Thai politics

[Guest]

Re the baht/dollar exch rate the key questions are will the political uncertainity or regime change make it risky for westerm entities to do business/get paid and will it make tourists less likely to cum/get laid? lifes about getting paid and getting laid.

Would I rather have dollars or baht?

For day to day expenses, i can get much more bang for my baht.

In a bank, I personally can get much more interest with my dollar although I would have to imagine that Thai bonds would not be considered investment grade and command higher interest but that's due to a risk premium.

real estate is an interesting question. better to buy or rent? seems complicated and risky to buy.

i guess if one's not working and living in thailand and is afraid of the dollar dropping perhaps one should by an aisa except japan mutual fund which doesn't hedge currency.

so we all love to hate Toxin but think the new airport was a very smart move since tourism is the key to the thai economy. doesn't matter if u have shite roads as long as the airports are OK since a flight anywhere in the kingdom is no more than 1.5 hours from BKK.

the other key is cheap but high quality health care so that expats are willing to come.

killing drug dealers is also a very western friendly policy since tourists need to feel safe.

killing muslims in the south might be counterproductive but i'm sure the toxin government is working closely with bushies/cheneys to prevent a terrorist attack. they don't want to be the next bali.

[Road Runner]

I've just been checking up on the news about the elections in Thailand.

I see that around 60% of the constituencies will only have 1 candidate  -  from Taksin's party Thai Rak Thai  (Thais love Thailand - I believe is the translation)
The three main opposition parties are not putting candidates up as a protest.  I think this mess will  get worse before it gets better.

Additionally the upper house recently had roughly 1/3rd of it's successful candidates removed by the Electoral Commission due to electoral irregularities.


Thailand has only had constitutional monarchy since 1932  -  though with a few hiccups since that date!

In many younger democracies  -  bribing of the electors to win votes  -  or bribing the electoral officials is often widespread.


In the more estabilished democracies like the UK we have risen above such practices and today they are frowned upon by the electorate  



(with acknowledgement to Private Eye)