Emdog

If Putin wants to improve ties, maybe he should tell Donald that a tie should never go below one's belt

He was just throwing out his cigarette butt, trying to be polite

I'm not a Biden fan, and I detest Trump.

I recall from Poli Sci 201 the concept of "log rolling" regarding voting on bills: I'll vote for this if you vote for that. Part of the compromise system that seemed to work.

These days the "need" for purity now and in your past on all issues is why American system resembles WWI trench warfare.

Or that line about politics being like making sausage: you might like the result but don't want to know what or how it was made.

DNA tests of KFC workers and delivery person! Just don't use Koh Tao police... it will come up Burmese

Q: What's the difference between a Porsche and a porcupine?
A: With a porcupine, the pricks are on the outside

Maybe some of you haven't heard this, so thought I'd share

The tariffs (taxes) are estimated to add over $800 per family expenses thanks to Trump. Damaging American businesses while China cleverly expands investments and influence in SE Asia. Where is the TPP when you need it? Oh yeah, Trump bailed on that....

4 hours ago, bristolboy said:

What I don't understand is the insistence on Medicare-For-All as the only righteous health care program. The goal of any national system should be universal health care. Many countries achieve this through strict control of private insurance. Politically, Medicare for All is a nonstarter. About half of all Americans get their health care through work. Most are reasonably satisfied with it. And most, I think, would be alarmed at a mandatory government takeover. Given the botched rollout of the ACA, who can blame them? Far better to have a Medicare option open for whoever wants to take advantage of it regardless of age. Over time, as deductibles in group and individual plans continue to grow, more and more people will opt for the Medicare plan.

Are you from Bristol, UK?

A simple overlooked fact is that universal health care is far cheaper than hit or miss coverage. I'm American, retired here. I get to pay for Medicare every month but since expats never get ill, there is no coverage for me here. Unless I bought a "supplement" to medicare, out of pocket expenses still can be great.... ever priced drugs in USA? All that paperwork in US has to add to cost. Canada is about half the price of USA for similar level of care. Notice the blue parts of lines: out of pocket. That's not coverage.

"The goal of any national system should be universal health care." Agreed. So why wait? Taxes would go up, but how about giving pay raise equal to amount employer was paying for health care? Americans would come out ahead. Even my hard core business owning Republican brother agrees with me on this.

Health care for profit industry has done a good job of brainwashing public.

The way to cut back on illegals that is humane is to help those places immigrants come from. There is long history of oppression, and the USA was a large part of that (not all, but major contributor). Seems it would be in US self interest to return some sense of order and hope to those countries. Sadly, Trump announced cutting aid to the very places that need it most.

Million to one? Okay Boris, I'll bet you a fiver at those odds. Deal?

Let's stop saying Trump is retarded. It is an insult to retarded people.

Rather than addressing the problem of what makes Thailand unattractive to Europeans etc, they choose to entice people from countries that often are more polluted, corrupt, shoddy than here. Makes Thailand look good by comparison.

I eat every week at an Indian restaurant I love, been going since they first opened. I always am given a plate of tandoori chicken, no charge. I leave a 25% tip every time. I'm happy, the staff is happy and the owner is happy.

"They were looking for pirated goods after complaints were received by members of the public." I reckon "the public" means "nearby business owners". Few if any people buying pirate goods think they are getting the genuine article so wouldn't complain.