Yingluck Says She Cannot Stop Red Shirts Bullying Abhisit

[animatic]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

"Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do."

Please justify this statement, as it is it is ridiculous.

Are you talking about income tax - poor people don't pay any. But twice zero is zero, if you are referring to Thaksin's tax bill as an example of a rich person

are you talking about sales tax - not gathered on village staples. Does a poor person spend twice as much as a rich one?

are you talking about total income tax receipts - of a few million working class thais (with a real job) compared to a few thousand super-rich. Do you think it's unusual that the working class pay the majority of income tax?

Where is the link to the study so that we check your conclusion?

Since it is known as fact that the poor pay no taxes until they are up to middle class incomes, this is patently false.

Thailand personal Income Tax

Thailand individual income tax rates are progressive to 37%.

Taxable Income (Baht) Tax Rate Tax Amount Accumulated Tax

0 - 150,000 Exempt - -

150,001 - 500,000 10% 35,000 35,000

500,001 - 1,000,000 20% 100,000 135,000

1,000,001 - 4,000,000 30% 900,000 1,035,000

4,000,001 and over 37%

http://www.taxrates.cc/html/thailand-tax-rates.html

And

http://www.rd.go.th/publish/6045.0.html

0 - 150,000 (2008 onwards)150,000Exempt

[ianbaggie]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

"Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do."

Please justify this statement, as it is it is ridiculous.

Are you talking about income tax - poor people don't pay any. But twice zero is zero, if you are referring to Thaksin's tax bill as an example of a rich person

are you talking about sales tax - not gathered on village staples. Does a poor person spend twice as much as a rich one?

are you talking about total income tax receipts - of a few million working class thais (with a real job) compared to a few thousand super-rich. Do you think it's unusual that the working class pay the majority of income tax?

Where is the link to the study so that we check your conclusion?

This information is everywhere, if you would like to dispute them than do your own research and provide your own numbers. The vat tax is 7% it is a regressive tax by any economic standard.

OzMick's deconstruction of your "facts" don't' allow for much of a rebuttal, imo. If you have an issue with his counterargument, make it. But the "Get your own facts" statement is polling badly.

VAT could be said to be a regressive tax since it COULD be argued that the 7% means more to a poor person than a rich one. However, how many countries have VAT? britain has a VAT rate of 17.5% So should we burn down london and occupy trafalgar Square for nearly 3 months? its OK trisailer dont apologise - we understand.

[animatic]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

You must be new to Thailand Abhisit Has only had three years to undo what the Thaksin led parties had years to do. Instead of allowing him to do the job they choose to divert his attention away from it with illegal seizures of property ,killings, trying to burn Bangkok down, armed invasions of hospitals and bombs left in public places.

Not to mention the world and Asian economies were booming at the time Thaksin was in office, his gereat good luck.

But the time PPP fell and Korn was allowed to take the controls the PPP and Thaksin had ignored the in progress global recession, near depression, and how it would affect Thailand, and had done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT IT.

Yet K. Korn and K. Devakula had been talking of it and solutions and the pressing need to deal with it in Op ed coulmns for much of the year, yet the Samak and Somchai governments did ABSOLUTELY ZERO ABOUT ANY OF IT.

Not even a comment let alone any action, even as Thaksin himself was noting his own losses in the world market downturn. In Thailand that wasn't as important as freeing the boss from his responsibilities towards Justice.

Edited June 21, 2011 by animatic

[ginjag]

Can't even control her party out of office, imagine what a mess it would be when/if she was in office and the money starts to flow.... Perhaps this is the same militant faction that was uncontrollable in the riots as well...

But Thaksin can since he speak through her mouth

If Yingluck is strong and operating separately from her brother :lol::lol:she could easily stop the Bullying. DO the same as him and PAY them to stop. If they hadn't been paid all along before and during the Bkk siege and after there would hardly be an opposition to the P.M.

[swifty5x5]

Can't even control her party out of office, imagine what a mess it would be when/if she was in office and the money starts to flow.... Perhaps this is the same militant faction that was uncontrollable in the riots as well...

I agree showing no leadership qualities.

[animatic]

Can't even control her party out of office, imagine what a mess it would be when/if she was in office and the money starts to flow.... Perhaps this is the same militant faction that was uncontrollable in the riots as well...

I agree showing no leadership qualities.

She's not the leader. Explains everything.

[geriatrickid]

I don't think any political leader has the power to tell ALL the people what to do when it comes to politics. There will always be some groups that will act on their own.

