Sub Layer of Deceit?

General chat about life in the Land Of Smiles. Discuss expat life, relationship issues and all things generally Thailand and Asia related.
Post Reply
User avatar
PeteC
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 32341
Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2004 7:58 am
Location: All Blacks training camp

Sub Layer of Deceit?

Post by PeteC »

There are things that may go on here that could affect us everyday, but we're oblivious to them. We see and talk about the level of corruption at all levels of government and business, the most recent is that flood relief supplies are being stuffed with candidate names for upcoming bi-elections, and many supplies are being delivered first to regions which will hold these elections. :roll: Does this mentality and corruption filter down to manufactures who supply our daily needs?

Does the bottled water we buy really go through complete reverse osmosis, even the 40 Baht per big jug type? Are the Thai made snacks our children eat really made with non-dangerous colours and preservatives? Is the government crackdown on pesticide sprayed vegetables and fruit really a viable program, or regularly forgotten about until someone dies or a group becomes ill? Children school milk has had countless problems. Knee jerk reactions then silence about what is going on between events. Electronics made for the local market, such as ceiling fans and the like, are they tested for safety and made to have a reasonable life span? Is there any policing or control at all of restaurants and follow up's concerning food poisoning?

I know, the West is not perfect in any regard concerning the above, but at least they have the organizations in place and they seem to work/monitor/control/catch the problems the majority of the time.

I think perhaps that we and the Thai population may be at the mercy of luck here much more than we're aware. Any thoughts? Pete :cheers:

EDIT: I forgot about the countless times roads and highways are resurfaced due to failures. I would say the average is every 3 years. This is clear corruption to gain government funds with little or no regard for people's safety and tax money.
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
User avatar
pharvey
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 15851
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 10:21 am
Location: Sir Fynwy - God's Country

Re: Sub Layer of Deceit?

Post by pharvey »

Well, as you know I live in China Pete and see all the things (and more) that are raised and complained about in Thailand/Hua Hin. There are several countries across Asia including Thailand, where life is cheap. I would however class Thailand a little above China in what they do or are prepared to do....

There have been numerous scandals in China over recent years which have made the international headlines - Melamine in baby milk :cuss: , high lead in the paint for kids toys etc....... but sh*tloads do not get through to the international press. When I was first here, there were virtual riots because local farmer had added bleach to the rice to ''whiten'' it ....... many died, but nothing on the news, certainly not internationally.

Yes, there is corruption in Thailand, at time live is cheap... BUT - IMHO what goes on in China will not go on in Thailand.
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
User avatar
PeteC
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 32341
Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2004 7:58 am
Location: All Blacks training camp

Re: Sub Layer of Deceit?

Post by PeteC »

Excellent point Pharvey. When you think about what goes on where you are, this place is paradise. Pete :cheers:
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
User avatar
PeteC
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 32341
Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2004 7:58 am
Location: All Blacks training camp

Re: Sub Layer of Deceit?

Post by PeteC »

prcscct wrote:Excellent point Pharvey. When you think about what goes on where you are, this place is paradise. Pete :cheers:
Thinking about that reply while sipping my suds, I need to add a proviso. China got thrown overnight into the 20th century commercially by Deng Xiaoping. They had no clue what they were doing as is evidenced by people still repeating the same corrupt mistakes, such as melamine in baby milk powder, right after a handful got a bullet in the head for doing it the first time. They don't know? They don't care? Just stupid?

Certain factions/groups in Thailand IMO are much more experienced and calculating in what they try to get away with. I don't think many Chinese initially, and even now, really comprehend the difference between right and wrong in a commercial sense. Our Thai brothers certainly do but tend to ignore it, IMO. Pete :cheers:
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
User avatar
hhfarang
Hero
Hero
Posts: 11060
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2004 1:27 am
Location: North Carolina

Re: Sub Layer of Deceit?

Post by hhfarang »

I quit buying the big white containers of water for my water cooler a couple of years ago when we got one that tasted like gasoline. Plus, a friend in Bangkok said he saw a pickup in an alley filling them up from a tap out of the side of a building once. I do now buy the big 30 to 40 baht bottles of Nestle or Minera and just pour them into the cooler reservoir now.
My brain is like an Internet browser; 12 tabs are open and 5 of them are not responding, there's a GIF playing in an endless loop,... and where is that annoying music coming from?
User avatar
johnnyk
Legend
Legend
Posts: 2852
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2005 1:23 pm

Re: Sub Layer of Deceit?

Post by johnnyk »

They don't waste things in China, though...
NoWaste.jpg
NoWaste.jpg (25.33 KiB) Viewed 756 times
Happiness can't buy money
Post Reply