Farang's Political Views Of Thailand

[thailandbluegrass]

Hi. I am not sure if this post is a good idea or not since it is not wise for us to talk about our political views here in Thailand but for some of us long term expats I think we do have a right to at least discuss it in a Thread.

I for one have a business here where I employ 18 Thai's and I pay tax and insurance etc for my workers so I am just curious what the rest of you think so I can get a better understanding maybe.

I am a Red shirt supporter and would welcome Thaxsin back with open arms right now. I know all about the corruption but I have NEVER seen one that wasn't corrupt anywhere.

On the other hand maybe the new PM deserves a chance as well. Ok he has no money or experience etc but.......

I am not American but I can compare Abhisit to Obama where as both were left with a disolving country where the former Priminister/President left the country in shambles and are expected to be mirical workers and make everything better BUT.....

So I actually feel for both of them.

<snip>

If this thread is allowed to stay here and is not a dangerous thing for us expats to discuss, I think it would be great to hear everyones opinion. If not then my next post will be from a jail cell. hahahha.

My experience: When I applied for my 1 year visa and then for my 1 year work permit, we noticed that my passport was finished 6 months from that time so Immigration told me they could only give me 6 month visa and when I got a new passport just to come in and they would extend it for another 6 months free. Thats fair enough. The work permit office said the same thing.

In May I reported to Immigration and showed them my new passport and was granted my extra 6 months visa no problems.

My work permit however was due on May 10th for re-newal. So now I had my visa and everything seemed simple except that May 10th was a holiday. On May 11th I was attending the funeral/Burning of a close friend but called the work permit office to tell them I would be in the following day. No answer.

I went in on May 12th early and showed them my new visa and asked for the extension of my work permit. The girl must have woke up on the wrong side of bed that day because she simply said "Work permit finished May 10th. Now you need to start all over again".

After explaining to her that 10th was a holiday and that I called the office the next day to let them know I was at a funeral and would be in the following day she still just walked away. (Chonburi Office).

I told her that if I couldnt get it that there would be 18 Thai workers out of a job and with the economy maybe she could just be nice.....Well you know the rest of the story.

Went to the highest Government agent and explained to them and was told "Not our problem".

So how is the future of living in Thailand gonna effect us all and what do you folks think about it all.

Edited September 16, 2009 by soundman
No speculation or reference to the Royal family.

[Jingthing]

All Thai parties are anti-foreigner. Thaksin's party was called Thai Rak Thai, did you take that to mean they were going to make it easy for foreigners? You say you are a redshirt lover. WHY? Are you implying if Thaksin was now the total dictator that he was on the road to becoming and obviously still wants, the big man would have waved his magic wand and solved your PERSONAL problems with Thai bureaucracy? Oy vey.

Edited September 16, 2009 by Jingthing

[nowork114]

Government is only allowed to stay if Army supports it. Look how many coups were in LOS in the past.

And about corruption - old story. I don't understand why someone bothers with this.

All Thais know, nobody gives a @%_^ about that.

If you want to stay here, you have to accept it, there is no way nor will to change it. Learn the "mai-pen-rai" approach to life.

[KevinBloodyWilson]

Government is only allowed to stay if Army supports it. Look how many coups were in LOS in the past.

And about corruption - old story. I don't understand why someone bothers with this.

All Thais know, nobody gives a @%_^ about that.

If you want to stay here, you have to accept it, there is no way nor will to change it. Learn the "mai-pen-rai" approach to life.

Absolutely, the sooner you can abrogate all personal responsibility and suppress the least twang of conscience, the better. Learn the "mais pen rai" approach to life and be no better than the those Thais who rely on millions of people just like you to get away with their thieving and scamming. Better to hide under a table somewhere and pretend it doesn't have any impact on you.

Short-sighted is good. You know it makes sense, you know it will make you happier.

[nowork114]

Government is only allowed to stay if Army supports it. Look how many coups were in LOS in the past.

And about corruption - old story. I don't understand why someone bothers with this.

All Thais know, nobody gives a @%_^ about that.

If you want to stay here, you have to accept it, there is no way nor will to change it. Learn the "mai-pen-rai" approach to life.

