They like to call themselves a 'developing country' but in reality they are still a third world country in every aspect of the matter. There is no law here. No law that can't be broken. No sins that can't be paid for. No hitmen that can't be bought.
After coming here for two thirds of my life, it beggars belief that no progress has been made (by progress, I don't mean fancy shopping malls and waterparks) and the corruption shows no sign of giving it up.
If I was to give Thailand a percentage chance of rising from the ashes and turning things around, I'll give it 'none' percent.
I know full well that if I do anything wrong (against the 'laws' of the country) I can just pay money for my wrongdoings... and I have done that many times over. The people of Thailand know that too, and it's so ingrained into their culture that nothing is going to change soon without 'interference' (as they would call it) from an 'outsider' supporting country that's going to try and help them get into the 21st Century. If that offer arose it would be shot back with. "We know what we're doing here,this is OUR country".
So how in the hell DO the good people of Thailand change their ways? How DO they give themselves a place on the map that doesn't involve ping pong balls? How do they extract all the 'Great Unwashed' farang that feed their sex trade?
It's sad to sit back and watch it, (don't get me wrong I don't lose sleep over it) but there literally doesn't seem to be anything within sight that could change the channel.
One can only sit back and hope and I'll probably be dead before anything changes. But, as you asked
, my changes would be...* STOP this sex trade straight away and send all sex tourists packing - this would instantly allow the country a little more respect. It's also the classic 'Two birds one stone scenario'. The country would reap the benefits of no longer being the red light capital of the world, and also, the absence of the horrific smell from those beer swigging sex tourists would not only please the people of Thailand, but probably the neighbouring countries to boot. (a strong wind can carry their odour to timbuktoo)
* Install politicians who have studied abroad and are not so closed minded. They also will have lost that whole 'face' thing while abroad if they were there for some time.
* Spend a tenth of your year's 'free money' (you know, the money that is put aside for 'mega projects' where 10% goes into the project and 90% gets shared out into people's pockets) into building up the education system (especially in the North) and watch how the country will grow with a better education.
*Pay Thai police and teachers properly and train them properly (again outside help would be needed) so that poor teaching and police corruption could be a thing of the past.
* Start selling Stella to the locals instead of Lao Khao - a little less 'umph'.
* Gas chamber the Shiniwatra's
Just my opinion.
