On 8/13/2021 at 12:14 PM, Tanomazu said:

Well, that's the thing, no politician will ever represent the interests of non-Thais. Since you're not fully part of Thailand's body politic you have no voice, no influence. You don't matter in the big scheme of things. And you can have no political power or influence.

Tell that to the Chinese and lobbyists. Or the owners of lower sukhumvit. Everything is for sale at the right price. 

45 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Tell that to the Chinese and lobbyists. Or the owners of lower sukhumvit. Everything is for sale at the right price. 

Obviously I meant without paying bribes, but yah, that's the only viable option otherwise.

1 minute ago, Tanomazu said:

Obviously I meant without paying bribes, but yah, that's the only viable option otherwise.

How long you been around Thailand? Thais pay for every position they take in, just to become the village headman in a poor village can cost 500K baht, for 2-4 years only. That is why they misuse all the gov funds, to recoup it.

7 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

How long you been around Thailand? Thais pay for every position they take in, just to become the village headman in a poor village can cost 500K baht, for 2-4 years only. That is why they misuse all the gov funds, to recoup it.

I'm a law abiding citizen and would never consider paying bribes. I don't support corruption. So that is not something I would consider. I think most Thai people also do not pay bribes and do not support corruption, though granted it does happen.

5 minutes ago, Tanomazu said:

I'm a law abiding citizen and would never consider paying bribes. I don't support corruption. So that is not something I would consider. I think most Thai people also do not pay bribes and do not support corruption, though granted it does happen.

You think wrong then and should leave Thailand, as you indirectly support that living here. The only ones claiming to not support it, is those who temporary not benefit from it. I guess you are new in Thailand.

 

Ask any student if he supports corruption, answers is no i hate it. To then bribe the cops at night driving drunk home, and to then enjoy the free rounds from his richer friend, who got money from his corrupt parents.

2 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

You think wrong then and should leave Thailand, as you indirectly support that living here. The only ones claiming to not support it, is those who temporary not benefit from it. I guess you are new in Thailand.

15 yrs and the only bribe I have paid is a bottle of Johnny to a cop who helped me. I would have done the same in my home country...

1 minute ago, mikebike said:

15 yrs and the only bribe I have paid is a bottle of Johnny to a cop who helped me. I would have done the same in my home country...

The only bribe you paid directly, correct. Perhaps read again to understand it.

26 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

The only bribe you paid directly, correct. Perhaps read again to understand it.

I understood your post just fine. Didn't think the conspiracy part was worth addressing.

7 hours ago, mikebike said:

I understood your post just fine. Didn't think the conspiracy part was worth addressing.

Are you trying to say corruption is not rampant in Thailand?? 

 

18 hours ago, BritManToo said:

And in that entire 20 years they couldn't pass the FDA approval process.

I believe (though I may be wrong) it was a blood clotting problem that had them fail the approval process.

I guess this anti vax argument will be gone shortly. Luckily.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/20/us/politics/fda-pfizer-covid-vaccine-full-approval.html

I think the Thais will soon tire of being even poorer than before, that and the funerary pall that the little green men bring to the sense of "kwaam sanuk" that made Thailand famous in the first place.

 

These military mates can only stick it to the golden goose so many times before the people with the aid of technology wise up and rise up.

 

One thing I have noticed, these guys act all tuff n stuff, until any one thing reaches a level Thais won't wear, then they quickly reverse course and back down! The sudden reversal of the decree against riding in the back of trucks, as sensible as it was, comes to mind. l

 

I was surprised how the court struck down the latest attempt to curb free speech, these guys are big on strutting about like bantams, but the reality is, with an army of increasingly resentful conscripts with access to exiled media, the status quo is very fragile, and it won't take much to see them off. Especially now a hiso has been severely injured in a protest, it's going to get very interesting!

17 hours ago, mikebike said:

15 yrs and the only bribe I have paid is a bottle of Johnny to a cop who helped me. I would have done the same in my home country...

While I detest the establishment graft here, I too have been fortunate to encounter very reasonable treatment at the hands of the police. But as I never tire of saying to the ether, it helps IMO if one conducts oneself with a little decorum, and show deference, but no wais! I sense they resent farang wais as a blatant sucky-suck thing, besides, there's a complex protocol to it and most farangs look like idiots trying.

 

Also, and this cannot be stressed enough, if you get about in a singlet and rubber slippers, you may be letting us all know what a renegade homie you are in Blacktown or Blackpool, but the world over, you look like trash, and you'll be treated that way by the BiB. 

 

The secret here is knowing appearances are everything, like it or not. And it does affect your treatment. My policeman's son plug also told me that tattoos are a flag for drug searches, whether or not you're Thai or not and whether or not you ever done them.

