Those of you who have lived here 15 years or more, how do you compare it then and now? We now have an unelected PM, educated at a Military Academy, no experience at all in politics, but manages to stay in power for the last 7 years.

Will there ever be a democratically elected government in Thailand in the near future? How many expats came to live in Thailand in the 7 years leading up to the 2014 coup compared with the 7 years since?

How many expats have left Thailand for good since the coup compared to the 7 years before? Your thoughts.

After observing world wide politics and bureaucracy for 60 years, it is my opinion that every single person that seeks or seizes power and authority is the last person you want to have that authority. Inevitably every world leader is a hybrid of the school bully and the teacher's pet.  We didn't trust them as adolescents, why would we trust them now?

 

I pity anybody who thinks government exists for the benefit of society in general, or cares one iota for any specific individual.

 

 

I have been here through all of that. I know a lot more that left than have stayed though mainly because it was a lot easier to get good well paid work back then. Saying that, did more leave before this current schema or after I don't know as COVID has had quite an impact. I find, in Bangkok, that theres a core who have been here a long time, many more transients (not looking for full time long term employment) than before.

In regards the politics, its a lot more in your face now I find, but is that just the change in media and media accessibility? I dont know but I find in my own circle theres a lot who have had enough and are planning to venture to new fields (1st world mainly). I think development and prices have more affect on that than politics though. One thing I do notice with myself, I always had "hope" for Thailand changing in certain ways, no that "hope" is gone I feel, and that loss of hope is because of the politics and corruption.

 

 

10 minutes ago, Gsxrnz said:

After observing world wide politics and bureaucracy for 60 years, it is my opinion that every single person that seeks or seizes power and authority is the last person you want to have that authority. Inevitably every world leader is a hybrid of the school bully and the teacher's pet.  We didn't trust them as adolescents, why would we trust them now?

 

I pity anybody who thinks government exists for the benefit of society in general, or cares one iota for any specific individual.

 

 

That is a very good answer, I never looked at it that way.

43 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

How many expats came to live in Thailand in the 7 years leading up to the 2014 coup compared with the 7 years since?

How many expats have left Thailand for good since the coup compared to the 7 years before? Your thoughts.

I came in 2009, the governments don't make much difference to me.

I didn't vote back home, I can't vote here.

Who cares?

I have been visiting for over 30 yrs and living here for more than 20.  I do not think that Thailand will get to real democracy until the Thai public wake up and stop accepting second-rate politicians, nd realize that it is in their power to do something about this.  A Free Press and Free speech would be a start, but the ruling Elite know that thy dare not let this happen.   As long as there is no leader to lead the masses, then nothing will happen.

St Petersburg 1917 would be a good place to start, but Thailand does not have a Marx or Lenin to lead the uprising. 

 

Be thankful for what has improved:-

We can now make international phone calls at will, read uncensored news on the internet.  Taxis have meters that work, and it is possible to walk through customs at the airport without having your luggage searched.

10 minutes ago, MRToMRT said:

I have been here through all of that. I know a lot more that left than have stayed though mainly because it was a lot easier to get good well paid work back then. Saying that, did more leave before this current schema or after I don't know as COVID has had quite an impact. I find, in Bangkok, that theres a core who have been here a long time, many more transients (not looking for full time long term employment) than before.

In regards the politics, its a lot more in your face now I find, but is that just the change in media and media accessibility? I dont know but I find in my own circle theres a lot who have had enough and are planning to venture to new fields (1st world mainly). I think development and prices have more affect on that than politics though. One thing I do notice with myself, I always had "hope" for Thailand changing in certain ways, no that "hope" is gone I feel, and that loss of hope is because of the politics and corruption.

 

 

I do know that in the 2 or 3 years leading up to the pandemic that if you walked up or down Sukhumvit Road between Soi 3 and Asoke, you would see very few Westerners, day or night, which would tell you that government issues as well as it being harder to find well paid work have prevented many longstay tourists and expats coming to Thailand.

,

The only decent Thai politician I "know" is Abhisit. But it seems most Thais don't want a smart educated guy who is not (openly) corrupt.

I followed Thaksin since he started with politics and since he told the masses he is already rich and he doesn't need more money. And soon after that he was hiding his money in the names of his home employees. He called it an honest mistake. They should have thrown him into jail at that time!

I am happy the military kicked him out. Unfortunately they didn't arrest all those red-shirts.

 

I don't have much hope with Thai politics. People vote again and again for known corrupt politicians and then they are surprised when they have a corrupt government. Stupid!

