2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Why are some people dissing the billionaires? This mess is not their fault. Do not assume that I think that the billionaires are zippidy doo, altruistic, nice types but the current leaders are at fault here not the billionaires.

A true leader leads by example, not by sending out begging letters and blaming non-politicians for not coming to his rescue. The leaders are not poor, they just have unexplained wealth.

A classic case of blame deflection.

 

Yes! Blame deflection.

 

As I wrote in another thread on 18 April when this letter was announced:

 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1160149-prayut-appeals-to-the-20-richest-thais-for-help/page/7/?tab=comments#comment-15309047

"The Government is acutely aware that civil unrest is brewing and it is this above all else that they must control. They probably realise that mistakes have been made, that they are losing the battle and that all the public ire is being directed against them.

 

This appeal for money from those who control the economy (and more) is both a way to raise funds and a way to spread the burden of blame. It could be a clever move; or it could be an indication of desperation. I sense a change of leadership is in the offing."

This was just a stupid PR exercise from the very outset.

Thai pockets have a one-way, non-return valve.

Money comes in, stays in and never goes out to the Thai public again.

The largely stolen or misappropriated billions are destined to mostly be spent abroad anyway.

does not surprise me, fat cats helping the rich here. on the other hand you have many expats stepping up to plate

Edited April 29, 20206 yr by malibukid

4 hours ago, Don Mega said:

Speaking of millionaires, I  wonder how much Prayut donated from his personal wealth !!

If they did donate it would probably be all over the news and facebook.
People don't seem to donate without getting credit for it.

Edited April 29, 20206 yr by monkfish

First he embarrasses himself by asking, then he embarrasses the 20 people by saying they never contributed financially.

 

Only the top 20 people, mind you, as number 21 and above are all senators with double pay and government ministers. One wonders what they contributed, financially.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai PM says no billionaires offered financial help to Government

I have been repeating/saying it for the past month or so.....hope the government will remember when they will come knock at the door for help

In a well-run society an example could always be made of one, to encourage the others.

Just now, mfd101 said:

In a well-run society an example could always be made of one, to encourage the others.

unfortunately, here, we are talking about Thailand and the "" well-run society"" doesn't apply

Since when does anyone regardless of how much money they have have to donate it to the government

I would take that personally Mr PM even billionaires dont like you????

6 minutes ago, Mike k said:

Since when does anyone regardless of how much money they have have to donate it to the government

in most democratic countries, nobody has to do anything that they don't want to, however there is a common sense and

don't ignore or never bite the hand that feeds you

1 hour ago, thaiboss said:

NO NEED TO COMMENTS ON THIS ........ THAI WAY let it be as it is..... farang you not in the game here

If I am not in the game here will YOU support my Thai family they way I do, plus we are supporting another Thai family who are not related to us as well.

 

Sure as <deleted> the government won't?

36 minutes ago, Scott Tracy said:

First he embarrasses himself by asking, then he embarrasses the 20 people by saying they never contributed financially.

 

Only the top 20 people, mind you, as number 21 and above are all senators with double pay and government ministers. One wonders what they contributed, financially.

 

From Forbes 50 richest Thais.

 

#16 probably didn't get a letter.

 

https://www.forbes.com/thailand-billionaires/list/#tab:overall

7 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

There are a few billionaire Thai MP's.

 

How come they didn't donate?

 

Is this PM working with no salary to help out?

 

How about that guy with all the watches?

 

Seems it is everyone else's job to help out except the politicians.

 

If you look around the world, entertainers, sports people, wealthy business people, have all made charitable donations. None gave contributions to their governments to spend wisely.

 

Also, no politicians have made donations, taken salary cuts or given up the beneficial remuneration packages.

 

Says a lot about politicians.

8 hours ago, Davo369 said:

In life what goes around comes around.. and i just hope that 

 in there new life they come back as lady boys.

 

I feel sure there are some wealthy ladyboys around , just that I only know one who is skint.

Whatever you give to the governement - 80% will be imediately wasted. 

 

Wealthy people know this and if they choose to help, which many do by the way, they would do it directly and independently or through someone they trust.   

In other news, my Thai MIL has been told not to bother coming to the local govt. office in C Mai on Friday 1st May to collect her monthly 500 baht old-age payment, as they are again 'keeping it for Covid-19 patients.' A lousy 500 baht and that is four months now that they have withheld it - she is over 70 y.o. and ill. If it was not for her farang son-in-law, she'd be dead by now. Just what the thousands of other poor Thais who have had no income whatsoever now for months are to do is anyones' guess. As for the greedy, selfish, Thai billionaires - ha ha ha what did you seriously expect them to do mate - they are Thai ! Maybe you could cancel a submarine or two, or stop supporting an airline not worth saving ? Just an idea. Call it a thought bubble. Hmm.

