betterment of society

[frankenburner2]

******* hell......re: c.ghents journal ....raising the drinking age etc....

they should just put a sign on the door that says..."closed"....what i don't understand is all this talk about "the betterment of society".....sure tobacco and alcohol are social problems...but shouldn't they be doing something about the corruption that runs rampant through all levels of governement?....about the 600,000 plus women working in the sex industry? shouldn't they do something about the "palms up" police force? they should, but they don't.

why? Likely the law makers have more to gain from the sex industry....than they do from alcohol and tobacco.....and can do so because they are paying off the local cops......just once I would like to hear a thai politician stand up and say "I own 14 massage parlours on petchburi road, and I will be the first to shut them down, and not only that, I will payback every bride i have received to some social fund...why? ....for the betterment of society"

I love living in thailand...and will continue to do so....but i'm guessing I will be in the minority...soon.

[eagle]

you mean like having decent morals and values instead of talking about them and praying for them :shock:

[frankenburner2]

you mean like having decent morals and values instead of talking about them and praying for them :shock:

too much to ask for?

[Princess]

It *is* pretty stupid. Part of the appeal of living in Thailand is this relative "freedom" to do as you please - don't they realise that taking the young girlies out of the bars is going to chase the sex tourists off? I think Thailand is going to become a really boring place to live in a few years time with all this nonsense. They've started censoring websites - brilliant - following in the footsteps of places like the middle east I'm sure. Like many people have said, this is just a haphazard attempt at "salvaging Thailand's reputation" by aping other countries. No thought whatsoever as to whether the same approach will work for the people of Thailand and/or what the repercussions of such laws will be.

I can't really see the appeal of living here if all this comes into effect - luckily I'm out in 4 months.

P.S- After I go through all the trouble to turn 21, they up the drinking age by 4 years :evil:

[Loburt]

You actually might be wrong in your assumption that politicans are profiting more from the sex industry than from alcohol consumption.

As it's a "black industry" there wil, of course, be no hard statisics to prove how much money the politicians are making from the sex industry in comparison to the alcohol industry.

Few politicians, however, actually own massage parlors. The massage parlors pay off the police, or in a particular area may pay off a politician directly. The police pay off the politicians. But they also pay them off with black money paid to them by gambling den owners (huge source of income), drug dealers, arms smuggliers, etc.

On the other hand, the guy who owns Chang Beer and Mekhong and Sangsom whiskies is Thailand's richest man and the word is he puts huge amounts of money in politicians' pockets. He tries to buy off all factions. In doing that, however, he also puts money in the pockets of people hostile to the current PM.

The current PM derives most of his power from his purse strings. This is how he commands loyalty from other politicians. He doesn't like having another big tycoon out there with deep pockets that people can run to.

[frankenburner2]

You actually might be wrong in your assumption that politicans are profiting more from the sex industry than from alcohol consumption.

As it's a "black industry" there wil, of course, be no hard statisics to prove how much money the politicians are making from the sex industry in comparison to the alcohol industry.

Few politicians, however, actually own massage parlors. The massage parlors pay off the police, or in a particular area may pay off a politician directly. The police pay off the politicians. But they also pay them off with black money paid to them by gambling den owners (huge source of income), drug dealers, arms smuggliers, etc.

On the other hand, the guy who owns Chang Beer and Mekhong and Sangsom whiskies is Thailand's richest man and the word is he puts huge amounts of money in politicians' pockets. He tries to buy off all factions. In doing that, however, he also puts money in the pockets of people hostile to the current PM.

The current PM derives most of his power from his purse strings. This is how he commands loyalty from other politicians. He doesn't like having another big tycoon out there with deep pockets that people can run to.

in other words.....everybody is corrupt, thai politcians are self-serving regardless of political stripe, and all this nonsense about the betterment of society is a ******* crock.....or...if you like....we're all ******* screwed...as are the average working shmucks of thailand.

[LudwigVonMises]

in other words.....everybody is corrupt, thai politcians are self-serving regardless of political stripe, and all this nonsense about the betterment of society is a f*cking crock.....or...if you like....we're all f*cking screwed...as are the average working shmucks of thailand.

Most politicians are corrupt and self-serving, regardless of the country they "serve." Politician is essentially a euphemism for "crook," IMO.

[Loburt]

My understanding is that this law hasn't passed yet. It probably won't.

But it's not just a matter of corruption.

Election time is on the horizon. Remember how popular the Social Order Campaign and the War on Drugs were with the working stiffs of Thailand.

Not young urban Thais or foreigners, but the majority of Thais.

[LudwigVonMises]

My understanding is that this law hasn't passed yet. It probably won't.

But it's not just a matter of corruption.

Election time is on the horizon. Remember how popular the Social Order Campaign and the War on Drugs were with the working stiffs of Thailand.