There is a mistaken belief that Mme. Yingluck has supernatural powers and can command her supporters or sympathizers to do her bidding. I think not. There are also a great many angry people circulating in Thailand. Whether foreigners want to believe that or not is up to them, but in a nation of 60million+, the chances are that there will be a few hundred such people in any given region is quite probable.

Yesterday, several people were murdered in the south. The Democrats are an extremely popular party in the region. Does anyone suppose that if PM Abhisit asked these murderers to stop killing, that they would listen?

The fact of the matter is that heckling politicans is part of free speech and the political process. It will happen and short of a police state, which some people seem to want, nothing can be done to change the behaviour of such people at this time.

[ableguy]

Can't even control her party out of office, imagine what a mess it would be when/if she was in office and the money starts to flow.... Perhaps this is the same militant faction that was uncontrollable in the riots as well...

More election crap.

[ianbaggie]

I don't think any political leader has the power to tell ALL the people what to do when it comes to politics. There will always be some groups that will act on their own.

There is a mistaken belief that Mme. Yingluck has supernatural powers and can command her supporters or sympathizers to do her bidding. I think not. There are also a great many angry people circulating in Thailand. Whether foreigners want to believe that or not is up to them, but in a nation of 60million+, the chances are that there will be a few hundred such people in any given region is quite probable.

Yesterday, several people were murdered in the south. The Democrats are an extremely popular party in the region. Does anyone suppose that if PM Abhisit asked these murderers to stop killing, that they would listen?

The fact of the matter is that heckling politicans is part of free speech and the political process. It will happen and short of a police state, which some people seem to want, nothing can be done to change the behaviour of such people at this time.

Oh................ so political leaders accept the fact that people operate outside the law in their country? Are these people above the law? can you give a link to this happening in the UK or the United States? Who thinks Yinglucj has supernatural powers? Is this llinked i suppose to the ghosts wandering round Rachprasong with red T shirts on? Personally id be happy if she had normal powers to put forward an argument.heckling is not the same as organised violent obstruction. "Nothing can be done to stop the behaviour of these people at this time"!! Certainly dismissing it as "I cant do anything about it" wont solve the problem. Maybe they would do it anyway but ......Might be worth a try eh?

[whybother]

I don't think any political leader has the power to tell ALL the people what to do when it comes to politics. There will always be some groups that will act on their own.

There is a mistaken belief that Mme. Yingluck has supernatural powers and can command her supporters or sympathizers to do her bidding. I think not. There are also a great many angry people circulating in Thailand. Whether foreigners want to believe that or not is up to them, but in a nation of 60million+, the chances are that there will be a few hundred such people in any given region is quite probable.

Yesterday, several people were murdered in the south. The Democrats are an extremely popular party in the region. Does anyone suppose that if PM Abhisit asked these murderers to stop killing, that they would listen?

The fact of the matter is that heckling politicans is part of free speech and the political process. It will happen and short of a police state, which some people seem to want, nothing can be done to change the behaviour of such people at this time.

A group of 200 with placards is organised, not just a random event. It was most likely organised by local red shirt leaders. The red shirt leaders on the PTP party list should be able to control the local leaders.

[virtualtraveller]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

Comparing figures here; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_income_equality

Whichever way you look at it Thailand is more-or-less in the middle of the table for income inequality, certainly better off than Singapore, the US and UK when measuring by the Gini Coefficient.

Income inequality is a syndrome of most developing countries, especially rapidly industrialising.

I don't agree that the poor pay twice as much tax as the rich, perhaps relative to their income, but only 5 million of the 25 million strong workforce pay any meaningful income tax, and poorest avoid VAT since most of what they buy is through the informal sector.

The flip side of this argument is that you and me who work hard and earn hard, get far less back from our tax money than the poor do. That's called social spending inequality, but that's life, as are taxes.

[animatic]

Those heckling and disrupting political rallies on most nations

are removed for not exercising free speech in a civilized manner.

Or put in zones so that can speak, but not disrupt.

Free speech is not a blanket right to be abusive.

If Yingluck is not a strong leader,

then disruptive elements will be disruptive,

and must be controled by other means, but this directly reflects on

HER LACK OF TRUE LEADERSHIP.

She can't control them. But she can't speak out against them.

Or is she afraid they will ignore her and thus make her look weak?

Edited June 21, 2011 by animatic

[trisailer]

"Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do."

Please justify this statement, as it is it is ridiculous.

