After Living In Thailand, Are You More Or Less Liberal (or Conservative)?

[Lopburi99]

For me, it is mixed. On social matters I am more liberal, I think because of the "live and let live" attitude here which I admire, e.g. the social acceptance of katoye, gays, and others into all aspects of Thai society plus the Thai cordiality and peaceful (usually) nature. On financial matters, I am more conservative, I believe because my income is much lower now and I need to be be careful with my money. Also, since the USD/baht conversion rate is so important I am more conscious of economics worldwide and have become more conservative about monetary policies. Politically, I am either more liberal or more conservative depending on the issue. For law and order issues I am much more conservative I think because of the weak "rule of law" here, the corruption and cronyism, and because of the floundering system of government. For social improvement issues, I am more liberal than I ever have been but am still far from being labeled a liberal in general. All as a result of living here for a few years.

How about you?

Edited June 8, 2009 by Lopburi99

[Texpat]

Being more exposed to liberals recently than at any other period in my life, I find myself becoming more conservative since moving here.

I've always been pretty unaffected by the liberal, namby-pamby, tree-hugging, pacifist, wingnuts. I'm only now learing how insidious and pathetic they really are.

Edited June 8, 2009 by Texpat

[Jingthing]

No change. I also feel I don't follow a strict ideological line, it is issue by issue.

[jumnien]

I used to have the typical US liberal attitude that liberals were good and right and conservatives were bad and wrong. After 12 years in Thailand I've adopted the viewpoint that 95% of either liberals or conservatives are power-mad greedy bastards and best to stay as far away from them as possible.

[Gary A]

I have problems with people who think that the world owes them a living. It appears to me that too many people are socialists and of course those leeches expect the working people should share their wealth. Maggie Thatcher once said that socialism is a great system until the people with money run out of money. Put me firmly in the conservative side.

[deprogrammed]

Political atheist

[Lopburi99]

I used to have the typical US liberal attitude that liberals were good and right and conservatives were bad and wrong. After 12 years in Thailand I've adopted the viewpoint that 95% of either liberals or conservatives are power-mad greedy bastards and best to stay as far away from them as possible.

[MrHammer]

I've turned into an anarcho-capitalistic libertarian. I guess it comes from not paying taxes anymore and not missing the nanny state.

[TAWP]

See title. Still the same. Nothing here could affect that view.

[tb86]

Being more exposed to liberals recently than at any other period in my life, I find myself becoming more conservative since moving here.

I've always been pretty unaffected my the liberal, namby-pamby, tree-hugging, pacifist, wingnuts. I'm only now learing how insidious and pathetic they really are.

I would say that in the last two years here I have moved from mildly conservative to right wing ultra conservative, while I dont have a single incident to blame this shift on, I think its a matter of multiple outside factors and my current social ties.... But on the otherhand as far as financial I am much more liberal than in the west. I feel its not as expensive to take risks here, well not exactly true but for service / labor based projects its much less scary than the us...my two cents

[tb86]

Edited June 8, 2009 by tb86

[Ulysses G.]

I used to have the typical US liberal attitude that liberals were good and right and conservatives were bad and wrong. After 12 years in Thailand I've adopted the viewpoint that 95% of either liberals or conservatives are power-mad greedy bastards and best to stay as far away from them as possible.

Me too. I do have a lot more respect for "good" conservatives (John McCain) than I used to.

[garro]

I don't class myself as anything really but most right-wingers would probably class me as a 'liberal'. I would say that my outlook hasn't really changed since living in Thailand. I have always tried to avoid people with extreme conservative views as the tend to hold these in tandem with lots of barely under the surface racist and bigoted views; usually not the most healthy people to be around. I would say that there are far more of these people in Thailand than anywhere else I have lived. I am not sure why that is. I had hoped with the election of Obama in the states it would mean a move away from the right, but the rise of power of the BNP in Britain is a bit worrying.

[F1fanatic]

It depends on what you mean by liberal or conservative.

Generally liberal means live and let live and try to understand (and accept) those around you with different views. Conservative on the other hand (IMO) means 'put our own, and money', first.

But its clear from many of the replies that others think differently (I think!).