Not young urban Thais or foreigners, but the majority of Thais.

I hope it wasn't as disastrous as the U.S. War on Drugs...

And what is/was the Social Order Campaign?

[MikeAussieGuy]

Word is that Khun Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi will run for PM following the next election.

You actually might be wrong in your assumption that politicans are profiting more from the sex industry than from alcohol consumption.

As it's a "black industry" there wil, of course, be no hard statisics to prove how much money the politicians are making from the sex industry in comparison to the alcohol industry.

Few politicians, however, actually own massage parlors. The massage parlors pay off the police, or in a particular area may pay off a politician directly. The police pay off the politicians. But they also pay them off with black money paid to them by gambling den owners (huge source of income), drug dealers, arms smuggliers, etc.

On the other hand, the guy who owns Chang Beer and Mekhong and Sangsom whiskies is Thailand's richest man and the word is he puts huge amounts of money in politicians' pockets. He tries to buy off all factions. In doing that, however, he also puts money in the pockets of people hostile to the current PM.

The current PM derives most of his power from his purse strings. This is how he commands loyalty from other politicians. He doesn't like having another big tycoon out there with deep pockets that people can run to.

[Loburt]

No way, Mike.

He's got far too many skeletons in his closet and even as a businessman shuns publicity. He would never want to be in the hot seat of public scrutiny politicians are subjected to.

Never in a million years. Not unless he could rule in the style of Kim Jong Il.

[MikeAussieGuy]

No way, Mike.

He's got far too many skeletons in his closet and even as a businessman shuns publicity. He would never want to be in the hot seat of public scrutiny politicians are subjected to.

Never in a million years. Not unless he could rule in the style of Kim Jong Il.

Yes I do agree Robert, and I really dont think we would see the Thai people vote in a tycoon after the disaster that is Toxin.

However, the source of the rumour is quite well placed in politics and it seems that it is for nothing else other than to upsurp the Shinawats.

[Chris]

Upping the legal drinking age and a ban on alcohol advertising serves them some purposes:

1) electioneering of the more traditional moms and pops upcountry who like to see their kids studying 'safe'

2) punishment of the urban (non TRT) areas as enforcement upcountry will be non-existent.

3) providing extra 'revenue' for coppers on patrol

4) the impression of 'cleaning up' of the bars 'in the city' where all the bad farangs come for 'sex tourism' .... mind you.. the miles of bars just outside of CM or anywhere else upcountry catering to the local populace will remain open (see 2)

5) they 'appear' to be concerned with the health of its people.

6) removing advertising for alochol from the clubs, 7/11s etc.. pushes the major established brands into a monopoly position... It's impossible to launch new brands... so the big names take all (and are glad to pay some campaign money)

It is all election propaganda. It's bad and people SHOULD react to things this stupid or places like rca, ksr will be virtually closed. There will be no places for the youth to go anymore and crime will grow.

As I think Loburt said, not sure, only the ad ban will probably remain... for the reason I stated in 6)... It's all about money.

If they really do carry out this... then I see no need for the people in the south to keep on fighting because thailand is on a path of becoming more muslim.

No bad feelings towards buddhist or muslims. Everything just is starting to be banned, censored, taxed, punished, ...

This is very Orwellian.. Big brother is watching... you better jump when he wants you to.

Good luck. I'm off to bed.

[frankenburner2]

Upping the legal drinking age and a ban on alcohol advertising serves them some purposes:

1) electioneering of the more traditional moms and pops upcountry who like to see their kids studying 'safe'

2) punishment of the urban (non TRT) areas as enforcement upcountry will be non-existent.

3) providing extra 'revenue' for coppers on patrol

4) the impression of 'cleaning up' of the bars 'in the city' where all the bad farangs come for 'sex tourism' .... mind you.. the miles of bars just outside of CM or anywhere else upcountry catering to the local populace will remain open (see 2)

5) they 'appear' to be concerned with the health of its people.

6) removing advertising for alochol from the clubs, 7/11s etc.. pushes the major established brands into a monopoly position... It's impossible to launch new brands... so the big names take all (and are glad to pay some campaign money)

It is all election propaganda. It's bad and people SHOULD react to things this stupid or places like rca, ksr will be virtually closed. There will be no places for the youth to go anymore and crime will grow.

As I think Loburt said, not sure, only the ad ban will probably remain... for the reason I stated in 6)... It's all about money.

If they really do carry out this... then I see no need for the people in the south to keep on fighting because thailand is on a path of becoming more muslim.

No bad feelings towards buddhist or muslims. Everything just is starting to be banned, censored, taxed, punished, ...

This is very Orwellian.. Big brother is watching... you better jump when he wants you to.

Good luck. I'm off to bed.

like i said....we're all f**ked...and the only one with a cock is the thai politician.