I don't think Laos can do what Japan and South Korea did. Look at Thailand, a similar culture to Laos which received a lot of western influence. What have they produced? Japan and South Korea have innovative cultures, while Laos and Thailand do not.

I'm not denying that lack of access to the ocean plays a role in the poverty in Laos, but Lao people are also rather lazy, and I'm saying this from experience, being Lao myself. A lot of the men don't even work and just have their wives work while they lay at home drinking beer and watching TV. Many Thai men are the same way.

Lao people are among the laziest in the world. And if you bring it up, Lao people will get angry and blame their backward state on the US bombing campaign or Thai incursions. One reason why they are underdeveloped is because they are landlocked, just like Switzerland. Even when Lao people go to the US or other western countries they're poor and they talk shit about Chinese and Korean immigrants even though other Asian immigrants are far more successful and have far higher levels of wealth, prosperity, and education.

The Chinese are ultimately going to direct the future of Laos. To a lesser extent extent the Vietnamese. Lao people are going to become a minority group in their own country and they have nobody but themselves to blame for it. If your development strategy is selling off your assets and if the wealthiest people in the country are either glorified policemen or glorified prostitutes, you will never become great.

I hate being negative about Laos because the Lao people are also the most non-violent, approachable, and friendly people in the world. They also have the best posture of any group of people from my observations. But the cultural proclivity to lie, the lack of education or the desire for an education, the lack of a work ethic, and the feudal attitude are really holding back the Lao people.

It would be great if Laos was simply isolated from the rest of the world but in a global capitalist system intelligence and a work ethic are the only things that matter.

Buk Nut wrote on 14^th Jul, 2016 at 12:32pm:

They haven't even thought into it that far. They just don't give a shit. Build a new school in the provinces or have enough money to wine and dine the mia noi for a year? Most will choose the second option.

I will pick the second

TexasCowboy wrote on 19^th Jul, 2016 at 12:54pm:

Bhutan has everything going for it. I really do love the fact that I am priced out of ever visiting the country because that means only a small number of wealthy tourists have access to the country. They also have a complete culture and have had a complete culture for centuries.

Getting a visa isn't the issue but you have to have a travel itinerary and an officially sponsored guide. It costs $250 per day to travel in Bhutan. The price includes food and accomodation, travel arrangements, tourist guide, tickets, etc.

It is possible to teach in Bhutan if you have a master's degree in education.

Liberals are the most ignorant type of person and what is infuriating about them is that they think consider themselves to be enlightened humanists. The average liberal isn't used to arguing with someone who is informed so it's usually easy to catch them off guard.

Anyways, Bhutan is a tiny country with a tiny population. It's unreasonable to expect them to welcome Nepalese farmers with open arms. I have nothing against Nepalese people either. Many of them are friendly. But what could the Bhutanese possibly stand to gain by letting them into Bhutan?