Absolutely, the sooner you can abrogate all personal responsibility and suppress the least twang of conscience, the better. Learn the "mais pen rai" approach to life and be no better than the those Thais who rely on millions of people just like you to get away with their thieving and scamming. Better to hide under a table somewhere and pretend it doesn't have any impact on you.

Short-sighted is good. You know it makes sense, you know it will make you happier.

Thailand is not my country, I'm a foreigner here. If Thais want to live in a corrupt country, it's their decision. If I don't like it I can go back to my country and try to change the political situation there.

[dre1247]

Hi. I am not sure if this post is a good idea or not since it is not wise for us to talk about our political views here in Thailand but for some of us long term expats I think we do have a right to at least discuss it in a Thread.

I for one have a business here where I employ 18 Thai's and I pay tax and insurance etc for my workers so I am just curious what the rest of you think so I can get a better understanding maybe.

I am a Red shirt supporter and would welcome Thaxsin back with open arms right now. I know all about the corruption but I have NEVER seen one that wasn't corrupt anywhere.

On the other hand maybe the new PM deserves a chance as well. Ok he has no money or experience etc but.......

I am not American but I can compare Abhisit to Obama where as both were left with a disolving country where the former Priminister/President left the country in shambles and are expected to be mirical workers and make everything better BUT.....

So I actually feel for both of them.

<snip>

If this thread is allowed to stay here and is not a dangerous thing for us expats to discuss, I think it would be great to hear everyones opinion. If not then my next post will be from a jail cell. hahahha.

My experience: When I applied for my 1 year visa and then for my 1 year work permit, we noticed that my passport was finished 6 months from that time so Immigration told me they could only give me 6 month visa and when I got a new passport just to come in and they would extend it for another 6 months free. Thats fair enough. The work permit office said the same thing.

In May I reported to Immigration and showed them my new passport and was granted my extra 6 months visa no problems.

My work permit however was due on May 10th for re-newal. So now I had my visa and everything seemed simple except that May 10th was a holiday. On May 11th I was attending the funeral/Burning of a close friend but called the work permit office to tell them I would be in the following day. No answer.

I went in on May 12th early and showed them my new visa and asked for the extension of my work permit. The girl must have woke up on the wrong side of bed that day because she simply said "Work permit finished May 10th. Now you need to start all over again".

After explaining to her that 10th was a holiday and that I called the office the next day to let them know I was at a funeral and would be in the following day she still just walked away. (Chonburi Office).

I told her that if I couldnt get it that there would be 18 Thai workers out of a job and with the economy maybe she could just be nice.....Well you know the rest of the story.

Went to the highest Government agent and explained to them and was told "Not our problem".

So how is the future of living in Thailand gonna effect us all and what do you folks think about it all.

It is a MUST that you learn to follow the rules EXACTLY that's why they are there for if you agree or not is unimportant. Usually Thais don't like to take responsibility for something which enables another Thai to cut off their head. It is so much easier to say no, cannot than to stick out ones head, even higher up. UNLESS you let someone else do your laundry, someone who makes a living out of "helping" especially foreigners to get things done. Your mistakes were and what you should do is.

1 Try do it yourself, can but cannot, just accept it, even if you don't agree with it.

2 Bring arguments on the table as to why they should bend the rules for you. This makes them even more stand fast, now they get even more uneasy.

3 Quite a few officers have (on a daily base) to deal with foreigners who do not really know how to make them (officials) at ease. Even if we say their English is good they don't think so them selves and hence they are apprehensive when it comes to foreigners, and rightfully so for they usually have an aura around them which a Thai translates as trouble. Not to mention the various accents. I even have a problem with understanding some Australians, Kiwi's, Brits and Americans, what you think about Thais. Actually learn at least spoken Thais, they respect your effort (be careful, no bar slang Thai 555)

4 Don't try to get it for free, spend a little on a broker and you live very peaceful without stress.

I could go on but will not now.

Good luck.

Edited September 16, 2009 by dre1247

[britmaveric]

Got to love thailand though.... just look at the jetski incident, practically did a 180 and now blaming evil farangs trying to make thailand look bad. If they can't face up to what is easy, I don't see any hope for them when it comes to politics.

