What would it take for this lovely place to take its place in the pantheon of great nations?

1. It is not poor. It has a vibrant history and culture, abundant natural resources. Presumably they could be better managed?

2. Rule of Law. Not beyond the bounds of imagination to establish the rule of law comparable to European countries/US?. Might need a constitution or Bill of Rights drawn up by people who don't stand to gain?! Total separation of Judiciary and Governmental Executive.

3. Land. Repeal of all land registration. Replace Chanoot, Sor Por Ka, Tor Bor Ha etc etc. with one land ownership category. Of course lots of vested interests wanting to oppose this one including the government, monasteries etc.

4. Total reform of representation system. Removal of nonsense whereby you have to return to location of Tabian Ban to vote' Actually removal of Tabian Ban registration would be good.

4. Total reform of the police force. Specific legislation to determine their duties and responsibilities

5. Huge investment in education system

6.Proper enforced Health and Safety Legislation

7. Have never understood why with general paranoia about ID cards and house papers there is no proper taxation system!

Dream on...Go on..more more!!

Thailand is a fantastic country, unfortunately cursed by its populace. There are some theories about how tropical peoples are are incapable of looking to the future. The large proportion of such in Thailand certainly is a viable argument for just such theories- having never had to endure long, cold winters of food scarcity leads to the brain's evolution lacking the necessary hardware to plan for the future.

It also explains why northern Chinese are historically so successful immigrating to SEA countries.

It's all in the frontal lobes, and if PC scripture were not so recently inbedded in our society, we might well make scientific studies on cadaver brains.

Alas, dogs, horse, sheep and cattle can have differences based in genetic heritage, but not humans. Another example of how PC is truly the rotten fruit of humanity's tree of knowledge.

Edited April 20, 201412 yr by EBlair48

OP, you should be running with Sutherp.

You and him have similar ideas and goals.

I hope what, you both say, will become reality one day for Thailand.

The government stealing cattle and shooting farmers in the USA. Russia invading countries and annexation of civilian populations. The head of the government Broadcasting covering up for pedophile entertainers, I could go on and on.

Did any of the above happen in Thailand? No. Thanks Thailand.

7. Have never understood why with general paranoia about ID cards and house papers there is no proper taxation system!

Harass and keep the lower classes in check, while allowing the rich to avoid paying taxes

Please define your standards of greatness.

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You want to make it Singapore ... please no ...

I like Thailand how it is ... full of quirks that annoy the cr*ap out me,

but I don't want to sanitise it... would kill the fun of the place.

.

The OP is a guy who likes Laos. OK so I expect a certain amount of Thai bashing but he should realize that many of the expats who live here do so because they like Thailand better than the countries that they came from.

Edited April 20, 201412 yr by thailiketoo

.

You want to make it Singapore ... please no ...

I like Thailand how it is ... full of quirks that annoy the cr*ap out me,

but I don't want to sanitise it... would kill the fun of the place.

.

A little adjustment here and there wouldn't be such a bad idea

.

You want to make it Singapore ... please no ...

I like Thailand how it is ... full of quirks that annoy the cr*ap out me,

but I don't want to sanitise it... would kill the fun of the place.

.

A little adjustment here and there wouldn't be such a bad idea

Who makes the decision what and how much to adjust? You?

What is it about those from western democracies that believe "their" version of a proper society is the correct version by default, and can/should be forced on all other societies that don't conform?

Thailand is a unique country and I enjoy living here because of that very uniqueness. If it ever does reach the level of development (and I use that word very loosely) of a generic western country, I for one will be looking elsewhere.

However it won't be a problem for most of us as it will take four generations before they actually get around to making the place as twisted as <insert western country of your choice>.

THailand is fine as it is, for Thailand. The pros and cons are what makes it such an interesting experience. The only thing that need change is some security and safety issues, such as the roads.

To become great....sell it to China.

THailand is fine as it is, for Thailand. The pros and cons are what makes it such an interesting experience. The only thing that need change is some security and safety issues, such as the roads.

Wait till you have to deal with corruption, might make things look a bit different..........

Thailand is for the Thais.

THailand is fine as it is, for Thailand. The pros and cons are what makes it such an interesting experience. The only thing that need change is some security and safety issues, such as the roads.

Wait till you have to deal with corruption, might make things look a bit different..........

Indeed. The sun shines and some stuff is cheap.

But as a serious country. Hmmmmm

I agree with the posters that say, "leave it alone." I like because it is different. Legalizing corruption, is all what "westernizing" is about.

THailand is fine as it is, for Thailand. The pros and cons are what makes it such an interesting experience. The only thing that need change is some security and safety issues, such as the roads.

Wait till you have to deal with corruption, might make things look a bit different..........

Some of us do and don't have a problem with it. It has been that way since I've been here or reading about Thailand in depth. I had a friend who bought a cannon here. Another bought a tank. Thailand was a really cool place a while back. When I first got here there were 7 different armies operating openly in Thailand and only two of them were Thai.

A country with 7 different armies is some serious sh**

Edited April 20, 201412 yr by thailiketoo

Not being qualified to answer your rhetorical question I do however have a point of view on why despite the little, Um quirks that abound here so abundantly I do prefer to live here in preference to a rural backwater in the UK.