Are you talking about income tax - poor people don't pay any. But twice zero is zero, if you are referring to Thaksin's tax bill as an example of a rich person

are you talking about sales tax - not gathered on village staples. Does a poor person spend twice as much as a rich one?

are you talking about total income tax receipts - of a few million working class thais (with a real job) compared to a few thousand super-rich. Do you think it's unusual that the working class pay the majority of income tax?

Where is the link to the study so that we check your conclusion?

Here is one article of many that summerizes it for you ( can you google?) http://www.nationmul...on_30115689.php

OzMick's deconstruction of your "facts" don't' allow for much of a rebuttal, imo. If you have an issue with his counterargument, make it. But the "Get your own facts" statement is polling badly.

Each persons tax burdan is the sum of all taxes income and fixed taxes. Rich people have many deductions, the poor have none thus a higher percentage of their income is taxed.

Here is an explaination of why VAT taxes are regressive. http://www.bbc.co.uk...siness-12111507 Rich people have deductions to reduce their tax burden, poor people do not. If a rich guy and a poor guy smoke a pack a day, who is paying more tax as a percent of his disposable income. The rich have the tax system rigged and pay less as a percentage of their income even in the US where the overall tax burden has shifted as a percentage of which group pays the most since reagan. Fixed taxs like VAT assures that everyone pays the same percentage, but that percentage is a larger share of their income.

Investor and multi-billionaire Warren Buffett has criticized the U.S. tax code as highly regressive, citing himself as anecdotal evidence: with an income of over $46 million, Buffet pays a tax rate of 17.7 percent, whereas his receptionist pays a tax rate of 30 percent.^[

^{BTW less than half of US citizens pay any income tax at all, but they still pay taxes.}

[animatic]

Hyperbole wrapped in a Straw man argument.

The rich pay more % of taxes per capita,

regardless of certain deductions they are in much higher tax brackets.

The poor pay nothing, and the up and coming also get deductions.

Edited June 21, 2011 by animatic

[Exsexyman]

Heckling is a normal part of electioneering - if Mr Abhisit can't cope with people shouting against him, he is obviously unfit for public office, it goes with the territory. Yet another excuse by the ineffective Democrat party.

True, but read the OP. When 200 people interrupt a market walk-through, that has gone past heckling to harassment and intimidation.

I understand your point, but have a look at some election events in the UK, Canada, USA and the EU when the loonies come out to protest. There's some wacky group called Code Pink in the USA that can be quite effective when the disruption bug bites. Have a look at some of the videos of anti abortion groups in North America or the way in which Baroness Thatcher was assaulted by thugs. It happens. It is wrong, but it is a byproduct of an angry electorate.

Baroness Thatcher assaulted by thugs? Really? I dont remember that. When did this happen? Do tell.

[TAWP]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

"Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do."

Are you nuts?

I can promise you, I am not rich but perhaps middle class here -- but I have payed far more in taxes than all of my neighbors in my apartment building.

And far-far more than any of the ones that are less of further down the street.

How on earth do you reach a conclusion that poor people are paying twice than rich people? Poor people don't even have income tax!

[TAWP]

Why don't you find your own facts and present them if you disagree. Mine come from a publication that I am apparently not permitted to identify. LOL

Nonsense, you claim falsehood, you have to source them.

And the newspaper didn't make up the stats -- unless it was a propaganda publication -- it reported some other organizations summary.

[TAWP]

Trisailor is doing the typical attack on the ones that create jobs as 'greedy' unless they are extremely heavily taxed.

If person A pays 10 dollar in tax, at a rate of 10%, but his boss pays 95 dollar in tax, at 9.5% (after deductions), Trisailor would scream bloody murder. Forgetting who is actually paying the most for the roads, schools and the workers mom's healthcare.

But this example would not even happen in Thailand. The reason a receptionist would possibly be paying a higher % of her income than Warren Buffett is because in many western states even the low income earners and absolutely the middle class already pay high tax ratios of their income to the state.

In Thailand that isn't true at all - all low-income earners are completely exempt from income tax.

Now tell me, how can I make deductions that would reduce my income tax to 0%? Or if I want to 'stick it to the poor' and have an even better deal, which must mean I get money back too, how can I make deductions so I end up on -% in income tax?

[Bkkorupcountry]

Reading the posts in many of the forums, it seems to me that pro-Thaksin supporters would merely like Thaksin to be back in power but do not vehemently attack Abhisit and co. However, the anti-Thaksin camp continuously attack him, his family and his siblings, bringing everything down to a very personal level.

