last two months, they told her that they could not give it to her this month, because "they are saving it for those with Covid-19" BUT "that they will pay it back to her when the C-19 thing is over". What a crock of sh*t ! She is HIV+ and very unwell and for sure would be dead, if I didn't send her a few $ every year. She lives a very frugal life and rides an old bicycle. No air-con, zilch. If her daughter had not married a farang 20 years ago, she'd be totally stu**ed right now. It is more than likely that her meagre 500 baht a month has been nicked, permanently. Thai govt help their people ? What govt ? Pathetic ! 

[JimShortz]

On 4/17/2020 at 10:14 AM, bkk6060 said:

So, instead of complaining about the government, why don't you go down and help yourself by making a donation.

Do you know how I can do this? I'm not rich, but I'd like to make a start by donating a day's salary. I can surely afford that without great hardship... 

[EricTh]

5 hours ago, THAIJAMES said:

Not a temple.  I saw the video of people queing around the moat. https://www.sanook.com/news/8081874/I then contacted the person behind the private effort to give out food.  He would not take money so I brought him a trunk full of food. delivered at P. Massage house.  There were a bunch of people there packing food to be handed out today I think.

I didn't see this. I only saw the donation at a temple. Which part of the moat is this?

[THAIJAMES]

On 4/24/2020 at 9:57 PM, EricTh said:

I didn't see this. I only saw the donation at a temple. Which part of the moat is this?

P. Massage is not on the moat they are near the night bazar you can look them up on google maps.  As to where they actually gave out the food, I am not sure what part of the moat it is I guess just follow the video.  A friend did say near the Chinese Consulate.

[3NUMBAS]

On 4/17/2020 at 4:38 AM, RJRS1301 said:

Surely this is where the armed services with mobile kitchens, personnel, transport and logistics should be in each major town and city across the country?

 

Also setting up testing stations with the food distribution

salvation army dishes out food in the west ,it never reached lOS