On this understanding Thailand is v conservative in some ways, and liberal in others.

[SoiGirlHunter]

If you were not a liberal under the age of 30 you had no heart, if you were not a conservative over the age of 30 you had no brain

-Winston Churchill

[Lopburi99]

I don't class myself as anything really but most right-wingers would probably class me as a 'liberal'. I would say that my outlook hasn't really changed since living in Thailand. I have always tried to avoid people with extreme conservative views as the tend to hold these in tandem with lots of barely under the surface racist and bigoted views; usually not the most healthy people to be around. I would say that there are far more of these people in Thailand than anywhere else I have lived. I am not sure why that is. I had hoped with the election of Obama in the states it would mean a move away from the right, but the rise of power of the BNP in Britain is a bit worrying.

The election of Obama is positively a major move away from the right, and it becomes far more potent with the Democratic control of both houses of Congress and the Republican party being in disarray. The trillion dollar stimulus bill (including the 8000 pork giveaways) is about as left as a government can be. And now with the Supreme Court on its way to being more liberal, the pendulum has swung from right to left with great momentum. Unless somehow Obama screws up, he will surely be president for 7.5 more years and will have immense power. It will be incredibly interesting to look back on the Obama presidency 8 years from now and examine it's legacy. Personally I believe America will never be the same - whether for the better or worse remains to be seen, and debated.

Edited June 8, 2009 by Lopburi99

[sanmiguellight]

but the rise of power of the BNP in Britain is a bit worrying.

Apart from immigration policy the BNP are what could be described as common sense socialists, the thought of the LIB/LAB/CON regime running the country from now until eternity is more worrying, but keep on believing everything you read in the papers.

As people get older its natural to become more conservative, as the saying goes a young person who votes conservative doesnt have a heart, yet a older person who votes for the liberals doesnt have a brain.

[garro]

but the rise of power of the BNP in Britain is a bit worrying.

Apart from immigration policy the BNP are what could be described as common sense socialists, the thought of the LIB/LAB/CON regime running the country from now until eternity is more worrying, but keep on believing everything you read in the papers.

As people get older its natural to become more conservative, as the saying goes a young person who votes conservative doesnt have a heart, yet a older person who votes for the liberals doesnt have a brain.

While it might be true that many older people become more conservative, my experience from working in a palliative care setting is that many revert to being liberal again on their deathbed.

[F1fanatic]

but the rise of power of the BNP in Britain is a bit worrying.

Apart from immigration policy the BNP are what could be described as common sense socialists, the thought of the LIB/LAB/CON regime running the country from now until eternity is more worrying, but keep on believing everything you read in the papers.

As people get older its natural to become more conservative, as the saying goes a young person who votes conservative doesnt have a heart, yet a older person who votes for the liberals doesnt have a brain.

The BNP is known for its immigration policy, and nothing else!

I haven't heard the latest news, but I gather they've got one seat. They got it on a racist policy but, let's face it - if they can only manage one seat it only goes to prove that only a small segment of British society is embarrassingly racist.

[Gary A]

After you reach retirement age, you realize that you are no longer productive. That means that you no longer worry about the young people paying ridiculous taxes to support the non productive people. You stand there with your hand out hoping the socialists are able to extract enough money from the people who still have money to give your social security a little boost.

[garro]

but the rise of power of the BNP in Britain is a bit worrying.

Apart from immigration policy the BNP are what could be described as common sense socialists, the thought of the LIB/LAB/CON regime running the country from now until eternity is more worrying, but keep on believing everything you read in the papers.

As people get older its natural to become more conservative, as the saying goes a young person who votes conservative doesnt have a heart, yet a older person who votes for the liberals doesnt have a brain.

When you say 'immigration policy', I take it you are referring to their 'white-power policy'.

[loong]

I couldn't say that I was in either camp 100% before and I'm not now.

I've always believed in capitalism, but I like the idea of a sensible labour movement to keep a balance. Total power either side is not good.

I wasn't happy when Tony Blair won the election and became Prime Minister, but I thought that it might not be too bad as New Labour did seem to have a conservative bent. How wrong was I!

