soalbundy

He is obviously not a gentleman.

At years end we expats will be taxed on our pensions from abroad, I was referring to this unhappy state of affairs. Since we will be taxed without representation I think it only fair that we should have some of the welfare advantages enjoyed by Thais.

That should also include tax paying expats who instead get legally screwed to paying 3 times the amount for hospital treatment than a Thai, we should also be included in the 30 Baht scheme, let us get something out of this instead of being eternally screwed.

Respect has to earned, the poor child was put under intolerable pressure by her alcoholic grandmother and lacked the maturity or opportunity to respond or escape, my sympathy is with the girl, the number of stab wounds relates to helplessness, pent up frustration and anger, she needs help, not punishment

The international taxation laws have a purpose, stashing away illegal loot in a foreign bank account has been made almost impossible, there are no doubt innovativ methods that could be used but once a tax office opens it's jaws its like a dog with a bone, Big Joke is fvcked.

Reality, reality, nobody will sit still and starve to death. Either the lucky countries help out (impossible in my opinion) or people will flood uncontrollably northwards, peoples migration 2,000 years ago was almost normal and threatened Rome's existence despite being the most powerful state on earth. The Zulu expansion of territory 2 to 300 years ago caused huge migrations on the African continent, once it starts it is impossible to stop.

Prison first, missionaries are a curse, disrupting communities which promotes alcoholism and prostitution, these bigots are so full of themselves, why don't they try it in a Muslim country? Jesus may save them from stoning and if not they will surely enter heaven

Plus, 'you aint seen nothing yet' wait until global warming makes life impossible in southern regions, there will be a human tsunami heading north, borders only work in normal circumstances where there is at least a minimal respect for the law, when this breaks down all hell will erupt and will be uncontrollable.

I've lost my desire.

He would probably be in more financial difficulty back home, he's an old man who handled out of desperation and he wont be the last, times are getting hard.

You have the government you have, giving in to fractious mob rule would lead to chaos. Government policies, especially global politics, are complicated with many points to consider beyond domestic considerations. The considerations regarding housing has become a problem worldwide, certainly in all western countries, but it has been made worse by the greed of large organizations such as 'Black Rock' among others. Government power to alter such situations is limited as capitalism has a different agenda. As for Ukraine, its again complicated, geopolitics, money, the military industrial complex, Nato, verses Russia, etc. but one thing is certain, appeasement towards aggression is never a good idea, WW2 could have been averted if Britain and France had acted immediately when Germany reoccupied the Reinland, Hitler said as much to his generals when he ordered the troops in, he would withdraw at the first sign of military opposition......there was none. Ukraine's security is important to the west, it would be a mistake to encourage a despot like Putin who, if unchecked, would go farther than Ukraine. It is unfortunate that there is no longer a global world power, America gave up that baton during the Vietnam war (which really was completely unnecessary), instead power is now fragmented into blocks, the US and Europe on one side and China and Russia on the other (very simply put) with nobody trusting the other and each member of the blocks failing economically, the world is awash in debt and consequently aggression and populations wanting answers and solutions where there are none despite demagogues like Trump or Putin insisting there are simple solutions, honesty, such as that displayed by Churchill in WW2 where he said to the public, "I have nothing to offer you except blood, toil, sweat and tears," is missing in our leaders today who refuse to tell it as it is. There will be better times but the world will have to go through a dark valley of hardship first........just my opinion.

Know your place!!

Typical, trying to sell him on his good points but ignoring the bad side of him.

The Baht to Euro exchange has in the past been a lot lower than it is today and I managed OK then, also my pension from Germany has increased a lot from then so I don't have any problems with the exchange rate as it is now, it would have to go considerably lower before it affects me and I don't anticipate that.

The military are inherently right wing but they live in a democratic country and are duty bound to accept the election results, any uprising using violence is an act of treason. That scenario is highly unlikely, it would be a catastrophe for America and wouldn't be accepted by western governments who would turn their backs on the insurgents.

I doubt returning to western nations is the answer, one may pay less tax (or not) but the cost of living, especially housing would negate any advantage, also there are now less and less tax free havens combined with a low cost of living. Many, like myself, who have family here can't just up sticks and move, I will just have to submit.

I can agree with much of what you have written but it is still a business, a job that many do well, they are fun and fun loving and although partying in a good bar is better than working in the fields and brings in more money it can take its toll. I was never one to dip my toe deeply into the sex scene through fear of aids at that time although I had my moments but I enjoyed the bar life in Chiang Mai and struck up a few friendships with bar girls which I considered genuine because I wanted no sexual favours from them. One instance caught my attention when I met a newbie with a college education one year (before I lived here permanently), she was a lovely person. When I returned the next year I met her again at the same bar and bought her a meal and thought we could continue our chatty relationship, we could but I found she had changed considerably, she had become as hard as nails, bitter and disappointed with life, she had paid off her education debt but couldn't find a job matching her credentials and had resigned herself to being an อีตัว or slut, in her own words. Many regard the bar life as temporary, meeting Mr right perhaps, but that happens rarely and before they know it they are 35 and going downhill. They play their part well but rarely do they have any respect for their punters.

Why wouldn't he have dementia, he seems to have everything else.

The older one gets the less there is to worry about, the man with a noose around his neck must be the most carefree man in the world.

You are suffering from verbal diarrhea in written form and have probably ingested an illegal substance at the same time.

What I don't understand is that the Euro has risen against the dollar (ok due to dollars weakness) but fallen against the baht

I'm afraid I can't help you there, the man has no class, no grace, little intelligence and has all of the vices I dislike and none of the virtues I admire. Even his own mother said she had raised a monster which indicates some childhood trauma in his upbringing which could account for his blustering to cover up his insecurity. The fact that he has turned the GOP into a party of sycophants isn't just his fault, it shows a general trend of spinelessness in the political class willing to pander to the lowest common denominator of the voting public, with a few notable exceptions. I am not sure about the qualities of Kamala Harris but she will win if only because Trump as an alternative is too awful to contemplate, at least she can be expected to abide by democracy and has no delusions of being a dictator.

Marriage anywhere is like a transactional agreement and has lost its validity these days, where men get the short stick but at least it starts off as a relationship of mutual attraction. Do you really think a 20 year old Thai girl enjoys the groping and company of an overweight 65 year old who can't speak her language? The ''relationship'' is only made palatable with money, prostitution is a job and Thai girls are better at it than their western sisters, they can make the experience fun, they are born actresses and can keep up the act for weeks at a time. The punter should realize this to keep himself safe, play along by all means, it's part of the enjoyment but know you are just a number to be crossed off the list of 'handsam' men.

He is the swamp

If you want a comparison of the two parties you should start a new post, this is completely different from your original question. A Rep bad, Dem good or vice versa post will lead nowhere anyway.