18 hours ago, smedly said:

the Thaksin redshirt PT mob are no better - all they want is access to the big money trough to enrich themselves 

 

Sadly , this description fits all politicians of all parties and is not unique to Thailand or just Asia.. Even Future Forward attracted its fair share of carpet baggers and dishonest members as various news articles testify.  The yellowshirt leader Sondhi Limongkul acknowledged that the Thai civil service is riddled with corrupt officials who will ' do their thing ' regardless of who is at the helm. Overcoming political corruption is like trying to fill a coarse sieve with very fine sand , an endless endeavor.

 

However , the democratic process , no matter how flawed , will always be better than an oligarchy because there is greater transparency , accountability and a chance to change things at the ballot box. Supporting a coup , merely because your own horse can't win , or you despise the winner , can never be justified.

 

The result of overthrowing a flawed democratic government in favor of an unaccountable sham military government is now plain to see even for people who previously believed that any change at all could only be for the better. This point of view has manifestly been proved wrong.

maybe he did not offer them anything also ? how crazy he must be ????

 

 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1161529-thai-billionaires-dip-into-deep-pockets-to-fight-covid-19/

Why on Earth would billionaires, millionaires, or ANYONE give money to the current kleptocracy?  

 

I cannot blame the billionaires for keeping their distance.

Edited April 29, 20206 yr by LarryLEB

MAybe put an add up: for sale some submarines, almost brand new.

Fact is rich people are another type of humans, they only care about themselves.

This is potentially very misleading. Offering help to people in need, and competent organizations is a completely different thing, than offering help to this incompetent government, which very few people trust to do the right thing. 

11 hours ago, ezzra said:

Dear PM, remember that when comes the time for a renewal of the many government's concessions to be awarded to many of those fat cats billionaires who made their fortune from...  

Surley you jest!!!!

2 hours ago, Denim said:

However , the democratic process , no matter how flawed , will always be better than an oligarchy because there is greater transparency , accountability and a chance to change things at the ballot box. Supporting a coup , merely because your own horse can't win , or you despise the winner , can never be justified.

Excellent point, there are really only two or three functioning Democracies in all of Asia (Taiwan, Japan and S. Korea), the other countries may nominally be democracies but in reality one party controls everything. The best model I believe is Singapore's Benevolent Dictator Model. They may complain about press freedom and such - but the country is first rate in nearly every respect, which is why it has a thriving economy. Sadly that model only works if the guy at the top has the best intentions - which are sorely absent in most countries, especially Thailand.

I would not either; wise billionaires. 

11 hours ago, connda said:

Because they are not part of the solution unless the solution entails making them magnitudes wealthier and the rest of the population magnitudes poorer.  The era we live in is progressively becoming neo-feudalism.  How many hundreds of billions do a handful of creeps need when the masses can't get any relief at all.  Why diss them?  Most are no longer human.  Just human-shaped vessels totally consumed by greed.

They are not the problem either, despite how much the media might like people to believe. If not human, then what are they? How many billionaires do you know to make this assessment of their character? 

Thainess !

6 hours ago, Denim said:

 

Sadly , this description fits all politicians of all parties and is not unique to Thailand or just Asia.. Even Future Forward attracted its fair share of carpet baggers and dishonest members as various news articles testify.  The yellowshirt leader Sondhi Limongkul acknowledged that the Thai civil service is riddled with corrupt officials who will ' do their thing ' regardless of who is at the helm. Overcoming political corruption is like trying to fill a coarse sieve with very fine sand , an endless endeavor.

 

However , the democratic process , no matter how flawed , will always be better than an oligarchy because there is greater transparency , accountability and a chance to change things at the ballot box. Supporting a coup , merely because your own horse can't win , or you despise the winner , can never be justified.

 

The result of overthrowing a flawed democratic government in favor of an unaccountable sham military government is now plain to see even for people who previously believed that any change at all could only be for the better. This point of view has manifestly been proved wrong.

Excellent post.

 

Coup supporters here should take note.

6 hours ago, Denim said:

 

Sadly , this description fits all politicians of all parties and is not unique to Thailand or just Asia.. Even Future Forward attracted its fair share of carpet baggers and dishonest members as various news articles testify.  The yellowshirt leader Sondhi Limongkul acknowledged that the Thai civil service is riddled with corrupt officials who will ' do their thing ' regardless of who is at the helm. Overcoming political corruption is like trying to fill a coarse sieve with very fine sand , an endless endeavor.

 

However , the democratic process , no matter how flawed , will always be better than an oligarchy because there is greater transparency , accountability and a chance to change things at the ballot box. Supporting a coup , merely because your own horse can't win , or you despise the winner , can never be justified.

 

The result of overthrowing a flawed democratic government in favor of an unaccountable sham military government is now plain to see even for people who previously believed that any change at all could only be for the better. This point of view has manifestly been proved wrong.

how many times has the military overthrown the democratically elected govt