I have been reading with alarm the stories of increased difficulty in obtaining visa's to enter Thailand. It seems the current regime is intent upon killing off long stay tourism, in favour of people who stay a few weeks or less. I think this strategy is based on xenophobia and ignorance, and is economically groundless, threatening to cutoff a source of foreign revenue that must surely support large numbers of people. But the point of this message is not to discuss the gross stupididty of the authorities, but to enquire as to whether marrying a Thai citizen would make it easy to obtain a non-immigrant type, long stay visa.

Assuming that multiple entry, or even single, 60 day tourist visa's will no longer be granted to people who are deemed to have been spending too long in Thailand on a succession of such visas, and similarly for the monthly border crossing to get 30 days, what alternatives are there?

I am thinking about marrying my Thai girlfriend, whom I have been together with for several years and would not want to be separated from. But I am worried that even after such an extreme move, the authorities will still just turn around and say no.

I do not, and never have, worked in Thailand or engaged in any activities of an even remotely illegal nature. All of my visa stamps have been genuine and legally obtained, and I have only ever overstayed once, for one day. I find this crackdown very depressing and unfair. It sounds like it could spell the end of a very happy period of my life.

I hope someone might have some ideas.

I could be wrong, and often am, but I think you may be misreading a reaction to the border controls and accountability in place in response to the international terrorism threat.  Just like in other countries, not all who suffer will be those intended.

If you marry you should have no trouble getting a multi entry non immigrant visa valid for a year either in your home country or Penang (and other) Consulates with just a copy of your marriage certificate and her id card.  This would allow 90 day stay before you need to make a border run/return.  If your wife or you can provide support in the amount of about 400k per year you could probably extend your stay yearly and avoid the visa and border runs completely.