impulse

That's what they said about tulip bulbs...

Nope. I'm just curious. I guess it's like P4P, which we also can't discuss. But I know how P4P works... No mystery there. I've always figured that one way to avoid falling afoul of the rules is to know what that looks like. Over the years, we occasionally read about guys who hired an agent but later found out the agent did dodgy stuff for a WP or an extension. I'm not advocating the dodgy stuff. But I would like to know how to tell if an agent may be cutting corners or doing something that may come around and bite me.

I don't claim to know the mechanics. I was just differentiating between going to an agent because you don't like waiting in line and going to an agent because you don't meet the requirements. Though, if a fellow doesn't have 400K or 800K to his name, and still gets an extension that requires 400K or 800K in the bank, I am curious how that does work...

I'd bet you can count on the fingers of one hand the percentage of foreign retirees that made their money in Thailand. If I look at the lifestyle I can afford in the USA on SS alone (for example) vs the lifestyle I could afford on that same monthly in Thailand (or Mexico), that would be a no-brainer. Thailand or Mexico... And if I had any nest egg at all, it could last decades in Thailand, but dwindle to nothing in a few years at US rental rates, food costs, etc.

I don't judge. I can think of a thousand ways to go bankrupt in the USA at no fault of your own. If it happens early, you can recover. If it happens close to retirement, too bad. Enron employees...(Caught out several extended family members) Healthcare issues (my niece's hubby needed $250K in kidney treatment. His Dad paid that out of his retirement fund... His reasoning: How can I enjoy retirement if I let my son die?) Restaurants during Covid... There's 1000 ways... There but for the Grace of God.

Maybe. Maybe not. Back in 1998, you could also stay in Thailand long term on a dozen visa dodges and programs that just don't work today. Unless you have a WP, there's no telling when they'll start cracking down on whatever "occupation" you choose. I suspect the 700+ foreigners they caught out recently on Phuket thought they were safe... And let's see what happens when the Revenue Department has some incentive to scrutinize money coming into Thailand at tax time in 2025.

That's assuming you're on the income method and not on the "money in the bank" method. Lots of guys are whittling away at their 400K or 800K and then have to go to dodgy agents. (The ones that can fake a bank statement) Not hard to imagine they'll eventually struggle to pay the agents. Bad news, though. If you're struggling in Thailand, "back home" isn't going to be any cheaper. Being a Covid refugee for a couple of years proved that to me. The saving grace is that you can pick up a job back home. But unless you have some special skill, that just qualifies you for a miserable existence.

Late to the party, but just wanted to express my appreciation for the info. I went to a couple of Thai roundups pre-Covid and thoroughly enjoyed them. I wish they had more events each year to get together with other recovering folk. Great to have an alternative to the usual expat bar scene.

I see the scrunchy faced emoji posse has shown up. Thanks for the endorsement.

If only they hadn't solved the problems, before Joe's executive orders unsolved them. Joe just made 3 glaring admissions: 1) The border is a mess. It is not, as the Biden team has insisted, "secure" 2) He doesn't care about the border (or nation security), just the votes and just in an election year. 3) He's had the power all along, but chose not to exercise it. In fact, he chose to exercise the power to make it worse. By leaps and bounds.

Nothing inconsistent about it. Healthcare legislation based on medical technology and and public sentiment of 1864 probably needs to be updated. But he'd leave it up to the state to decide the updates.

If anyone believes he won't do a 180 the day after the election, I have a bridge I'll sell them. It's in Baltimore.

A programming error, or a narrative feature? The "blunder" was making it so obvious. It's supposed to be subtle.

Should have written Mayvy ❤️ Beer. 'Cause almost all nationalities luv beer. And Mayvy is pretty cross cultural.

Back home that would be referred to as a "settlement offer". And I doubt it meets the criteria for a "bribe" in Thailand, either. With the defining characteristic being that a bribe is illegal. Wouldn't it be a kick in the nuts if he sued her for defamation. And won?

