Criticism of the US was overdone

Okay, it’s got plenty of flaws, but show me Utopia … I thought that Obama was going to ‘Hope and Change’ away all that ‘Good Ol’ Boy’ back-handed stuff? So? Where is it Guy? And in Thailand? Perhaps for the rich and powerful 10-15 per cent, Bangkok-dominant elite who control half or more of the nations’ wealth, land and machinations of power, yes it is.
Utopia’s certainly not in the teeming and dirty sois and streets of most of Bangkok for the millions of low-level and meagrely paid staff slogging their way to work through the throngs in the cars, taxis, trains, boats and buses on the ever crowded and polluted system of canals and streets…The BTS is packed to the gills in rush hour, and well, that’s just life, Bangkok. (Their stock is sure to be on the mend and we can see why!)
The red shirts rank and file supporters are pretty much on the same wavelength as Occupy Wall Street -without the backing from a certain Dubai/Hong Kong- based individual’s syndicate of corrupt and greedy-to-the-core network of crooked cronies, along with a feral and bombastic group of never-say-die hard core communists who hold the puppet (and purse) strings – and that’s a damn shame. This also debases an otherwise possibly ideal-worthy movement of Thai rural and working class grass-roots aspirations to achieve a form of parity in the eyes of those of the old guard and elite who still hold much of the power in Bangkok, albeit in a disjointed effort.
And I do mean ‘syndicate’, as you will never see ‘The Golden Don’ or his closest cronies go to jail, my friend, which is why the government leadership now is so ‘All in the Family’.
Regarding Mr Baker as an American expat, rarely has a single word of praise for his homeland ever been penned.
Thais are among the most patriotic people on this planet – maybe it’s a quality Guy could learn, and it’s probably way too late to mention the billions that flow annually in relief efforts, support for the UN (yes, the US pays the lion’s share), disease prevention, education, infrastructure development, etc. (Bush’s legacy of Aids funding in Africa is renowned- like him or not).
The Japanese disaster last year? The US Navy tried to help by ship (radiation was a major problem and prevented them bringing in aid or launching relief efforts by sea), … or maybe ask Indonesia about the US aircraft carriers’ floating relief command centre and countless hours and tonnes of relief supplies the US Navy donated aboard helicopters or that was airlifted in following the horrific tsunami, while medical personnel and development relief efforts slogged laboriously in disaster relief. Thailand, however chooses to refuse most overt gestures by the American military or officially sponsored relief or research projects these days. But face it, there’s a relationship there that’s built to last – and it’s not going away anytime soon. They’ve got their own game, too. You get the point…
Siam Man
Bangkok