Thai Immigration Chiang Mai requiring proof of income

[frequent]

I fail to see why one's income should be of any concern to the Thai authorities - it's not as if they're going to be doling benefits and free health care out to you should you become penniless - they'd just let you starve or die, or both.

They don't care if you become penniless - they want to ensure you have money to spend. Foreign visitors are merely ATMs don't forget, and there's nothing less useful than an empty ATM. Since visas are only extended year by year, all retirees are merely long-term visitors