Somsak's Trip To Europe Paid For By Leftover Cash: Source

[drdoom6996]

The Thai people voted these nice folks in. The Thai people all got at least 500 baht to vote for them. The Thai people are getting exactly what they were paid for. I don't understand what all of us farangs are complaining about. Most of us don't pay taxes. It does not affect our living, drinking, and running around the country playing golf. And what good do you think complaining about it on this page is doing. Nobody cares, especially the Thai people who voted for these nice people. Oh and by the way, I left last month to go and make some money off the Indonesians and won't be back until Christmas. The Thai's have spent what I was planning on making off them on a trip to EUROPE. Have a nice day.

[FarangTalk]

Yet more bullshit from the government.

The level of disrespect they appear to have for the electorate is shocking.

Hey, at least they allow elections.

[puipuitom]

A budget is a downpayment for the expected costs during a certian period. it is NOT something with an expiry date, like food products, which have to be cleaned up in time.

So, only one way for surplus in budget: back to the tax payers ( or.. reserved for in case a budget proves to be insufficient)

Therefore, Thai voters: do NOT accept your 20-50 Baht voting money, but ask: where are the 10,000 bahts I paid too much last year

OR.. do YOU believe the same goverment officials will pay out of their own "pleasures" the missing, if a budget proves to be insufficient in a certain year ?

[SICHONSTEVE]

Behild the Unwanton thievery of the Thai amart

So your saying that this character and his ilk are the amart?

I thought the red machine was at war with the amart?

Just what do you mean?

They are living the dream of being the amart for a couple of weeks - at tax payers expense!!!

[khaowong1]

Why don't we ever read that these Thais ever gave a surplus sum or made a largeor even small contribution to Father Joe's Klong Toey slum project? Or some other charity.

It's the same with politicians the world over. The former and now highly respected monk, Luang Pho Buddhasa Bhikhu of Wat Suan Mohk was criticized and pretty much ran out of Bangkok by the then Thai government for his stance agains't their squandering the peoples tax money. And this was 50 - 60 years ago. Nothing changes.

[khaowong1]

For those that don't know, Atlantic City, New Jersey, is the Las Vegas of the East Coast of the US.

[jbrain]

Strange that it didn't come up with them, to return some of the taxpayers money back to the taxpayers.

[473geo]

Said years ago, legalise gambling in Thailand, and levy a tax to fill government coffers, no problem with a little research.

I see they intelligently went to the UK to study progressive examples rather than the failing economies in other rather larger democracies....sound judgement

[jbrain]

You think this is bad.. wait until PM Yingluck pays her visit to the UN next month accompanied by 100+ people. Let's just say I have customers (drivers) who work in the Thai Embassay in New York and their itinerary includes Atlantic City (in New Jersey). I wonder what kind of studies they're planning to do and why the heck do you even need that many people?

For those that don't know, Atlantic City, New Jersey, is the Las Vegas of the East Coast of the US.

Said years ago, legalise gambling in Thailand, and levy a tax to fill government coffers, no problem with a little research.

I see they intelligently went to the UK to study progressive examples rather than the failing economies in other rather larger democracies....sound judgement

I guess they prefer to keep it illegal and fill politicians coffers.

I understand that Thaksin wanted to legalise gambling, coincidental the legal casino's would be housed in his properies, and I doubt it would fill any other coffers than the ones belonging to the fuhrer.

[473geo]

You think this is bad.. wait until PM Yingluck pays her visit to the UN next month accompanied by 100+ people. Let's just say I have customers (drivers) who work in the Thai Embassay in New York and their itinerary includes Atlantic City (in New Jersey). I wonder what kind of studies they're planning to do and why the heck do you even need that many people?

For those that don't know, Atlantic City, New Jersey, is the Las Vegas of the East Coast of the US.

Said years ago, legalise gambling in Thailand, and levy a tax to fill government coffers, no problem with a little research.

I see they intelligently went to the UK to study progressive examples rather than the failing economies in other rather larger democracies....sound judgement

I guess they prefer to keep it illegal and fill politicians coffers.

I understand that Thaksin wanted to legalise gambling, coincidental the legal casino's would be housed in his properies, and I doubt it would fill any other coffers than the ones belonging to the fuhrer.