I don't like the income disparity in Thailand. The gap between rich and poor is way too wide.

[noahvail]

I've gone from a slightly-left-leaning centrist to a slightly-right-leaning centrist on most things. But I'm still full-out liberal on child education and protection, and very conservative in my personal spending.

[loong]

but the rise of power of the BNP in Britain is a bit worrying.

Apart from immigration policy the BNP are what could be described as common sense socialists, the thought of the LIB/LAB/CON regime running the country from now until eternity is more worrying, but keep on believing everything you read in the papers.

As people get older its natural to become more conservative, as the saying goes a young person who votes conservative doesnt have a heart, yet a older person who votes for the liberals doesnt have a brain.

The BNP is known for its immigration policy, and nothing else!

I haven't heard the latest news, but I gather they've got one seat. They got it on a racist policy but, let's face it - if they can only manage one seat it only goes to prove that only a small segment of British society is embarrassingly racist.

People don't have to be racist to vote BNP. So many people are sick of bogus asylum seekers taking advantage of the system and receiving benefits that they have made no contribution to.

For a lot of people it was just a protest vote.

[F1fanatic]

After you reach retirement age, you realize that you are no longer productive. That means that you no longer worry about the young people paying ridiculous taxes to support the non productive people. You stand there with your hand out hoping the socialists are able to extract enough money from the people who still have money to give your social security a little boost.

You are joking!

The amount I paid in taxes and NI was way above anything needed to cover my pension!

I well and truly paid for my pension and I get seriously annoyed when anyone suggests that 'young people' are paying for it!!

Its a common misconception in my view that the working generation are paying for the pensions of the retired - THEY ARE NOT - retired people paid their own taxes and NI to cover their pensions.

If the government spent it on something else......well, that is not our fault!

[Lopburi99]

After you reach retirement age, you realize that you are no longer productive. That means that you no longer worry about the young people paying ridiculous taxes to support the non productive people. You stand there with your hand out hoping the socialists are able to extract enough money from the people who still have money to give your social security a little boost.

You are joking!

The amount I paid in taxes and NI was way above anything needed to cover my pension!

I well and truly paid for my pension and I get seriously annoyed when anyone suggests that 'young people' are paying for it!!

Its a common misconception in my view that the working generation are paying for the pensions of the retired - THEY ARE NOT - retired people paid their own taxes and NI to cover their pensions.

If the government spent it on something else......well, that is not our fault!

Good point F1. I must admit I tend to view my Social Security income as government money, when in fact at this point in time it is my money finally being returned. Money was taken out of my paycheck every few weeks for more than 42 years! In fact, for all the years I was my own employer I made double contributions. I wouldn't be surprised if I croak before I get beyond receiving my own money. Maybe at some point in time my payments could be calculated to be coming from other sources, but that will be a long time from now. 42 years of contributions plus compounding interest equates to a lot of money. Furthermore, most of the time my annual SSA "contribution" was at the limit maximum.

Edited June 8, 2009 by Lopburi99

[CrossBones]

I have problems with people who think that the world owes them a living. It appears to me that too many people are socialists and of course those leeches expect the working people should share their wealth. Maggie Thatcher once said that socialism is a great system until the people with money run out of money. Put me firmly in the conservative side.

Haha Yes

Too many spongers here who call themselves socialist. Living on the Dole (many of them French as they can get dole and live here) and present themselves as some kind of "peoples hero" living off the rich. Actually living off all working people and giving Socialists a bad name.

Just tell them "yeah Socialism could work if there werent so many people exploiting the system". That usually shuts them up.

Apologies to all genuine people with sickness benefits etc.

[tw25rw]

but the rise of power of the BNP in Britain is a bit worrying.

I wouldn't worry too much about them. Fringe parties seem to be better at motivating their followers to vote, so the million or so who voted are about the most they could muster. Come a real election with a much higher turnout, they'll not get a single seat.

Their anti immigration message is very attractive, even to moderates these days, but the quality of people in their hierarchy will hold them back. No one with a history of praising Hitler and holocaust denial has a realistic chance of taking power and the media and opposition groups will not be slow in raising the matter any time they have a realistic chance of making an impression.

I hope...