 

Apart from that life was and is good in Thailand. Lots of things are different. And most of all we are different, we are 20 or x years older than "before". 

 

Don'know.. i'm here for the cheap gals and booze and oh yeah, the equal rights and recognition i get as a foreigner same as a Thai person... 

Before was definitely better.  No question about it.   15 years ago I was only 49

I haven’t voted in the UK for over 30 years after I finally realised that which ever party was in power it was irrelevant to most of my life.

 

At the time there was a date on the yearly calendar where the government would issue a revised budget. Historically this was announced on a Tuesday and people would gather round a radio to listen to the exchequer pronounce 2 pence on beer, 3 pence on 20 cigarettes and 5 pence on a bottle of spirits. Most listeners would complain. Then it would be announced that the tax free allowance would be increased by £100.

 

Result, I was 18 pence a year worse off. Then I realised if I was ever to be £100 a year worse off all I had to do was work 1 hour longer each week. Big deal. The real issues ( war / crime / health / housing / immigration / unemployment ) were all beyond my control and decided by civil servants. If I disagreed my efforts weren't going to change anything. Easier to look after myself and ignore the alleged ‘democracy’ being offered.

 

Same here in LoS, I can’t change anything so I make the best of it by forging my own path.

1 hour ago, MRToMRT said:

I have been here through all of that. I know a lot more that left than have stayed though mainly because it was a lot easier to get good well paid work back then.

Could you tell me how you know this MRToMRT ?... Because I can only access the Thailand Migration Report 2019--- with figures that are the very opposite to your statement. Or do you mean to quote that--  in your personal circle of friends more left then stayed. ?

 

Published on a regular basis since 2005, the Thailand Migration Report 2019

is the latest in a series produced by the UN Thailand Working Group on Migration,

which is chaired by IOM and brings together 16 UN agencies

1 hour ago, possum1931 said:

I do know that in the 2 or 3 years leading up to the pandemic that if you walked up or down Sukhumvit Road between Soi 3 and Asoke, you would see very few Westerners, day or night, which would tell you that government issues as well as it being harder to find well paid work have prevented many longstay tourists and expats coming to Thailand.

,

This trends started already at the end of last century. During the economy crisis, plenty of workers on full expat packages were given the choice between accepting a salary in local currency without anymore all the trimmings and/or leaving.

Much less change than the before and after of Thaksin. Before Thaksin a free and easy place, once the 'Khong Raan Chin' came to power thinking he owned the country like he had acquired a company in a business takeover, things changed

1 hour ago, DaLa said:

I haven’t voted in the UK for over 30 years after I finally realised that which ever party was in power it was irrelevant to most of my life.

True, no matter who you vote for, the Government always gets in.

1 hour ago, sanuk711 said:

Could you tell me how you know this MRToMRT ?... Because I can only access the Thailand Migration Report 2019--- with figures that are the very opposite to your statement. Or do you mean to quote that--  in your personal circle of friends more left then stayed. ?

Yes, its  "I" know a lot more that have ...... not a statistical thing

2 hours ago, possum1931 said:

I do know that in the 2 or 3 years leading up to the pandemic that if you walked up or down Sukhumvit Road between Soi 3 and Asoke, you would see very few Westerners, day or night, which would tell you that government issues as well as it being harder to find well paid work have prevented many longstay tourists and expats coming to Thailand.

,

Really?

I live in that area. Before Covid we had (it seems) thousands of restaurants, bars, hotels, massage places, and and and in that area. Not all full but most of them full enough to make money. With Covid many of those places have closed. Even the McDonald corner Soi 5 is closed and Foodland Soi 5 has very few visitors.

Maybe the numbers were a little down pre Covid like from 100% to maybe 90%. But with Covid it's more like <10% of what it was. 

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Really?

I live in that area. Before Covid we had (it seems) thousands of restaurants, bars, hotels, massage places, and and and in that area. Not all full but most of them full enough to make money. With Covid many of those places have closed. Even the McDonald corner Soi 5 is closed and Foodland Soi 5 has very few visitors.

Maybe the numbers were a little down pre Covid like from 100% to maybe 90%. But with Covid it's more like <10% of what it was. 

Being a regular visitor to Bangkok and in that area, I have definitely noticed a lot less of white westerners there even before the pandemic.

23 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Being a regular visitor to Bangkok and in that area, I have definitely noticed a lot less of white westerners there even before the pandemic.

I live in lower Sukhumvit and have done for years and am seeing quite the opposite - seems many who could not qualify for LT visa are making the most of covid extensions. Also something I have not seen since 2005 - men in their 50's+ with women in their 20's in tow.

