[adultcomicssitedessaa]

My wife was talking to a couple of her friends, both of whom just came back from Thailand, and neither of which knows the other. The story was similar from both, and makes me think the everyday Thai economy is heading to hell in a handbasket.

Friend number 1 told of how she was in a taxi and was forced off the road by baht buses in jomtien. the bus drivers said nobody carries passengers in their area without paying, threatening to kill the cabbie. Then they expected her to jump in their bus and pay again for the same trip. She refused. The baht bus drivers asked for 200 baht to take her 3 blocks. She is Thai, and 8 months pregnant. She asked them why they were being so unreasonable, and they said the thai mafia upped the cut that regular baht bus drivers have to pay per day and they have trouble making any money at all.

Friend number 2 had several unsettling experiences, being followed down the street and heckled for looking wealthy. Things like "you look like you have enough money, why can't you give me some?" Not your normal begging or panhandling, the lady described it as being done with venom, to the point where she felt unsafe.

Friend number 1 reported that her brothers were going on and on about how the economy's screwed up and it's the fault of the rich / westerners / bourgeois. In all seriousness they advocated taking things from the wealthy and giving them to the poor.

Friend 2 reported that the road from Rayong to Korat had 3 checkpoints where police demanded money as opposed to the normal 1.

Friend 2 also reported that hotels are desperate to fill rooms and are laying off staff.

Friend 1 reported that there are local "community organizations" (aka street gangs) doubling their protection money demands, and bars and restaurants months behind their rents everywhere you look.

I may be paranoid, but I fear that this kind of anti-wealth anger coupled with traditional thai class distinctions and the recent political chaos might breed the perfect scenario for something bad to happen. Economy collapses, everyone blames the foreigners and wealthy thais, some populist makes a move (does the name Thaksin ring a bell?). Not quite a communist takeover, but possibly a huge nationalist grassroots power grab with results like zimbabwe (forced nationalization of assets, limiting foreigners' rights).

Would not surprise me one bit