Whilst in Thailand I witnessed 3 coups and they are very militaristic in schooling with forced worship of the monarchy.
Saying this, I have never experienced freedom as I did there here.

@puff freedoms such as?

@FrayedBear Want to sell something, go for it! a business license is about $5. $10 to sell smokes and alcohol. My (wifes) land? Decided to erect 3 bungalows, just do it no red tape. Went to police to ask where to re-register bike, they asked "do I leave the province?" I said "not on bike" They responded "I wouldn't bother registering it." All vehicles are like that, you should see some the farmers make with tak tak motors and drive on the road. If you are totally dead poor and homeless, join a temple and you will be looked after.
Just the fact if I whipped down the shop, just jump on bike, no helmet in thongs and do it. And the kids! What a place to grow up they were always out and about, catching frogs and climbing trees, yahooing about.

@puff is there a national health service for all? Police corruption?
What do you catch frogs for?

@FrayedBear Yes, a 30Baht medical scheme ie pay no more than 30 baht, when teaching I was covered. The private hospitals there are the best in the world, rich Arabs and Japanese use them plus cheaper, much cheaper than here eg had to get a wisdom tooth pulled got quoted $1800 in Oz as I had to go under; hooky roots. So I flew to Thailand, got it done Bangkok, spent a week on an island and still came home with change (was cheap flights then, $650 return).
Yes corruption is a thing in Thailand but it is a known quantity so you won't be caught by surprise. Eg if you want a government dept to do something, it's free and you wait a few months. You want it now? Slip them something and barter to get the price down. You can barter for everything in Thailand. Wasn't me chasing frogs, kids. If it moves, eatable.
Australia is far more corrupt imo but it's higher up. Not foot slogger cops but their bosses. Barry Moise in Adelaide, head of the drug squad. Councils get paid off in Aust and our politicians like making very bad deals like selling prime farm land, Lake Argyle etc. Anyone here vote for AUKUS? Funding Ukraine? Nope. Many public servants retire millionaires.

@puff look at the woman running the Robo debt scandal. She's still got her nose in the trough.

@FrayedBear Exactly. How about this shit. Negotiated with a government that gives standing ovations to wanted war criminals and a demented leader. The other mob? It's sad. In 3 decades time, AI will have developed far superior propulsion systems.
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@puff [digital-print-edition.austcommunitymedia.com.au]?