Finally really happening or just another quick flash for publicity?

[Jun]

IF. Why am I not holding my breath . . . ?

Well, if anything, I have the impression that the establishment is looking to increase corruption, rather than decrease it.
Too many law changes only make sense if we assume that's the objective.

[Dodger]

I really don't have any room to criticise the corruption in Thailand - for the mere fact that if prostitution was not so readily available I would never have returned to Thailand after completing my work assignment here. As we all know, prostitution is illegal in Thailand and ONLY survives because of Thailand's corrupt underpinnings.

This brings to mind that old saying..."be careful what you ask for - because you just might get it."

[Gaybutton]

ONLY survives because of Thailand's corrupt underpinnings.

And is largely ignored. It is not uncommon to see news items about prostitutes who actually went to the police because their "client" refused to pay. Unfortunately, I have yet to see any follow-up telling us what, if anything, the police did about it, but the prostitutes weren't arrested, fined, or anything else.

[Jun]

I really don't have any room to criticise the corruption in Thailand - for the mere fact that if prostitution was not so readily available I would never have returned to Thailand after completing my work assignment here. As we all know, prostitution is illegal in Thailand and ONLY survives because of Thailand's corrupt underpinnings.

On that, I agree.
Also, prostitution is affordable due to corruption holding back the economies of several countries in the region. It's not how it should be, but we don't do badly out of that either.

[christianpfc]

20,000 people per year get killed on the roads

You attribute that number of deaths to BiB taking bribes? I fail to see the correlation. Most of those traffic deaths - around 70% - 80% according to Google - are motorbike accident deaths.

Many of these death are drunk driving, speeding, no helmet, minors without driving license. If all traffic laws were followed or enforced, many could still be alive. So yes, corruption kills!

Furthermore, corruption is a mindset. It's a few hundred Baht bribe for a minor traffic offense, and goes into millions and billions at larger construction or infrastructure projects, and causes great damage to the country or economy or population.

[Jun]

Furthermore, corruption is a mindset. It's a few hundred Baht bribe for a minor traffic offense, and goes into millions and billions at larger construction or infrastructure projects, and causes great damage to the country or economy or population.

For instance, all these railway upgrade projects, where the objective is to build enormous stations and daft elevated tracks, whilst still not providing a fast or frequent rail service. What's the point of dual track upgrades, if they don't upgrade the train service to take advantage?

[Gaybutton]

If all traffic laws were followed or enforced

In my opinion, at least in Pattaya, enforcement is the problem. And it is a double edge sword. There are simply nowhere near enough police officers to provide truly effective enforcement, especially since there are so many drivers who seem to think traffic laws, safe driving, and common courtesy are merely suggestions to be ignored.

However, the other side of the coin is if there are more police officers, then it is also more out there trying to collect tea money . . .

[Dodger]

.......corruption is a mindset..

That's an extremely important observation.

In the West "Corruption" is viewed as an illegal fraudulent act performed by those with criminal intent and punishable by law. Corruption is a bad thing - bad karma.

In Thailand, "Corruption" is simply a way-of-life. Referred to as "kan thut charit" in Thai (thank you Jai), corruption is simply the way things work at every level of society. Illegal - yes, but deemed as acceptable to the extent that Thais don't necessarily view this as being "bad" or generating bad karma.

Thais don't think in terms of "bribes". They consider the money that's being paid during corrupt interactions simply as being kan thut charit, e.g., if you want to park your food stall in a no-parking area you just pay a commission. If you want to get a good job you just pay a commission. If you want to avoid going to the police station to pay a traffic ticket you can just pay a commission. If you want to operate a business illegally, you can just pay a commission. And the list goes on and on.

Commissions are paid to the BIB regularly because without these commissions there wouldn't be any BIB. Point being, the average salary for a Thai policeman is equal to, or sometimes less than, a 7- Eleven clerk. They take these positions with the understanding that their menial salaries are just half of their total income - with "commissions" making up the other half.

So when I hear someone say..."let's just stop all the BIB from taking bribes". I have to chuckle, because who's going to stop them? Kan thut charit is so deeply ingrained in Thai culture that its become part of its natural tapestry.

On a personal note, I don't let any of this bother me. I knew what it was like before I moved here...the good by far outweighs the bad...and I don't break any laws to begin with.

[Gaybutton]

On a personal note, I don't let any of this bother me. I knew what it was like before I moved here...the good by far outweighs the bad...and I don't break any laws to begin with.

I feel exactly the same way. If you are in their country, then you have to accept the way things work. Either that or be constantly angered and frustrated. Minor corruption is just the way it is. Major corruption, that's a different story. Nevertheless both minor and major corruption is, I believe, here to stay. Always was and always will be. I definitely dislike the more serious corruption, but I also realize there is nothing I can do about it.

If I want to see major serious corruption, all I have to do is look at the USA and read about what Trump is up to today . . .

[Jun]

I don't let it bother me, most of the time. I agree we have to accept Thailand as it is, with the good points far outweighing the bad points for a farang visitor.

Obviously, it's inconvenient if I spend 2 hours 20 minutes in an immigration queue at Aranya Prathet, because Thai immigration are on a deliberate go slow, to persuade people to pay 1000 for VIP service. My solution is to avoid entering Thailand at that border.