Job Discussion Forums

[Volodiya]

I like Thailand, and Thai people, a lot, so I feel a lot of distress at the inept, corrupt leadership that controls the country.

Latest government folly- pushing a plan to build a new city in the territory surrounding the new airport, rather than put the money into improving life in the capital, Bangkok. It's almost as if they would rather just walk away from the problems facing the capital than take a realistic look at what could be done with the city.

Lovers of Bangkok can easily turn a blind eye to the failure of the government to beautify the city, and to enhance the attractiveness of the city to visitors. Creating historic districts in which property owners would be encouraged, with subsidies if necessary, to keep their property in such a way as to reflect the historic appearance of the areas is one thing that could be given more attention. The Klong Lord area comes to mind which, although already having some appeal as a walking tour, could be repaired and maintained to reflect the beauty it had at its last encarnation, 60-80 years ago.

Further reflecting the failure of the government to spend to make Bangkok more attractive, and liveable, have you noticed the almost total lack of public parks; the broken sidewalks everywhere, the inefficient public transportation (with a paltry few notable exceptions, like the sky train- which has a very limited number of lines, considering the size of the city). Since the bulk of the jobs for TEFLers are in Bangkok, these kinds of thing directly affect the quality of life TEFLers enjoy in Thailand.

Practically everybody has read about the hugh rakeoffs that occured in the purchase of baggage scanners from the U.S., and that's just the tip of the iceberg at the new airport, with every contract tainted by corruption, according to the last attorney general. The plans for the new city represent another innovative approach to optimising the opportunities for further "skimming".

I couldn't omit to mention the very serious problems in the three southern most provinces of Thailand where several people a day are killed in shootings, bombings, etc., by seperatists. These problems can test the wisdom of Soloman but the government has failed to develop a comprehensive plan for addressing all the issues involved, eventhough it is now nearing the two year anniversary of the beginning of the insurgency. Not only that, the PM of Thailand's recent efforts to get personally involved have demonstrated a lack of understanding of human nature. In a visit to the south, he attempted to win some good will among people he spoke with, by handing them 1000 Baht notes. They were, predictably, insulted.

The PM's background is that of policeman, and businessman-tycoon. Many of the governments decisions over the last four years are said to have been calculated to increase his family's wealth, by favoring businesses that he, or his family, controls.

One can hope that the leadership will begin, soon, to actively put the good of the country, and its people, first.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hi Joe !

[laben18]

its their country .

i don't lose any sleep over it .

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

^ agreed.


On a totally unrelated note -

Can somebody please tell me when

this ^*&* ! rainy season will end ?


While I was drafting my brilliant political commentary above,

all hell broke loose, the sky opened, and we lost power for

an hour and a half - just when I had hit 'submit' dammit.


I'm so tired of going home with wet socks.


~

[Welshguy]

A Thai friend of mine who knows his way around told me that Thaksin is head of an informal consortium of very wealthy people. No suprise there I guess. However this bloke has allegedly amassed his huge wealth via the telecomms industry. My friend (who is not nicknamed the General for nothing) reckons that they committed so many crimes to ramp the money up that one of them had to become leader of the country in order to prevent any investigations into the sudden appearance of a billion or two dollars. The Thaksin family has a track record of mixing public finance with private interests that would make even the current fascists in the White House blush with shame. The island of Ko Tao is a good recent example. The family and proxies bought huge tracts of land there ofted disregarding title to do so. Uncle T and cohorts then voted through a hgue sum of public money for development and whay hey- the land prices shot up. Nice work if you can get it. And Thaksin like Bush can get it!!!!!

W

[Volodiya]

Laben wrote:

[laben18]

"clean up the government"

that's funny