[KevinBloodyWilson]

Government is only allowed to stay if Army supports it. Look how many coups were in LOS in the past.

And about corruption - old story. I don't understand why someone bothers with this.

All Thais know, nobody gives a @%_^ about that.

If you want to stay here, you have to accept it, there is no way nor will to change it. Learn the "mai-pen-rai" approach to life.

Absolutely, the sooner you can abrogate all personal responsibility and suppress the least twang of conscience, the better. Learn the "mais pen rai" approach to life and be no better than the those Thais who rely on millions of people just like you to get away with their thieving and scamming. Better to hide under a table somewhere and pretend it doesn't have any impact on you.

Short-sighted is good. You know it makes sense, you know it will make you happier.

Thailand is not my country, I'm a foreigner here. If Thais want to live in a corrupt country, it's their decision. If I don't like it I can go back to my country and try to change the political situation there.

Short-sighted again, and negligent.

As soon as you come to live in Thailand, pay taxes (even if only VAT), support local industry and provide foreign exchange, you have a stake in the country. You are not only entitled to an opinion, you should demand one. Westernisation brings wealth, I know it is politically incorrect to say so but the only reason Thailand was dragged out of the stone age into the developing (aka 3rd) world, is because foreigners like you and I came here and keep coming here, and foreigners like you and I agreed to let this place into the international community and buy their rice. This is the only reason Thais pretend to have a democracy, because as much as they like to sneer at farang, they depend on us (and they truly hate that) to line their pockets and keep the petrol tanks in their European and Japanese cars full, so they pretend to jump through the hoops.

Nt all Thais of course, only the nes with influence and important enough to make decisions. Most Thais are wonderful people in my experience, but scared shitless of the pooyay.

/end vent mode

Edited September 16, 2009 by KevinBloodyWilson

[connel707]

Hi. I am not sure if this post is a good idea or not since it is not wise for us to talk about our political views here in Thailand but for some of us long term expats I think we do have a right to at least discuss it in a Thread.

I for one have a business here where I employ 18 Thai's and I pay tax and insurance etc for my workers so I am just curious what the rest of you think so I can get a better understanding maybe.

I am a Red shirt supporter and would welcome Thaxsin back with open arms right now. I know all about the corruption but I have NEVER seen one that wasn't corrupt anywhere.

On the other hand maybe the new PM deserves a chance as well. Ok he has no money or experience etc but.......

I am not American but I can compare Abhisit to Obama where as both were left with a disolving country where the former Priminister/President left the country in shambles and are expected to be mirical workers and make everything better BUT.....

So I actually feel for both of them.

<snip>

If this thread is allowed to stay here and is not a dangerous thing for us expats to discuss, I think it would be great to hear everyones opinion. If not then my next post will be from a jail cell. hahahha.

My experience: When I applied for my 1 year visa and then for my 1 year work permit, we noticed that my passport was finished 6 months from that time so Immigration told me they could only give me 6 month visa and when I got a new passport just to come in and they would extend it for another 6 months free. Thats fair enough. The work permit office said the same thing.

In May I reported to Immigration and showed them my new passport and was granted my extra 6 months visa no problems.

My work permit however was due on May 10th for re-newal. So now I had my visa and everything seemed simple except that May 10th was a holiday. On May 11th I was attending the funeral/Burning of a close friend but called the work permit office to tell them I would be in the following day. No answer.

I went in on May 12th early and showed them my new visa and asked for the extension of my work permit. The girl must have woke up on the wrong side of bed that day because she simply said "Work permit finished May 10th. Now you need to start all over again".

After explaining to her that 10th was a holiday and that I called the office the next day to let them know I was at a funeral and would be in the following day she still just walked away. (Chonburi Office).

I told her that if I couldnt get it that there would be 18 Thai workers out of a job and with the economy maybe she could just be nice.....Well you know the rest of the story.

Went to the highest Government agent and explained to them and was told "Not our problem".

So how is the future of living in Thailand gonna effect us all and what do you folks think about it all.

Whoever you are....and you say you are a businessman.....WoW...you are so very nieve, you are a Farang here... Thais DON`T want you here.... just your money... <snip>

Edited September 17, 2009 by soundman
Flame removed. Other people are entitled to their opinions.