Which Party Is Farang Friendly?

[freitag1]

I didn't have the time to do any research but promised my girl to ask around over here. So which party is the most farang friendly one?

[SpacemanSpliff]

I didn't have the time to do any research but promised my girl to ask around over here. So which party is the most farang friendly one?

suppose you mean: "friendly to foreign residents of Thailand" right? Or specifically "Westerners"? Or "Foreigners wherever they may be including tourists"?

In any case I don't think any party is particularly friendly (or particularly unfriendly) towards foreign residents.. Heck, most political parties don't have much of a thought out program other than cater to their regional base.. But occasionally someone in some party says something that you could explain to be foreigner-friendly, but I don't think there's one party that actually has a defined policy as such.

Usually the angle is not so much to be friendly for the sake of friendlyness, but rather someone goes "You know what, if foreigners could own a limited amount of land, it would bring a lot of money in to the country and help the economy.", i.e. a sudden zap of common sense. But it's not even official party policy, let alone being passed into law, it's just one politician thinking out loud, and/or wanting to sell his land to foreigners and get richer.

But then even foreigners don't agree on what's foreigner friendly... I mean some just want the bars open 24/7 and that's it. Others are tourists and would like to visit national parks for a fair price. Others who want to do business in Thailand may have other desires.

Edited December 21, 2007 by SpacemanSpliff

[OlRedEyes]

For any party to be non-xenophobic the education system and culture has first to be revamped AND the effects have to filter through to the productive (lol) population. That'll take at least a coupla generations. Don't hold your breath.

Edited December 21, 2007 by OlRedEyes

[mikethevigoman]

I didn't have the time to do any research but promised my girl to ask around over here. So which party is the most farang friendly one?

Mine, new years eve ,jenny star bar ,see you there !

[jackr]

For any party to be non-xenophobic the education system and culture has first to be revamped AND the effects have to filter through to the productive (lol) population. That'll take at least a coupla generations. Don't hold your breath.

And they don't want that do they; they'd rather keep the masses stooopit and manipulable.

[david96]

I didn't have the time to do any research but promised my girl to ask around over here. So which party is the most farang friendly one?

suppose you mean: "friendly to foreign residents of Thailand" right? Or specifically "Westerners"? Or "Foreigners wherever they may be including tourists"?

In any case I don't think any party is particularly friendly (or particularly unfriendly) towards foreign residents.. Heck, most political parties don't have much of a thought out program other than cater to their regional base.. But occasionally someone in some party says something that you could explain to be foreigner-friendly, but I don't think there's one party that actually has a defined policy as such.

Usually the angle is not so much to be friendly for the sake of friendlyness, but rather someone goes "You know what, if foreigners could own a limited amount of land, it would bring a lot of money in to the country and help the economy.", i.e. a sudden zap of common sense. But it's not even official party policy, let alone being passed into law, it's just one politician thinking out loud, and/or wanting to sell his land to foreigners and get richer.

But then even foreigners don't agree on what's foreigner friendly... I mean some just want the bars open 24/7 and that's it. Others are tourists and would like to visit national parks for a fair price. Others who want to do business in Thailand may have other desires.

Foreigners are not Thai citizens so do not vote, you could ask if any party is pro western more than another.

[nomadspike]

personally i prefer the dudesweet parties. good mix, good music.

[JimsKnight]

Going off the five years or so of Toxins government I would say if one of the left-leaning democrat parties gets in then it will be back to the good times for foreigners.

Typically left-wing or center-left governments tend to encourage immigrants and foreigners more than their counterparts. Also big spending on public works (ie megaprojects) is a hallmark, they also tend to relax morality laws and meddle less with personal freedoms (which Toxin's government tended to with stupid gas station hours, tough closing hours etc etc).

However if the PPP get in (toxins descendant party) then I expect it will be worse for foreigners not better.

[Jingthing]

However if the PPP get in (toxins descendant party) then I expect it will be worse for foreigners not better.

Perhaps this is true, as I think the Thai perception is that farangs are mostly anti-Thaksinista, and I think they are correct.

Edited December 21, 2007 by Jingthing

[SpacemanSpliff]

However if the PPP get in (toxins descendant party) then I expect it will be worse for foreigners not better.

Perhaps this is true, as I think the Thai perception is that farangs are mostly anti-Thaksinista, and I think they are correct.

Well, I'm not.

In general I think it's better not to discuss politics with strangers, but possibly stick to undisputed facts.

Like a taxi driver asks if I like Thaksin.. Now never actually LIKED him, but I don't feel like having a serious discussion so I just reply something like "He's done great things for the economy, and for common people.", which I do think is true. Of course seconds later I'm the taxi driver's best friend. ))

Or when people ask "What do you think about the situation in the Deep South" I say "People who kill innocent children, and monks, will suffer in hel_l."... See..

