Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing "What are you going to do about it?" Why are we discussing that phrase? Well we have been discussing on this channel for some time now, the unforeseen consequences and adverse implications of a lot of these non-lockdown/lockdown measures, whatever you want to call them that have been implemented in Thailand in the last two to three months.

This is especially poignant to me because I have seen a lot of clients and a lot of friends really going through a lot of really, really, really hard times and it is painful to watch. I have done a number of videos talking about the cost benefit analysis of all of this. I am not going to get into all of that in this video but I thought it was interesting and I am not necessarily bringing this up because I am staunchly advocating that this is the way to go, in fact to those who are watching out there especially foreign nationals, those who can be found to be violation of the law here in Thailand especially in a criminal capacity you can find yourself subject to deportation. So understand there are consequences, possibly significant, substantial, detrimentally negative consequences to your situation if you violate Thai Law associated with the current situation. I decided to go ahead and make this video more because again actions have consequences. I have talked about this a lot. There needs to be a cost benefit analysis of the so-called benefits that are associated with having all these restaurants shut down and the cost of doing it as well. A couple of articles here I thought have brought this home quite well. 

A recent article from BK Asia City, that is bk.asia-city.com, the article is titled: Fed up with Restrictions without Compensation, bar and restaurant owners grow defiant. Quoting directly: "In another attempt to curb skyrocketing COVID-19 cases in the Thai capital, the country has brought back restrictions that include a ban on dine in at restaurants, limited opening hours for shopping malls and the closure of construction camps. Some angry bar and restaurant owners don't plan to sit idly this time. Claiming little or no support and citing the late-night and last-minute announcement of restrictions, restaurant and bar owners are at a tipping point especially those who own nightlife venues which have been shut since April and are not likely to reopen anytime soon." Quoting further: "Some are turning to civil disobedience. On Sunday June 27, Prapavee “Bamee” Hemata, - the person behind the Beer Wanderlust blog - announced a plan to challenge the new restrictions dubbed: Koo Ja Peurd, Muang Ja Tam Mai Wa, roughly translated to: “F* the rules, I will open”. The campaign encourages nightlife venues to operate with limited seating and defy the rules altogether." So for those who are interested, again that is bk.asia-city.com, the article is titled: Fed up with Restrictions without Compensation, bar and restaurant owners grow defiant.  

Then moving over to Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com, they have also taken note of this. Quoting directly: "On Wednesday General Nattaporn urged restaurant owners and operators not to join a campaign of civil disobedience being drummed up on social media which calls on restaurants and eateries to defy the dine-in ban. He said the Government is aware of the Koo Ja Peurd, Muang Ja Tam Mai and that is hashtag; in this version it is: "Will open, what are you going to do about it?" campaign.

Quoting further: "On her Facebook page, Pannika Wanich spokeswoman for the Progressive Movement bemoaned the "unfair law" being enforced on restaurants and eateries against which people must mount stiff resistance. She also asked restaurants and eateries to sign up for the campaign. Organizers said on Facebook the campaign will be launched in three stages. Stage 1 will see the opening of 10 to 15 participating restaurants and eateries in each Bangkok District where live music will be played but patrons would be limited to no more than 20." Quoting further: "In stage 2, alcohol will be served, with businesses open to close friends and regular customers only. In stage 3 restaurants and beer gardens will be set up on roads where protest speeches will be made. The organizer said they have hired lawyers to help defend participating restaurants and eateries in Court for breaking the Executive Decree on Security and Public Health." Again, I urge folks to go to Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com, check out further information on that.

The point of this video, we have done a lot of videos on this and it is one of the reasons why I have been rather adamant that a different look at these restrictions is probably in order. There is a commentator who is often on YouTube and he is with the Trends research and Trends Report, a guy named Gerald Celente and he will often use the phrase: "When people lose everything and have nothing left to lose, they lose it." He has been quoted as saying that many times; it is almost a catch phrase of his and that happens. I am here to tell you, we have seen a lot of clients who were unable to keep going and we are also seeing a number of clients right now, who are on just the edge, they don't really have much left to lose. And it is another reason why I think these sweeping Draconian shutdowns without a lot of perhaps nuanced thought behind whether or not a) they are actually having a beneficial impact and b) what is the detrimental impact of these, what is the positive versus what is the negative without a lot of analysis of those points? It can lead to these unforeseen consequences where you can have some real tension out there and these reports seem to be confirming that logic.

My hope is that this all calms down and we don't see this escalate into something that becomes a feedback loop of its own. My hope is that comes about by all parties taking a reasoned approach to dealing with this further and hopefully we can pull through this summer without there being any more negative implications for the Thai people and the Thai economy.