Limited vision, casinos would not generate anywhere near the income a countrywide chain would, and the tax would be levied on such a service, employment created. Let the rich play in their casinos, profitable without doubt, but certainly not the be all and end all of the gambling industry.

[Roadman]

Behild the Unwanton thievery of the Thai amart

So your saying that this character and his ilk are the amart?

I thought the red machine was at war with the amart?

Just what do you mean?

The leaders of the reds and yellows are all the amart. They play a game with the rest of the Thai population, taking it in turns to have it believed they are helping the poor and care for their welfare. The truth is they all intend on keeping the population subdued whilst they continue to rape and pillage the resources of this country, including its trusting people. A pox on them all.

Well said sir.

[JoeLing]

Leftovers?

I love leftovers, bubbles and squeek

[GentlemanJim]

For those that don't know, Atlantic City, New Jersey, is the Las Vegas of the East Coast of the US.

Said years ago, legalise gambling in Thailand, and levy a tax to fill government coffers, no problem with a little research.

I see they intelligently went to the UK to study progressive examples rather than the failing economies in other rather larger democracies....sound judgement

I guess they prefer to keep it illegal and fill politicians coffers.

I understand that Thaksin wanted to legalise gambling, coincidental the legal casino's would be housed in his properies, and I doubt it would fill any other coffers than the ones belonging to the fuhrer.

Limited vision, casinos would not generate anywhere near the income a countrywide chain would, and the tax would be levied on such a service, employment created. Let the rich play in their casinos, profitable without doubt, but certainly not the be all and end all of the gambling industry.

If casino's are legalised in Thailand the country will go to hell in a handbasket in a matter of months. There are people in the town where I live who lose EVERYTHING on the two number lottery, cars, houses, land. The Thai's are worse than the chinese when it comes to gambling. There is simply no off switch with the Thais and gambling. Legalizing casinos would devastate this country, but it's a sure fire way of keeping everyone poor and saddled with impossible debt. Maybe thats why Thaksin fancied the idea !

[arthurboy]

Corruption is entrenched and endemic across the full spectra of Thai society,irrespective of who is in power, so the colour of politics is completely irrelevant here.

Now, what is interesting is the apathy, unwillingness or inability among the Thai electorate to do anything about it.

Why?

[asiawatcher]

Stop talking about his expensive holiday trip please! If anything, blame it on th garbage who voted this corrupted pig in.

... and still prepared to vote for them. Talk about the blind leading the blind...

[hellodolly]

Yet more bullshit from the government.

The level of disrespect they appear to have for the electorate is shocking.

Hey, at least they allow elections.

They surly do and we only have to wait about four more years for it. The year before it you will notice they have no money left over from their budget as it will Have been used to buy the next election.

[Noistar]

Corruption is entrenched and endemic across the full spectra of Thai society,irrespective of who is in power, so the colour of politics is completely irrelevant here.

Now, what is interesting is the apathy, unwillingness or inability among the Thai electorate to do anything about it.

Why?

I doubt my Thai wife is alone when she dismisses the wrong-doing of others as 'up to them'.

How do you deal with that apathetic philosophy?

[473geo]

If casino's are legalised in Thailand the country will go to hell in a handbasket in a matter of months. There are people in the town where I live who lose EVERYTHING on the two number lottery, cars, houses, land. The Thai's are worse than the chinese when it comes to gambling. There is simply no off switch with the Thais and gambling. Legalizing casinos would devastate this country, but it's a sure fire way of keeping everyone poor and saddled with impossible debt. Maybe thats why Thaksin fancied the idea !

But you tell us this is the case already!!! What a strange post.......maybe taking away the fascination of gambling, as it is a 'risque' experience would help ease the issues you highlight, rather than let them continue as an underground activity.

Or maybe you have an alternative solution?

[473geo]

Corruption is entrenched and endemic across the full spectra of Thai society,irrespective of who is in power, so the colour of politics is completely irrelevant here.

Now, what is interesting is the apathy, unwillingness or inability among the Thai electorate to do anything about it.

Why?

Depending on the government of the day. a trip to Bangkok to complain concerning your rights can get you shot

[473geo]

Yet more bullshit from the government.