So I guess I save my actual and well thought out opinions for you guys. Does that make you all feel lucky? Well, do you?

But anyway, I have business interests in Thailand so I obviously liked TRT for their economic policies.. But bar stool dwellers who just want the bars open and a steady meth-fuelled supply of crazy 18 year olds would most likely disagree.

[Jingthing]

Spaceman,

It is the overall perception that Thai's have. Your anecdotal stories about talks with taxi drivers mean nada. For example, the USA criticisms of the extra-judicial yaba-related killings done by Thaksin. There was a survey done here that showed the same thing: most farangs are indeed anti-Thaksin. That is not the same thing as being pro-coup. Also, the survey done here shows most farangs favor a democratic party victory here in this current "election".

Edited December 21, 2007 by Jingthing

[JimsKnight]

However if the PPP get in (toxins descendant party) then I expect it will be worse for foreigners not better.

Perhaps this is true, as I think the Thai perception is that farangs are mostly anti-Thaksinista, and I think they are correct.

Well, I'm not.

In general I think it's better not to discuss politics with strangers, but possibly stick to undisputed facts.

Like a taxi driver asks if I like Thaksin.. Now never actually LIKED him, but I don't feel like having a serious discussion so I just reply something like "He's done great things for the economy, and for common people.", which I do think is true. Of course seconds later I'm the taxi driver's best friend. ))

Or when people ask "What do you think about the situation in the Deep South" I say "People who kill innocent children, and monks, will suffer in hel_l."... See..

So I guess I save my actual and well thought out opinions for you guys. Does that make you all feel lucky? Well, do you?

But anyway, I have business interests in Thailand so I obviously liked TRT for their economic policies.. But bar stool dwellers who just want the bars open and a steady meth-fuelled supply of crazy 18 year olds would most likely disagree.

95% of expats and tourists are bar stool dwellers, including yours truly. When I feel like going out for a drink (like most expats) I go out for a drink. Those that don't tend to living in the villages.

I can't put my finger on a single expat lusting after meth-fuelled crazy 18 year olds though, thats a new one on me bub.

Must be a craze in the US you've bundled into LOS somehow ?

[PhilHarries]

Those that don't tend to living in the villages.

Or are sitting pontificating from their high horses whist their 18 year old Isaan wife gets them another bottle of Chang.

[ClaytonSeymour]

However if the PPP get in (toxins descendant party) then I expect it will be worse for foreigners not better.

Perhaps this is true, as I think the Thai perception is that farangs are mostly anti-Thaksinista, and I think they are correct. Not if they're Manchester City supporters.

[apetley]

I asked my wife to ask the local politicians when they came around asking/buying votes if they wanted to make life easier for farangs who were married to Thais and living in Thailand. Specifically border runs every 90 days and easier PR.

Total lack of interest

[Jingthing]

Total lack of interest

No surprise at all.

The more relevant question is probably which party is least likely and which is most likely to favor another anti-farang BACKLASH. I am worried about PPP.

[tijnebijn]

Total lack of interest

No surprise at all.

The more relevant question is probably which party is least likely and which is most likely to favor another anti-farang BACKLASH. I am worried about PPP.

they will not last long anyway ....

[Jimjim]

I've heard when Democrats were in power they seemed fairly farang friendly, or at least not xenophobic, but I don't have much evidence to back up this assertion.

[chevykanteve]

Going off the five years or so of Toxins government I would say if one of the left-leaning democrat parties gets in then it will be back to the good times for foreigners.

Typically left-wing or center-left governments tend to encourage immigrants and foreigners more than their counterparts. Also big spending on public works (ie megaprojects) is a hallmark, they also tend to relax morality laws and meddle less with personal freedoms (which Toxin's government tended to with stupid gas station hours, tough closing hours etc etc).

However if the PPP get in (toxins descendant party) then I expect it will be worse for foreigners not better.

Worse how?

[Jingthing]

Worse how?

Who knows? Imagine.

[freitag1]

So which party is considered a left wing party?

[freitag1]

Ok I read some stuff myself. The vote goes to the democrat party

[chevykanteve]

Ok I read some stuff myself. The vote goes to the democrat party

You mean, as a left-wing party? A non-conservative party?

[disgruntled]

I think the Farang People's Party or the Farang Rak Thai party are probably the most friendly to us foreigners. You might ask someone like Bill Heinecke the owner of Pizza Hut who he supports; he looks like a foreigner. I think there's a small party out of Khao San Road too. Falung Bong Party is the name if I remember correctly.

[kopite]

I've heard when Democrats were in power they seemed fairly farang friendly, or at least not xenophobic, but I don't have much evidence to back up this assertion.

SPLITTER!!!!

[Ricardo]

Clearly the PPP are the most farang-friendly, since they want/demand 45 million tourists a year, rather than the current 15 (or so) million ? Although I would foresee a few extra delays at Swampy-Boom resulting from this.