Whatever they build, I hope they create some higher ground for when Bangkok is underwater from sea level rise and/or subsidence. If they start 5 years ago, they may beat the rising tide... It does seem a waste of a prime central location to have such dirty industry and heavy truck traffic. Probably worked well when Bangkok was 1/4 of its current population. Betcha the poor residents of Khlong Toey end up SOL, whatever they decide.

If just 1% of the S American newcomers are gang members and desperate criminals, that's 100,000 criminals who are naturally going to end up in Latino neighborhoods where they speak the language. Sucking up Dem giveaways like health care and housing that the residents had to earn, and now have to pay for. I suspect that's a more pragmatic reason to move away from voting Dem. And I suspect (hope) that this is bigger than Trump and 2024. It's about Dems buying votes with tax money, and ignoring the plight of existing Americans, for cheap pandering. And they don't even hide it. Or maybe they're so arrogant that they take their base voters for granted.

Gonna suck for the Dems to let in millions of newcomers only to find out they believe in conservative values, fairness, and meritocracy. And that's the way they'll vote...

Who said it failed?

So, your "63 lawsuits with no wins" came from a statement that Biden made on Jan 7, 2021? Long before any lawsuits could have possibly made it through any real proceeding? Other than the "63" being wrong, "before the Supreme Court" being wrong, "none was successful" being wrong, I guess I'd have to agree with the rest.

Jeez, not only did you get the facts wrong, you're not even in the right country. https://jakartaglobe.id/news/constitutional-court-receives-63-lawsuits-disputing-election-results But, like I posted before, you can make up anything you want about Trump and it won't get taken down here.

They never changed their tune. They never figured removal from office was even a remote possibility, just on the votes alone. Let alone the mind bending possibility of a Kamala presidency. They just wanted the investigation for the subpoena power. Of course, it would have been politically stupid to say that going in.

They're generally very tolerant of inappropriate (and even rude) behavior on the part of foreigners.

3 reasons, actually. 1) Impeachment is a political process, and they could have video of Joe walking across the Whitehouse lawn with a bloody machete in one hand and a severed head in the other, and the Dems still wouldn't vote to remove him from office. 2) Kamala Harris. Best insurance a president could hope for if impeachment were a possibility. Like, if he knew he was telling campaign porkies about influence peddling and figured the truth would come out while he's in office. 3) Even if they did manage to remove him from office, Kamala could pardon him (a'la Ford/Nixon). Wait for a new president to prosecute him as a private citizen and I doubt a pardon is in the cards. Makes no sense to actually impeach him. But it makes a lot of sense to use the subpoena power of a House Impeachment investigation to compel witnesses and demand records.

Biden's former White House stenographer for 6 years figures it was the latter. The Hur report would have you believe it's the former. McCormick courageously identifies US government officials who assisted Joe Biden in his evil schemes, including then president Barack Obama. And McCormick names the journalists who continue to cover for the Obama–Biden corruption. Despite all the evidence, he has not yet been asked to testify under oath about what he saw. That’s why he’s written this book. https://www.amazon.com/Case-Impeach-Imprison-Joe-Biden/dp/B0CQRKXVFH But give it time... They've gathered enough evidence in the Hur report and the impeachment investigation to hang the guy. But they can't prosecute a sitting president, and impeaching him would result in an even worse disaster with President Harris. (I shuddered even typing that). Let's see what happens when he's citizen "The Big Guy". I would note that the Hur Report just recommended not prosecuting the guy. It doesn't exonerate him, or preclude the next Justice Department from picking it back up. Here's the Hur Report: https://www.justice.gov/storage/report-from-special-counsel-robert-k-hur-february-2024.pdf And here's the Impeachment Investigation: https://oversight.house.gov/landing/biden-family-investigation/ (because, apparently you need a link to slam Biden, while you can make up whatever you want about Trump)