1 minute ago, mokwit said:

I live in lower Sukhumvit and have done for years and am seeing quite the opposite - seems many who could not qualify for LT visa are making the most of covid extensions. Also something I have not seen since 2005 - men in their 50's+ with women in their 20's in tow.

I was referring to the years leading up to the pandemic, I have not been in Bangkok since then.

11 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

After observing world wide politics and bureaucracy for 60 years, it is my opinion that every single person that seeks or seizes power and authority is the last person you want to have that authority. Inevitably every world leader is a hybrid of the school bully and the teacher's pet.  We didn't trust them as adolescents, why would we trust them now?

 

I pity anybody who thinks government exists for the benefit of society in general, or cares one iota for any specific individual.

 

 

Same as it ever was.

The clubs exist the world over, historically. 

And not much difference between 'em.

9 hours ago, mokwit said:

Much less change than the before and after of Thaksin. Before Thaksin a free and easy place, once the 'Khong Raan Chin' came to power thinking he owned the country like he had acquired a company in a business takeover, things changed

Spot on. ????

Like trying to compare chalk to cheese....????????????

20 hours ago, mokwit said:

I live in lower Sukhumvit and have done for years and am seeing quite the opposite - seems many who could not qualify for LT visa are making the most of covid extensions. Also something I have not seen since 2005 - men in their 50's+ with women in their 20's in tow.

That would be old farts in their 70’s with women in their teens....????????????????

Are you just talking politics here?

Or practical everyday living?

 

 

16 years ago I lived like a millionaire due to the exchange rate nowadays I have had to tighten my belt a little but I’m still comfortable the sad thing is from an outsiders view Thailand has gone a step back the coup did nothing to give the people a better living standard as most are in debt up to there eyeballs 

In another life, when I  was working in a government related agency, I  had to meet, and deal with   numerous politicians, from all   sides of the political spectrum.     I only  ever came across one  who appeared   honest, and had taken  that career to actually help  people.  In fact two of my work associates (certainly not friends)   stood for, and were elected to parliament.    Both were loudmouthed twits, but boy, could they talk, and talk, and talk.  Neither had the slightest interest  in   working for the people or the community, but the pay and perks  they would receive.     Fortunately, one   was  booted out at the  next election, the other hung on for 2 terms, thus getting a  substantial pension for life..

As for Thailand, I live in  hope that the younger generation, with their now access to   the internet are  seeing  what life  could be under a system that is fair and equal,  however,  getting rid of the corruption mindset that exists is going to take a very long time, I fear.. As much as I loathe the way this, and past governments here, have treated  their own country, I have hope for the Thai people in general, in the main   they  are   good and decent, you  come across the stupid and  ignorant in every country.

Been here since the unelected Prem was in power. Since then I've seen a number of elected governments and a number of coups. The main changes to normal Thai life over that period have been the same ones that most countries have gone through - technological, particularly in mobile connectivity and personal transport.

 

The two biggest things that personally affected many expat and tourist Westerners (positively and negatively) were:

The elected dinosaur government of Chavalit's aiding of the 1997 financial crisis, and the huge depreciation of the Baht that went with it.

 

The first Thaksin government's enforcing the 90 day report law (it was always on the books, but never seriously enforced up to then), its introduction of midnight closing for "entertainment venues", and its cracking down on visa runs and frequent tourist visitors.

 

In short, it's not for me to say how Thailand should be run, it's for the Thai people. However, they seem to becoming increasingly wary of protesting to remove unelected or undemocratic (which isn't always the same as unelected) regimes, as in the end they are the ones who are killed or "disappeared" while the same fat cats they were protesting about pop up again and again at the trough.

I've lived in Thailand for 22 years.

 

The governmental system doesn't bother me much. I haven't seen any advantage for the average Thai whether they have a democratically elected government or one which gained control by force or some other way. Both types seem to mainly be out to better themselves and only do what is necessary to keep the general public under control. This is no different than any other country I know of, including my home country, the USA.

 

The answer to most of your other questions depends a lot on why you've chosen to live in Thailand. That answer, for me, is to live peacefully on my own terms and within my means, and to be able to limit my contact with greedy, narcissistic people. Because of this, I would not like to see an increase in the influx of tourists or more foreign residents be they Asian or "Farangs."

So, whatever events occur that limit that, be it a coup or COVID-19, is fine with me.

A lot of people talk the talk but don't walk the walk

I have committed myself to Thailand have a family here so nothing to return to in back in the UK

You make your bed and lie in it and remain positive on the future ????

No matter what they throw at you