 

Scrub up, or wear the harassment.

Afghanistan seems like it might be a nice place to retire. 

3 hours ago, chalawaan said:

Also, and this cannot be stressed enough, if you get about in a singlet and rubber slippers, you may be letting us all know what a renegade homie you are in Blacktown or Blackpool, but the world over, you look like trash, and you'll be treated that way by the BiB. 

Safari suit, pith helmet and polished black army boots is the only way to go!

On 7/31/2021 at 7:03 PM, Broken Record said:

 No, I have lived here since 1990, I've got nowhere else to go.

adventure is good for the soul
moved to phuket in 1985
left this june for Kep, Cambodia

NEVER say you have nowhere else to go, there is always somewhere  ????

 

My question. Have you tried going on holiday somewhere else let alone live somewhere else? The grass is not always greener on the other side! When I get bored of my holidays to Thailand, I break it up with a visit to another new place. I still keep coming back and have not found that better place yet!

2 hours ago, hioctane said:

My question. Have you tried going on holiday somewhere else let alone live somewhere else? The grass is not always greener on the other side! When I get bored of my holidays to Thailand, I break it up with a visit to another new place. I still keep coming back and have not found that better place yet!

I visited Sri Lanka, Cyprus and Penang. None of them come close to being as good as LOS, IMO.

Well. as the UK has now  left the  EU,  retiring in Spain appears finished. Same with Malaysia, with recent changes to pension amount  and  cash in bank. Ditto Vietnam, closing the  visa loopholes.    It will only be a matter of time, probably once this Chinese  virus eases off, before this  sham of a government again turns the spotlight on farangs and figures out more ways to screw us or get rid of us

On a nother note, I was doing sum arithmetic, as to amount of money farangs actually keep lodged and bring into this country.    Assuming the publicly stated figures  of some 40,000 farangs, enrolling in Expatvac,assuming they are European, Amercian, British etc, is correct,  assume the average amount each has lodged for visa purposes in a bank  at 400,000 baht and further speculate that each spends 30,000 baht per month, being  cash bought into the country...Unless my calculator  is having a bad hair day,  when  multiplied,  I get a figure in the many, many billions of baht.      What would happen if it was all  moved out.. But wait those filthy   . and I use the term loosely,, rich Chinese and Indian tourists would pick up the slack,,wouldnt they??

On 8/13/2021 at 1:09 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

I would want to vote for a politician who is honest and competent and who does his best to work for all the people who live in the country. Now does have Thailand such a politician?

Does any country have a politician you would really support? Look at Xiden and Doris. No better than CO.

10 minutes ago, Henryford said:

Does any country have a politician you would really support? Look at Xiden and Doris. No better than CO.

Last western politician I had time for was in the late 1980s.

Last Thai politician I had time for was Abhisit Vejjajiva.

On 8/1/2021 at 10:56 AM, kynikoi said:

Millions of Thai in poverty, economy is trashed, democracy has left the room and not coming back

Substitute 'Brits' for 'Thai' and that seems to be exactly what brexit achieved. At the least the Thais didn't deliberately sabotage their economy.

1 hour ago, Henryford said:

Does any country have a politician you would really support?

NZ

10 minutes ago, xkkpafi said:

NZ

Ha ha crazy Jacinda head of Communist New China !!

21 hours ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

Afghanistan seems like it might be a nice place to retire. 

Maybe give it 20 years. 

2 hours ago, xkkpafi said:

Substitute 'Brits' for 'Thai' and that seems to be exactly what brexit achieved. At the least the Thais didn't deliberately sabotage their economy.

Overlooking that the corona virus struck at the same time, are we?

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Maybe give it 20 years. 

What makes you think they will stop being at war with each other so soon? They've been at it since the Russians invaded.

9 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

What makes you think they will stop being at war with each other so soon? They've been at it since the Russians invaded.

I said maybe. Maybe you missed that.

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

I said maybe. Maybe you missed that.

I took it as saying they MIGHT stop in 20 years, while I think it'll be going on longer, a lot longer. Had you said 40 or 50 years I would not have responded.

On 7/31/2021 at 7:07 AM, spidermike007 said:

I thought that too until recently. Don't know how much longer I care to tolerate their nonsense. 

What kind of non-sense? Yes it's semi-closed for a longtime and their vaccination roll up is screwed up. Besides that, I don't see any changes though I have left a week ago. For people who have family, it may be a tad difficult. 

Been back and forth here for about 6 years and I love Thailand but I have to admit, this time around is a different vibe.  I am not sure things will ever be the same again thanks to covid.  But hey, everywhere has its own bs.