jas007

The US government, if you're an American and that's the kind of "money" you have. So, you never know who has control, right? And that's the problem, in a nutshell. You no longer control your life. Someone else does. Look what Trudeau did in Canada. It's a bad idea to give anyone that kind of control.

How did this thread devolve into an argument about who had cell phones and computers in 1999? Why does it matter? In 1999, everyone I worked with had cell phones. Everyone I worked with had high speed internet access both at home and at work. As for myself, I had a computer at home since the early 1980s, although back then everyone had dial-up modems for online access and phone bills could get expensive. Comouserve and Genie were also expensive and the charges were by the hour. I first looked at the Internet way back then, but I had to dial into a university to see it, and it was text based, as I recall. Internet browsers didn't come along until Netscape? in the 1990s. I think I bought my first cell phone in the mid 90s sometime. A little Motorola flip phone. Anyway, from what I can tell, most people in America are having a hard time affording much of anything these days without going into debt, which pretty much rules out any kind of extensive travel. Inflation is not much fun.

I think the name of the game is inflation. The currency will continue to be destroyed, so much so that there will be no need to "eliminate" Social Security. You'll still get a check, and with that check you might be able to buy a cup of coffee. It looks like they wand to eventually move to a Central Bank Digital Currency. Of course, the powers that be will control the CBDC, which is not good if you value your freedom. They'll be able to control how and where your money is spent. They'll be able to track every penny.

The problem is this: even if you're 100% correct, Trump is still the President. And he's going to do something, like it or not. But, the alternative is much much worse. So it's a bad situation and we hope for the best outcome.

I'm pretty sure Medicaid can't be collected overseas by anyone. Vets in need of care while overseas can apply for benefits administered by the VA. I forget what it's called, but they are covered if they qualify. If they're in the states, then they can always collect Medicaid if they qualify. Some states supplement the federal benefit amount.

I don't believe for a second that Trump is in any way a puppet of Putin. I do believe that Trump is a realist and knows the war has been won by Russia. And he sees no reason why another million young men need to be fed into the meat grinder. Ukraine has been all but ruined by the proxy war. Trump wants the killing to stop. There's no point to it. If that means agreeing to some of Putin's demands, that's the way it is. Wars have an end. This one ends sooner, rather than later, and the result is the same.

The tax treaty means exactly what it says. I think you get mixed up by focusing on the "double taxation" idea. Bottom line: government pensions and Social Security are taxable in the country of origin, ONLY.

No matter how you look at it, inflation hits poor people the hardest. The rich have first access to the money and are therefore in a better position to adjust. Not so with the poor. Anyway, like it or not, Trump is now President. He has a plan and we had all better hope it works. Otherwise, there will be no America. Just chaos. I'm not sure people realize just how fragile the system is. Nobody will receive pensions. Nobody will receive Social Security. And your "money" will be worthless. Why would anyone support such a scenario? Only people intent on destroying America.

I think if you read the relevant tax treaty, you'll find that government pensions and social security benefits are taxable in the country of origin, only.

They're brainwashed. And they probably don't realize that the optics aren't favorable. It's sort of funny, when you think about it. That's been the story of the "Democrat" party for a while, right? Take the most ridiculous nonsense possible, and try to make it seem "normal.."

You can try to deflect the issue all night. Reciprocal tariffs, or not? And if you don't understand the word reciprocal, go look it up. I'll wait.

You have to be kidding. I'm pretty sure cops drive down the street every day, more or less. They aren't blind. Anyway, I'm sure it's all a matter for the police, not for Thai Immigration.

You're talking to a stupid AI agent. AI is more than that. Those little AI bots are just toys, and are subject to biases introduced by their creators. In a sense, large language models have their limits. Namely, they reflect the biases inherent in ti n the herd. The mob of nutcases that have been brainwashed, and that brainwashing is reflected in the responses from the AI bot. Where it get interesting is when AI begins to think for itself. That's almost here.

Reciprocal. Tariff on shoes? Ditto for the USA. Tariff on audio speakers, ditto. Tit for tat. Don't muddy the water with nonsense.

I have a limited sample. Four different agencies plus two years on active duty in the US Army during Vietnam. Anyway, I've been a manager. I've also seen what goes on, typically. People can look like they're working, but what are they accomplishing? You can go by their office and there they are, "hard at work." And yet they take two or three days to accomplish what a competent employee could accomplish in three hours. Are they doing that on purpose, or are they just stupid? I never tried to fire anyone, but the people playing games didn't get any good recommendations from me. Sometimes, I wonder whatever happened to them. They probably never got another promotion, ever.

I'm here on Wongamat Beach, in Pattaya. Russians are everywhere. And if I walk down the street, I see Russian travel booths set up. II'm not sure about motorcycle or car rentals or weed shops. We have those kinds of businesses here in the neighborhood. But if there are Russians running these businesses, what stops the Thai police from checking up on them? They seem to be operating out in the open. Anyway, how many Thais speak Russian and can be guides for Russians here on vacation?

Is he really "picking" on Canada? What part of "reciprocal" don't you understand? It''s a simple concept.

