Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing this notion of a "Zero Sum" mentality, a "Zero Sum" game associated with the restrictions, what the Government says are restrictions related to COVID-19 here in Thailand.

I started thinking about this in earnest after reading a recent article from the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article was titled: Pattaya Sandbox Idea Still Needs a Whole lot of Detail. Good information in there by the way and a lot of insights into a lot of different things especially going on in Pattaya and more broadly. What I thought was really interesting was this excerpt which is on point for this video. Quoting directly: "A key concern for Pattaya is what “Sandbox” visitors would do once here. At present, all bars and clubs are closed and entertainment largely restricted to having a meal in an alcohol-free environment, jogging near, not on the beach or next to the cycling tracks at the local reservoirs. Deck chairs, massages and loud music are all outlawed. For all restrictions to be removed, local virus infections must be Zero on a daily basis according to the Thai Tourist Ministry." I mean why and who set that policy?  I am not trying to get into a debate on having to deal with this COVID thing. I get all of that but why has Zero been set as the policy? I mean it seems to me there are many, many different diseases out there that we just have to deal with. They are just in the world. We don't have a "Zero policy" regarding TB; it is an unfortunate disease, it can befall people, we don't shut down everything associated with an economy because it exists. I mean at a certain point I just have to imagine people are going to need to come to the realization that we are just going to have to come to terms with the fact that COVID exists. We can't just be totally moribund in our economies because this thing exists. I understand the concerns about it. I am not trying to downplay that but this third wave, I have said it before and I will say it again, if we don't watch out here in Thailand we could end up with an economy that is absolutely decimated and the economic fallout I think will do much more damage to the lives of individuals and the livelihoods of individuals than probably COVID ever could. 

Now again that is one man's opinion. Reasonable people can disagree but honestly the notion that this has to be down to Zero before anything can reopen, that just seems to me to be really unreasonable thinking.