The level of disrespect they appear to have for the electorate is shocking.

Hey, at least they allow elections.

They surly do and we only have to wait about four more years for it. The year before it you will notice they have no money left over from their budget as it will Have been used to buy the next election.

Didn't work for the Democrats they ran the State Oil fund into a deficit to curb inflation and provide cheap fuel.....

Then lost the election...

[Thaddeus]

I want to know what Tom thinks about this.

He may be having lunch round about now, so he has had plenty of time to think (mind you, that hasn't had much effect for a few years)

Yes, this is a baiting post, but I seriously want him to opine.

[lizardtongue]

Why don't we ever read that these Thais ever gave a surplus sum or made a largeor even small contribution to Father Joe's Klong Toey slum project? Or some other charity.

Culturally Thai's generally 'take not give'

[tlansford]

What a waste of tax payer money.

Thai civil servant should be ban from traveling overseas at the expense of tax payer.

If Thailand needs to learn from Farang, Thailand should invite the Farang and their Family over for an extended work-holiday, and make sure to put them up at the Oriental and fly First Class to ensure the Farang collaboration to the fullest.

This will ensure Thailand gain the max, and cost Thai tax-payer the least.

You may not be familiar with the way budgets are typically set not just in Thai government departments but others around the world too. Guess what happens next year if the budget for a department isn't spent this year. The budget is cut the following year. What department boss would want to see that, be they honest or not?

I worked for a while with UK Customs & Excise and this applies to that as well as other government agencies. It's no big deal - it's the way things work in the civil service. Is it wasteful? Certainly can be, but don't have a go at this guy for doing the same thing that others in his position do as a matter of routine.

The only thing that would need checking would be the relevance of his journey to his job and the perceived value to the department gained from it. This should be measured not just in terms of his initial justification for going but by any recommendations made and implemented as a result of it, and that can only become fully apparent after some time.

your observations are equally valid and common among large corporations. Spend it or lose it. Lose it, get less next year.

[nurofiend]

I want to know what Tom thinks about this.

He may be having lunch round about now, so he has had plenty of time to think (mind you, that hasn't had much effect for a few years)

Yes, this is a baiting post, but I seriously want him to opine.

so you're purposefully breaking forum rules?

[tlansford]

I want to know what Tom thinks about this.

He may be having lunch round about now, so he has had plenty of time to think (mind you, that hasn't had much effect for a few years)

Yes, this is a baiting post, but I seriously want him to opine.

so you're purposefully breaking forum rules?

did not see that post before commenting.

This "news" is a non-issue. There are many, many more important things to worry about in Thailand. TBH, I thing the article is mostly baiting on the part of The Nation.

1) government representatives sometimes need to get information to do their jobs. For example, American congressmen call these trips "fact-finding missions"

2) such trips need to be justified.

3) regarding the budgets, the reality, as already posted - use or lose it motivates people to find projects for their budgets if they have a surplus

4) in the big picture of Thai politics, this is peanuts

Sometimes politicians waste money. Is this particular trip justifiable? I don't have any information to make a statement. The Nation thinks it is not, but that is not surprising. If people want to take the word of The Nation to boil their blood pressure against the government, that's up to them. The general opinion of The Nation is that it is a pro-Abhisit anti-Yingluck rag. Fox News pushes their "outrage" button over President Obama every day. That's just thinly veiled propaganda and hyperbole. The Nation has a ways to go to get close to the same league as Fox News, but they are trying .

Flame away, guys. It's just the king of outrage The Nation wants.

[Thaddeus]

I want to know what Tom thinks about this.

He may be having lunch round about now, so he has had plenty of time to think (mind you, that hasn't had much effect for a few years)

Yes, this is a baiting post, but I seriously want him to opine.

so you're purposefully breaking forum rules?

No, I just seriously wanted Tom's thoughts on the subject, which he has now provided, and I agree with the vast majority of it.

[saltandpepper]

I want to know what Tom thinks about this.

He may be having lunch round about now, so he has had plenty of time to think (mind you, that hasn't had much effect for a few years)

Yes, this is a baiting post, but I seriously want him to opine.

so you're purposefully breaking forum rules?

did not see that post before commenting.