So a question to the anti-Thaksin camp - what will you do IF Thaksin comes back to power? As a matter of principle, will you then be leaving the country in disgust (and returning to your respective countries of cleaner than white politicians with fair and democratic elections) rather than contribute further to Thailand's economy, which after all, will merely find it's way to Thaksin's pockets again?

[AleG]

"Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do."

Please justify this statement, as it is it is ridiculous.

Are you talking about income tax - poor people don't pay any. But twice zero is zero, if you are referring to Thaksin's tax bill as an example of a rich person

are you talking about sales tax - not gathered on village staples. Does a poor person spend twice as much as a rich one?

are you talking about total income tax receipts - of a few million working class thais (with a real job) compared to a few thousand super-rich. Do you think it's unusual that the working class pay the majority of income tax?

Where is the link to the study so that we check your conclusion?

Here is one article of many that summerizes it for you ( can you google?) http://www.nationmul...on_30115689.php

OzMick's deconstruction of your "facts" don't' allow for much of a rebuttal, imo. If you have an issue with his counterargument, make it. But the "Get your own facts" statement is polling badly.

Each persons tax burdan is the sum of all taxes income and fixed taxes. Rich people have many deductions, the poor have none thus a higher percentage of their income is taxed.

Here is an explaination of why VAT taxes are regressive. http://www.bbc.co.uk...siness-12111507 Rich people have deductions to reduce their tax burden, poor people do not. If a rich guy and a poor guy smoke a pack a day, who is paying more tax as a percent of his disposable income. The rich have the tax system rigged and pay less as a percentage of their income even in the US where the overall tax burden has shifted as a percentage of which group pays the most since reagan. Fixed taxs like VAT assures that everyone pays the same percentage, but that percentage is a larger share of their income.

Investor and multi-billionaire Warren Buffett has criticized the U.S. tax code as highly regressive, citing himself as anecdotal evidence: with an income of over $46 million, Buffet pays a tax rate of 17.7 percent, whereas his receptionist pays a tax rate of 30 percent.^[

^{BTW less than half of US citizens pay any income tax at all, but they still pay taxes.}

Yeah, whatever...

Now please do tell, how the PTPs campaign promise to lower corporate tax from 30 to 20 per cent is going to narrow the gap between poor and rich.

[TAWP]

Reading the posts in many of the forums, it seems to me that pro-Thaksin supporters would merely like Thaksin to be back in power but do not vehemently attack Abhisit and co. However, the anti-Thaksin camp continuously attack him, his family and his siblings, bringing everything down to a very personal level.

So a question to the anti-Thaksin camp - what will you do IF Thaksin comes back to power? As a matter of principle, will you then be leaving the country in disgust (and returning to your respective countries of cleaner than white politicians with fair and democratic elections) rather than contribute further to Thailand's economy, which after all, will merely find it's way to Thaksin's pockets again?

Why would we leave, are we going to be persecuted? Ofcourse that is an expected development in a Red democracy...

Some of us are here since are families are here and we want the country to develop and improve.

[OzMick]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

"Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do."

Please justify this statement, as it is it is ridiculous.

Are you talking about income tax - poor people don't pay any. But twice zero is zero, if you are referring to Thaksin's tax bill as an example of a rich person

are you talking about sales tax - not gathered on village staples. Does a poor person spend twice as much as a rich one?

are you talking about total income tax receipts - of a few million working class thais (with a real job) compared to a few thousand super-rich. Do you think it's unusual that the working class pay the majority of income tax?

Where is the link to the study so that we check your conclusion?

This information is everywhere, if you would like to dispute them than do your own research and provide your own numbers. The vat tax is 7% it is a regressive tax by any economic standard.

I repeat, your statement is meaningless without specifying which tax you are referring to. The VAT is regressive, but the only way to claim some tax from those who would otherwise pay none. But it is not applied to marketplace staples which a poor villager would buy, so that a poor person may pay relatively higher percentage of income but could hardly ".....pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do."

[Bkkorupcountry]

I repeat, your statement is meaningless without specifying which tax you are referring to. The VAT is regressive, but the only way to claim some tax from those who would otherwise pay none. But it is not applied to marketplace staples which a poor villager would buy, so that a poor person may pay relatively higher percentage of income but could hardly ".....pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do."

I think we all know that TS meant in relative terms, not absolute terms, in which case, paying twice as much is not as ridiculous as it sounds. Poor people own vehicles too - needed for their jobs/businesses etc - which means that they have to put petrol/diesel into their vehicles. I presume there is a tax element there? Similarly for some other commodities like cigarettes, alcohol etc. Unless you are suggesting that poor people shouldn't smoke or drink or drive?