I seriously looked around the world where I could exist at a reasonable level without the Taxation, political correctiness of a European world which is on the downside of the curve soon going to be just like the Roman Empire, the Greek Empire and the Ottoman Empire.

In other words I feel that Thailand is on the upside of the curve and maybe it could , at least for the next 30 years a great place to exist.

As my life expectancy is barely ten useful years, that is without the onset of Old timers disease, being killed on the horrendously bad roads or the big C and as long as my UK pension and a reasonable exchange rate holds up I am happy to live in a world of illogical and tragi- farcical ideas.

The evident overt Thai corruption is in fact a refreshing change for me as I am not used to Governments or politicians being so honest about their own part in the corruption that is everywhere in Thai society

Edited April 20, 201412 yr by n210mp

THailand is fine as it is, for Thailand. The pros and cons are what makes it such an interesting experience. The only thing that need change is some security and safety issues, such as the roads.

Wait till you have to deal with corruption, might make things look a bit different..........

Some of us do and don't have a problem with it. It has been that way since I've been here or reading about Thailand in depth. I had a friend who bought a cannon here. Another bought a tank. Thailand was a really cool place a while back. When I first got here there were 7 different armies operating openly in Thailand and only two of them were Thai.

Corruption as in teamoney for a trafficviolation is not what he meant..i guess.

One post removed:

In using Thai Visa I agree:

7) Respect fellow members by posting in a civil manner: do not launch personal attacks, or be hateful or insulting towards other members, ie No flaming

Thailand is a fantastic country, unfortunately cursed by its populace. There are some theories about how tropical peoples are are incapable of looking to the future. The large proportion of such in Thailand certainly is a viable argument for just such theories- having never had to endure long, cold winters of food scarcity leads to the brain's evolution lacking the necessary hardware to plan for the future.

It also explains why northern Chinese are historically so successful immigrating to SEA countries.

It's all in the frontal lobes, and if PC scripture were not so recently inbedded in our society, we might well make scientific studies on cadaver brains.

Alas, dogs, horse, sheep and cattle can have differences based in genetic heritage, but not humans. Another example of how PC is truly the rotten fruit of humanity's tree of knowledge.

WOW!

This is the most intelligent post that I have ever read in any forum.

You deserve to be nominated for the next 'noble prize' - you sure would give it more credibility (which it needs very badly right now).

Tip: Read some history/scientific books and try to understand, if that is possible.

(or else wipe out ALL the natives in the tropics and populate those lands with the 'intelligent' from where you originate from - this world would be 'fantastic'!

YOU, should rule this miserable planet called the EARTH.

Edited April 20, 201412 yr by ravip

There are some theories about how tropical peoples are are incapable of looking to the future.

There are also theories about how the earth was created in seven days.

What these theories have in common is that they have not been validated scientifically.

I thought this was Thailand after it was fixed up, I have been praying it does not go down hill.

All it takes is a pair of my rose colored glasses.

Thailand is a fantastic country, unfortunately cursed by its populace. There are some theories about how tropical peoples are are incapable of looking to the future. The large proportion of such in Thailand certainly is a viable argument for just such theories- having never had to endure long, cold winters of food scarcity leads to the brain's evolution lacking the necessary hardware to plan for the future.

It also explains why northern Chinese are historically so successful immigrating to SEA countries.

It's all in the frontal lobes, and if PC scripture were not so recently inbedded in our society, we might well make scientific studies on cadaver brains.

Alas, dogs, horse, sheep and cattle can have differences based in genetic heritage, but not humans. Another example of how PC is truly the rotten fruit of humanity's tree of knowledge.

Not quite...

The real rotten fruit of humanity is the type of ignorant, deluded bigotry you display here.

What is it about those from western democracies that believe "their" version of a proper society is the correct version by default, and can/should be forced on all other societies that don't conform?

Thailand is a unique country and I enjoy living here because of that very uniqueness. If it ever does reach the level of development (and I use that word very loosely) of a generic western country, I for one will be looking elsewhere.

However it won't be a problem for most of us as it will take four generations before they actually get around to making the place as twisted as <insert western country of your choice>.

"What is it about those from western democracies that believe "their" version of a proper society is the correct version by default, and can/should be forced on all other societies that don't conform?"

Actually the concept of "western democracies" is absurd and only exists in the imagination of the "lotus eaters" who swallow what the ruling classes in their own countries tell them is the truth.

But aside from that you have people who choose to leave their own countries to come to Thailand because they're trying to run from something and/or to run to something. Once these malcontents arrive in Thailand they immediately want to change everything here so that it's as odious as the place from which they just escaped.

... the pantheon of great nations ...

Run for your lives. The pomposity balloon is about to burst!

I'd love to know which nations Peter Pan, I mean the O/P, think qualify as great and if they are so great why does he not move to one of them and take all the other moaners with him. That should make them happy and make Thailand all the more pleasant for the rest of us.

Edited April 21, 201412 yr by Suradit69

abundant natural resources -> such as ???? ???? ????

Oh God, are you trying to make it more like the USA or a western nation. Please not. Better education is needed and removal of corruption, ok.

abundant natural resources -> such as ???? ???? ????

Tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite and arable land and year round growing season.

Where ever you are there will always be change. Same here, whether better for some, or worse for others. To deny it is to be an ostrich. I see incremental change here over the years and I look forward to see more. But I aint going back.