This "news" is a non-issue. There are many, many more important things to worry about in Thailand. TBH, I thing the article is mostly baiting on the part of The Nation.

1) government representatives sometimes need to get information to do their jobs. For example, American congressmen call these trips "fact-finding missions"

2) such trips need to be justified.

3) regarding the budgets, the reality, as already posted - use or lose it motivates people to find projects for their budgets if they have a surplus

4) in the big picture of Thai politics, this is peanuts

Sometimes politicians waste money. Is this particular trip justifiable? I don't have any information to make a statement. The Nation thinks it is not, but that is not surprising. If people want to take the word of The Nation to boil their blood pressure against the government, that's up to them. The general opinion of The Nation is that it is a pro-Abhisit anti-Yingluck rag. Fox News pushes their "outrage" button over President Obama every day. That's just thinly veiled propaganda and hyperbole. The Nation has a ways to go to get close to the same league as Fox News, but they are trying .

Flame away, guys. It's just the king of outrage The Nation wants.

And of course, the fact that it concerns a Pheu Tai lad has nothing to do with your opinion!

The champions of democracy and clean politicians are again caught in some dirty situation. Claiming that this money was a left over does not make the matter less questionable. Being the protectors of the poors, I think that these guys would certainly have done somethong great by deciding to do something for the poors. 7 million baht can do a lot for them. But no, their acts are in no way matching their words.

[tlansford]

I want to know what Tom thinks about this.

He may be having lunch round about now, so he has had plenty of time to think (mind you, that hasn't had much effect for a few years)

Yes, this is a baiting post, but I seriously want him to opine.

so you're purposefully breaking forum rules?

did not see that post before commenting.

This "news" is a non-issue. There are many, many more important things to worry about in Thailand. TBH, I thing the article is mostly baiting on the part of The Nation.

1) government representatives sometimes need to get information to do their jobs. For example, American congressmen call these trips "fact-finding missions"

2) such trips need to be justified.

3) regarding the budgets, the reality, as already posted - use or lose it motivates people to find projects for their budgets if they have a surplus

4) in the big picture of Thai politics, this is peanuts

Sometimes politicians waste money. Is this particular trip justifiable? I don't have any information to make a statement. The Nation thinks it is not, but that is not surprising. If people want to take the word of The Nation to boil their blood pressure against the government, that's up to them. The general opinion of The Nation is that it is a pro-Abhisit anti-Yingluck rag. Fox News pushes their "outrage" button over President Obama every day. That's just thinly veiled propaganda and hyperbole. The Nation has a ways to go to get close to the same league as Fox News, but they are trying .

Flame away, guys. It's just the king of outrage The Nation wants.

And of course, the fact that it concerns a Pheu Tai lad has nothing to do with your opinion!

The champions of democracy and clean politicians are again caught in some dirty situation. Claiming that this money was a left over does not make the matter less questionable. Being the protectors of the poors, I think that these guys would certainly have done somethong great by deciding to do something for the poors. 7 million baht can do a lot for them. But no, their acts are in no way matching their words.

"And of course, the fact that it concerns a Pheu Tai lad has nothing to do with your opinion!"

Regarding my opinion on this incident or others like it, yes.

IMO, the fact that it is a PTP politician is more important to The Nation than me.

I would be surprised if The Nation would ever write an article like this on the Dems.

[Thaddeus]

I would be surprised if The Nation would ever write an article like this on the Dems.

If the Dems actually gave them just cause, maybe they would, you never know, unfortunately the members of the PTP are a much bigger target, and who do they have to blame for that?

Multiple choice.

1. Themselves.

2. Thaksin.

3. The Dems.

Give you a clue.... it isn't number 3.

[nurofiend]

I want to know what Tom thinks about this.

He may be having lunch round about now, so he has had plenty of time to think (mind you, that hasn't had much effect for a few years)

Yes, this is a baiting post, but I seriously want him to opine.

so you're purposefully breaking forum rules?

No, I just seriously wanted Tom's thoughts on the subject, which he has now provided, and I agree with the vast majority of it.

oh, my bad, i thought baiting was against forum rules.