[trisailer]

Hyperbole wrapped in a Straw man argument.

The rich pay more % of taxes per capita,

regardless of certain deductions they are in much higher tax brackets.

The poor pay nothing, and the up and coming also get deductions.

[/quotet

Find some data and prove me wrong.

[geriatrickid]

Heckling is a normal part of electioneering - if Mr Abhisit can't cope with people shouting against him, he is obviously unfit for public office, it goes with the territory. Yet another excuse by the ineffective Democrat party.

True, but read the OP. When 200 people interrupt a market walk-through, that has gone past heckling to harassment and intimidation.

I understand your point, but have a look at some election events in the UK, Canada, USA and the EU when the loonies come out to protest. There's some wacky group called Code Pink in the USA that can be quite effective when the disruption bug bites. Have a look at some of the videos of anti abortion groups in North America or the way in which Baroness Thatcher was assaulted by thugs. It happens. It is wrong, but it is a byproduct of an angry electorate.

Baroness Thatcher assaulted by thugs? Really? I dont remember that. When did this happen? Do tell.

When she was PM she took on the coal miners.. It was a nasty strike. When she would attend events, there would be groups of burly men and others screaming and yelling at her. Go and look at the news archives. She was a brave and determined lady.

[maidu]

Do you realize that one of the PTP proposals is to reduce corporate tax from 30 to 20 per cent? How do you think that would help reduce the gap between poor and rich?

PT exists primarily to enhance the riches of one family. It's second goal is to enrich its most ardent supporters. Everything else is window dressing.

[OzMick]

I repeat, your statement is meaningless without specifying which tax you are referring to. The VAT is regressive, but the only way to claim some tax from those who would otherwise pay none. But it is not applied to marketplace staples which a poor villager would buy, so that a poor person may pay relatively higher percentage of income but could hardly ".....pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do."

I think we all know that TS meant in relative terms, not absolute terms, in which case, paying twice as much is not as ridiculous as it sounds. Poor people own vehicles too - needed for their jobs/businesses etc - which means that they have to put petrol/diesel into their vehicles. I presume there is a tax element there? Similarly for some other commodities like cigarettes, alcohol etc. Unless you are suggesting that poor people shouldn't smoke or drink or drive?

Not being a mind reader, I took his words literally. He didn't specify which tax, and the overall picture is that although the poorer citizens may pay relatively more VAT, they also pay no income tax. The VAT on a Gucci handbag or a Hermes scarf would probably (I can't be certain!) exceed a poor man's total VAT for a year.

[trisailer]

I repeat, your statement is meaningless without specifying which tax you are referring to. The VAT is regressive, but the only way to claim some tax from those who would otherwise pay none. But it is not applied to marketplace staples which a poor villager would buy, so that a poor person may pay relatively higher percentage of income but could hardly ".....pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do."

I think we all know that TS meant in relative terms, not absolute terms, in which case, paying twice as much is not as ridiculous as it sounds. Poor people own vehicles too - needed for their jobs/businesses etc - which means that they have to put petrol/diesel into their vehicles. I presume there is a tax element there? Similarly for some other commodities like cigarettes, alcohol etc. Unless you are suggesting that poor people shouldn't smoke or drink or drive?

Not being a mind reader, I took his words literally. He didn't specify which tax, and the overall picture is that although the poorer citizens may pay relatively more VAT, they also pay no income tax. The VAT on a Gucci handbag or a Hermes scarf would probably (I can't be certain!) exceed a poor man's total VAT for a year.

Your probably right that it would exceed the poor mans total VAT for a year but he would still be paying a higher percentage of tax. In fact he's paying twice the tax that the rich guy pays.

You didn't have to be a mind reader, just a reader. You've been disputing my facts with unsubstantiated assumptions for days and now you "took my words literally" LMAO!

.

prove me wrong, please.

Edited June 21, 2011 by trisailer

[renaissanc]

I dread to think what is going to happen when the Democrats hold the meeting at Rachaprasong. I'm sure that the Fugitive has planned something to try to disrupt it because the Democrats will show a lot of videos, which he would rather the rural folks didn't see, and which they probably haven't seen because they don't have access to the internet. This time they'll see the videos on government TV.

[renaissanc]

If he doesn't disrupt the meeting, then the Red Shirts' version of what happened will be shown to be lies.

If they disrupt the meeting, Prompong can say afterwards that it was fake Red Shirts who did it, like he always does. It would be illogical, but the rural folks people seem to believe everything the PT and UDD say, so why not say it!