Be very careful what you wish for..?

[crepitas]

So...Many expats spend an inordinate of time whining about Thai corruption and rip off etc?
I am an expat for a good many years... have been ripped off scammed etc… BUT!
So if ….
Police and officials were paid per the West and enforced the law?..wanna get a 80 dollar fine for speeding or..??
Taxes were like the West?
Your local open food market had to pay taxes per the west?
Farmers/householders had to pay land/house tax per the west.


Etc etc.

History shows us that the West was built on corrupt officials and religious leaders’ yada yada.
If Thailand were to suddenly meet the pious values of the current west...Think I would....naah maybe not..

[chassamui]

I think the place is on a downward spiral. The economy is based on manufacturing and technology. Neighbouring economies will take over because they have the cheap labour that Thailand once had.
When the price of rice and rubber goes through the floor the poor agricultural workers and producers will revolt.
Manufacturing and agriculture in simultaneous decline. What are the odds on the next government being a dictatorship?

Even in western countries with vague pretensions of democracy, there is corruption. It's just at a higher level. What the west and developing Asian countries really need is benign, philanthropic dictatorships.