18 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

 

The Shin family has always put personal advantages and enrichment to the fore when governing Thailand but Thaksin implemented a handful of worthwhile policies, such as universal healthcare from the amongst the ideas offered by his advisors.  Now the decent advisors have fled and his policy cupboard is bare leaving only free handouts, casinos and a disadvantageous oil and gas deal with his buddy Hun Sen.  Whoever get the casinos and the oil and gas done can potentially make a pile of cash on the side but nothing there for the hai people. 

Yes i think you are right !! thaskin was never for the Thai people only to feather his own nest !! yes the goverment at the time  implemented heathcare !! but look at it now, disarray !!! Thaskin and his clan are a spent force the young want change !! and once the old guard is gone Thailand will be better off.

11 hours ago, Luuk Chaai said:

 

Starting with my wife,,  and most of the locals here in the village  spit on the ground at any mention of the  Shins

can't say that I blame them

Interesting, I have been here for quite some time, and I don't think I have ever seen a Thai expressing dislike, distaste or in fact any emotion at all by spitting on the ground!

 

It (spitting in public) is regarded as extremely course,  "lo so" behaviour, it is also illegal and punishable with a fine of B2000!

 

Of course maybe your wife and most of the locals in the village are different...

 

 

4 hours ago, billd766 said:

What a pity that you failed to mention the respect got for meddling in Thai politics once again.

 

I really hope for Thailand's sake that there will be no more illegal military coups led by generals who truly believe that they know better than the voters.

 

I have another (but forlorn hope) that in the event of yet another military coup that all the officers involved in the coup are punished and that the generals leading the coup are publicly executed for treason against the state and the freely elected government.

 

Now that would be a first.

If only the population of Thailand got off their lethargic arses and did something to evict a useless government [that they did not vote for] there would be no need for the military to get involved in politics.

However as history shows the public bend over and thank the government for what they are about to receive.

On 1/12/2025 at 4:37 PM, Patong2021 said:

The continued persecution of Yingluck is ridiculous and serves no purpose other than to distract from the  need for reform.  The reason so many still cling to the Thaksin clan is the mistaken belief that it has the power to take on the military cabal. The real evil are the powers who  back sock puppets like the PRN. This keeps the counry mired in unproductive feuds that block any real social progress. Nothing I can do about it. it's like trying to hold back the incoming tide at the beach.

You don't believe the ridiculous storing of rice and the consequent rotting of it was not an act of gross incompetence? 

21 hours ago, Denim said:

I find it strange that the mere mention of any of the Shinawatra clan sends some people into a frenzy of hatred and vitriol yet when there is a coup and the military prove to be just as corrupt they have nothing to say and go happily about their business.

 

I guess they have no hatred left except for when a new party with real reforms wins the election then once again they find the energy to run around like headless chickens.

The coups have not ushered in policies like the rice storage and pledge scheme or the licence to kill drug marshals with over 3000 resultant deaths of small time dealers and users. In fact, the decriminalisation of marijuana and all the happy shops that opened would not have occurred without a military coup. But you're right in one sense. People seem far more accepting of a coup than the return of the Shinawatra family to political leadership. Thaksin's appeal was never to the city folk but to farmers keen on financial handouts and the medical scheme (which proved to be a success).

6 hours ago, Spock said:

You don't believe the ridiculous storing of rice and the consequent rotting of it was not an act of gross incompetence? 

 

If you have been in Thailand for a few years, you will come to the sad realization that what westerners see as  gross incompetence or malfeasance, is actually the way things are done.

 

I will illustrate; The city of Hua Hin is currently replacing sidewalks. Last night I watched the pouring of cement. It was a very watery mix with large amounts of water pooling on the surface. The cement depth is not particularly thick  and is poured on the sandy base with thin metal reinforcement lattice and I doubt that it will withstand the vehicles that will drive or park on the cement. The surface is uneven. IMO it will crack and fall apart within the next few years. It is highly unlikely that a municipal civil engineer in any north Asian or western city would have allowed this, but this is the way it is done in Thailand. Some people will be proud of the  new build, while some westerners will call it  ncompetence etc.

 

In any case, it has nothing to do with us as non residents, and is none of our business. Foreigners should not be meddling in the internal politics of a nation where they are non citizens.

8 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

 

If you have been in Thailand for a few years, you will come to the sad realization that what westerners see as  gross incompetence or malfeasance, is actually the way things are done.

 

I will illustrate; The city of Hua Hin is currently replacing sidewalks. Last night I watched the pouring of cement. It was a very watery mix with large amounts of water pooling on the surface. The cement depth is not particularly thick  and is poured on the sandy base with thin metal reinforcement lattice and I doubt that it will withstand the vehicles that will drive or park on the cement. The surface is uneven. IMO it will crack and fall apart within the next few years. It is highly unlikely that a municipal civil engineer in any north Asian or western city would have allowed this, but this is the way it is done in Thailand. Some people will be proud of the  new build, while some westerners will call it  ncompetence etc.

 

In any case, it has nothing to do with us as non residents, and is none of our business. Foreigners should not be meddling in the internal politics of a nation where they are non citizens.

Quote:

In any case, it has nothing to do with us as non residents, and is none of our business. Foreigners should not be meddling in the internal politics of a nation where they are non citizens.

To point out, this is a Disscusion forum,  nobody is meddling in the internal politics of a nation !!!

I belive Thailand still has free speech !!

gross incompetence or malfeasance,  Is one of the major problems in Thailand,  People think this is normal !! Which it is Not ! that is one of the reasons Thailand is in the mess it is,

As for your  observations on replacing the sidewalk yes i agree the quality of workmanship in a lot of things Thais do needs to Improve

 

 

 

He was in control from the back room for her like his daughter now.She is the pm  and thaksim will sort out a return  so the sister will be safe if she does return.Maybe have to think about a health issue first so straight to hospital and cured quickly after the legal stuff

On 1/13/2025 at 4:08 PM, herfiehandbag said:

Interesting, I have been here for quite some time, and I don't think I have ever seen a Thai expressing dislike, distaste or in fact any emotion at all by spitting on the ground!

 

It (spitting in public) is regarded as extremely course,  "lo so" behaviour, it is also illegal and punishable with a fine of B2000!

 

Of course maybe your wife and most of the locals in the village are different...

 

 

they even make a sound like   "tooooooey"  when doing it