The world is not a fair place. Anyone who doesn't know that should learn it. Anyway, I haven't met too many people who have extreme wealth and have earned that money from "hard work." They were all lucky. They inherited their money, or, they happened to be at the right place at the right time. But it makes them feel better if they think they "earned" it. Then again, what is "wealth"? It probably isn't money. I'm nowhere near being a billionaire. But I make more money than most, if not all, of the Thais I come across every day. I can't fix that, but I try to be nice and make a difference when I can. Why not? I once spent 17 hours talking to one of the most wealthy men in the world. He was next to me on a plane from Bangkok to NYC. At first, I didn't know who he was, but I later figured it out. Anyway, his advice to me: go have fun. Travel. You can lose your money in a day, but they can never take away your memories. The source of his wealth: inheritance. Don't overthink things. It'll drive you crazy.

This discussion could go on all day. The great evil? How about a raid on the US Treasury? That was done deliberately, to destroy the USA. That's another discussion for another day, but it's real and it did happen. Now, how to fix the mess? I'm not sure what the current debt clock shows, but I do know that it's mathematically unsustainable. At a certain interest rate, all bets are off. You don't want to be anywhere on planet earth when that happens.

People always talk about foreigners taking jobs away from Thais by working illegally. What jobs, exactly, would someone do "illegally"? What foreigner would want to work for 400 baht a day as a security guard or a clerk at a convenience store? And whatever the Russias are doing here, how is that taking away jobs from Thai people? What jobs, exactly? It seems to me that, if there is a problem, that problem should be addressed by the Thai police, not at the immigration counter.

The Austrian school believes in "free trade" and limited government interference, to be sure. Sounds good in theory, but in Trump's mind, there's not free trade in the world for the USA. Other countries impose tariffs on US goods, and so what works in theory doesn't work too well in practice. The US is getting a bad deal, on the whole. Trump wants reciprocal tariffs, to level the playing field and, in so doing, take government interference out of the equation. Will it work? I'm not sure, but my best guess is that the alternative is even worse. So, let's hope Trump succeeds despite all the political opposition. They're up against a great evil and what they're trying to do my or may not work, but it's worth a shot.

Maybe the tariffs will work and maybe they won't. Right now, many people around the world are parroting the same line you are. Let's see what happens. You had better hope Trump succeeds. Otherwise, you had better hope you have a lot of gold and silver and can protect it from roving bands of gangsters. It'll be a Mad Max world, for sure.

Not just because of Tump. Why not blame politicians and the broken political system? Give the people "bread and circuses." Distract them while we steal their money. The Romans tried that, and we know how that turned out. In the end, it never works. Currently, inflation is the name of the game. How much longer will that trick work? Maybe for a while? What about BRICS and the alternate currency they plan? Probably a fantasy for the time being, but don't discount the fact that those countries have real assets to back their currency. All they lack is depth. Trillions change hands around the world on a daily basis. That needs to continue for the system to function, and currently, the only place those transactions can occur is in the USA. So there's still time. I don't hold up much hope, long term, but it's worth a shot.

I use the work magic because I think people should take the supposed benefits of tariffs with a grain of salt. On the other hand, the alternative is a recipe for disaster, sooner, rather than later. Have you done the math not he sustainability of an ever increasing federal debt in the face of rising interest rates? As for economists and their overwhelming beliefs? The vast majority of those people are Keynesian, correct? In other words, their mentality is suspect. It's those same people and that same thought process that got the country into the mess it's in. Anyway, their game isn't the only game in town. Ever hear of Austrian economics? Or the Chicago School and Milton Friedman? It has all evolved, for sure, but the last people you want to listen to right now is a Keynesian economist.

In reality, or in fantasyland? In reality, tax cuts, without more, will enable more of the same nonsense. Expand the debt and kick the can down the road. It works until such time as it doesn't and then we're all in trouble. Whether you know it or not, America and much of the rest of the world exists in a debt based system. You think you have money? Unless you have gold or silver, you have debt. Your dividend payments are debt. Your retirement funds are probably packed with lots of debt based instruments. Even Social Security is backed by debt. The Social Security "trust fund" is nothing but a bunch of special purpose US bonds. Of course, some payments are paid into the system by those currently working. But at some point in the future, those payments won't cover the benefits owed. I think the current system runs short in the year 2034 or so, unless they make some changes. In Trump fantasyland, which I happen to think is our best hope right now, tax cuts help keep everything afloat while his tariffs works their magic. Short term economic pain in exchange for a more prosperous future without the rest of the world leeching off America. We had all better hope that Tump and his team are successful in pulling that off. Unfortunately, there are some people who have been well and truly brainwashed. They really do think their problem is Elon Musk, one of the people trying to save the system. Ands yet why would anyone want to help the people committing waste, fraud, and abuse? Why would anyone be happy that other people are living off their hard earned pay? It's a truly insane position to think that way. In a worst case scenario, the US dollar may well have another five years or so as the world's reserve currency. It's in need around the world for various reasons, and isn't going to just disappear overnight. Use that five years wisely, if you can. It may be your only hope to get out of this mess in one piece.