jas007

When did I ever say I'm a MAGA cult member? If the Democrats started acting like real Democrats, I'd be a Democrat again. But they've morphed into something else, and it's ugly. They're trying to establish an authoritarian regime. They nominated Harris without the vote of a single voter. No primary, no nothing. It was a take it or leave it choice presented to the voters by the Deep State. Biden won the primary, as you should recall, and yet he was pushed aside. Democracy? LOL The only sane choice in the election was Trump, whether you like him or not. They've also been censoring the media and have been using it as a propaganda machine for years, and it's becoming ridiculous. Propaganda. A typical tool of totalitarian regimes through history. If you can't see that, I can't see it for you. Ddid you understand the phrase "The whole is greater than the sum of the parts"? Take a step back and appreciate the big picture. Maybe it'll come into focus for you some day. As for a "shocking" lesson? I'm in a nice condo on a tropical beach on the other side of Planet Earth from America. Nothing that will happen there anytime soon can affect me much. Perhaps the entire world financial system will collapse? Perhaps we'll see a global thermonuclear war? A real space alien invasion? A real pandemic with billions of deaths worldwide? Absent those events, I think I'll be just fine. I have more money that I know what to do with every month, my investments are doing great, and my health is fine. Trump and the DOGE people may not succeed in accomplishing much, given the broken political system, but I guess it's worth a try. The alternative is not good.

Thanks. Just as soon as some of the peak season crowd dies down, I'm going to book a trip somewhere.I'll see what kind of deals I can get.

James Carse, one of my teachers. His book, Finite and Infinite Games, might be interesting. I've been meaning to pick up a copy.

You fit the bill. As for my "claims"? I'm sorry, but if you can't observe, reason, and fully comprehend the Deep State/Globalist playbook, I'm afraid I can't help you. People who know and understand see it for what it is. Not based on any one factor, but on the totality of it all, so to speak. You have to think for yourself, because you'll never hear the story from any of the legacy media outlets. That's all heavily censored propaganda. Were you not paying attention during the COVID scam? Did you not see the media manipulation? The manipulation of the narrative? And it's still ongoing. They're trying to gear up for Round II. This time it's the Bird Flu. Or will it be space aliens? Or another "terrorist" bombing? Why do you think Elon Musk bought Twitter? Why do you think some politicians want to see him in jail, including politicians outside the USA? Remember, the truth is is a threat to the Deep State agenda.

I think he was talking about you.

You can't be serious.

Yes, but you seem to be attributing this classic sign to the wrong group. Have you not been paying attention to the tactics employed by the so-called "Democrat Party" in its effort to destroy Trump? Nonstop propaganda and lies. Those tactics come straight out of the Nazi playbook: Undermine the targeted group or person by suggesting the presence of mental deficiencies or a mental disorder. The idea was to diminish the "threat" while pushing a narrative of moral righteousness. Sound familiar? "Protecting our democracy"? That's all they could talk about. The need to "protect our democracy." The idea was to rally public support against those labeled as “undesirable.” What did Biden recently call the Trump supporters? Garbage? And let's not forget Hillary's "Basket of Deplorables" comment. The Democrats had it down to a science. And, like the Hitler, they controlled all the mainstream media and censored dissent until Musk bought Twitter and they lost control of the narrative.

I tried explaining all that to a friend when they started trying to "get" Trump one way or the other. Impeachments and all the rest of the nonsense. He wouldn't listen. I think some on the left were so sure that they could ruin Trump's life and destroy every chance he had to ever be elected again, that they just didn't care. They knew what they were doing was unconscionable, and they did it anyway. That was their mission. To "get" Trump. And they thought they could do it, absolutely. They were wrong.

Hopefully, they'll have better things to do. In any event, they won't have to manufacture fake charges. The real crimes won't be all that hard to uncover. Still, all I see them doing is appointing conservative judges, when they get the chance.

I don't have anything backwards. I understand what's going on and what the real issue is, for me. The imposition of authoritarianism and the cancellation of free speech. That's the current dream of what has now become the "Democrat Party." And stoping it is the only issue that matters. Lose free speech and you lose everything. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not this year or next, but it will happen. Once you give the "Democrats" the power to shut you up when your ideas conflict with their agenda, it will be only a matter of time. Authoritarianism run amok. So, in a two party system, how do you save America? There's only one way. You vote against Harris. And before that, against Hillary. And you never again vote for any "Democrat" for any political office unless and until they start being real Democrats again and stop with all the nonsense. In case you haven't noticed, a handful of real Democrats helped elect Trump. RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, Elon Musk. They all left the Democrat Party once they realized what was at stake. Even Trump himself was once a Democrat.

Take a trip to DC sometime and look around, especially when people are working. Weekends can be sort of quiet, by comparison. Anyway, take a look in all the parking garages near K Street, where a lot of the lobbying firms are located. See all the expensive cars. Go out to a restaurant in the area any time of the day or night and listen to the conversations. The entire metropolitan area seems to be about extracting money from taxpayers. That's its function.

I could always buy a car. You're probably right, though.

It's not hard. Just back off from the nonsense and try to think for yourself, rather than regurgitating the narrative. Free speech. Do you think that's important? And if so, ask yourself why the Democrats had to send people over to Facebook to pressure them to censor certain opinions. Why did the Democrats pressure Twitter to delete true information? They did that because they know full well that their ideas cannot survive free debate. The propaganda machine needs absolute control, or else it will fail. It's all very obvious.

Take a log vacation. Clear your brain. Maybe it will reset.

Assume this: I'm not a Trump supporter, necessarily, but I abhor the alternative. I believe in free speech. I 'm not in favor of totalitarian dictatorships. And I happen to believe that the US Constitution is a good document, particularly the Bill of Rights. The people who drafted it knew what they were doing. So, if the alternative to the authoritarian nut jobs is Trump, then so be it.

Long story short: I currently live in the Wongamat Beach area of Pattaya. I've been here for 2 1/2 years, but I'm in the mood to move, just for the heck of it. I'm thinking about Koh Samui. I may take an exploratory trip in a month or so. Anyway, I don't have a car and I won't ride on a motorbike. I'm OK with taking a Bolt taxi when I want to go somewhere, but it would be excellent if I could walk less than a block or so to the nearest 7/11 or Tops. And it would be ideal if the neighborhood had some nice restaurants and some ATM machines. On the other hand, I might buy a little car in the future. I'd like to rent a condo with good security, preferably close to the beach. Given all that, for those who know Samui, where should I look? Budget would be preferably less than 20,000 baht, but 30,000 wouldn't e a problem. I can rent long term.

You are arguing with people who are brainwashed. It's something to do, but not very productive.

I don't have a problem with that, except I'm not sure about setting a percentage. Just let them compete. The "market" will take care of the rest. If an employer wants the best and the brightest, they'll pay up. Money talks.

Propaganda is a powerful tool. It's almost as old as civilization itself, but has gained traction more recently with the advent of the printing press and mass media. And it is a favorite of totalitarian regimes and of those intent on establishing a totalitarian regime, such as the current crop of so-called "Democrats." Without propaganda and brainwashed masses, they stand no chance. Take a look at some recent history. See what the Nazi regime and Hitler accomplished in the 30s and 40s. Propaganda + censorship. The people could only consume the mainstream narrative. They were brainwashed. It worked well. Look up Joseph Goebbels and his attempts to control newspapers, films and literature. Glorify Hitler, vilify Jews. We all know how it turned out. They brainwashed the entire nation of Germany. The result was catastrophic. Anyway, you can skip over the next 50 years or so and they're still at it. This time, it's the "Democrats." The mainstream media has been captured, and a huge percentage of the population thinks that when they turn on the TV, they're hearing the "truth." And they really believe it. No one has to recite history. It's there for all to see, and it's ugly.

OK. Whatever the supposed basis. Simply don't tie the visas to any particular employer. Establish categories of possible employees, depending on skill level. Set limits on the numbers. Allow them to apply. Let them compete in the job market. They won't come if there aren't jobs for them.

Why not keep the visa category and reform the program? Allow highly skilled foreigners into the country with no ties to any particular employer. Once they enter the country, they're on their own. Let them compete in the labor market. If they're so "valuable": some employer will hire them, right?

When you book a ride on Bolt, don't they tell you the fare in advance? Whoever booked the ride should pay. It's just that simple. Of course the taxis and tuk tuks in Phuket can be expensive. Everyone knows that. I'm not sure what the rates are these days, but you probably have to pay at least 200 baht to go anywhere.

Get a grip on reality. That may be hard, but you should try. If you can't see what has been happening, you're one of the propaganda victims. I'm not worried about history, one way or the other.

No. Anyway, at this point, they're not hurting Trump. He's in his late 70s and he is the President elect of the United States. Convicting Trump at this point just damages the USA. When they write the history books, this nonsense will be highlighted, along with the McCarthy hearings, the Salem Witch trials. and Hitler's concentration camps. .

Elite travelers? I think they travel to Thailand whenever they want. If I had anything to say about it, which I don't, I'd simplify the visa rules and extend the tourist visa validity to 180 days. That's a good number. People can come for th winter,, have fun and spend money, and then go home.