swissie

2 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

A critical issue for US nationals, but one that the population will ignore.  It's the USA's problem, which means that much of the world doesn't care what happens. USA has burnt its bridges and antagonized some of its key trading partners. It has gone to economic war against the world and will suffer the consequences. There is an ongoing shift from the USD. I doubt most US nationals are aware of the shift, and most are too arrogant to appreciate what is happening.  Good luck.

 

Foreighn buyers of T-Bills and T-Bonds WILL care. Foreighn buyers of US equities generally will have to look at an ever declining US $.

My Thai Ex Wife, age 64 (my best friend) sleeps 2 to 5 hours a night. Regardless of weather, she walks 4 to 5 hours every day. (no joke). Took her to University Hospital.

 Verdict: As long as all measurable "body functions" remain positive" = no cause for worries. AND: Every human body is a individualistic biological entity, that obeyes it's individualistic personal needs. Amen.

PS: Some historical sources claim, that Napoleon slept only 4 hours a night. That's encouraging me thinks.

57 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I call BS. I do not believe I ever met anyone with that attitude, and I know quite a few rich people. 

 

A lot of people, including myself are against Social Security, but it is not because we do not care about people. 

 

 

But you have nothing against the new BBB?

Solution: Instead of contributing 10$ per week at the church on Sunday morning you raise it to 15$. That will fill the financial gap for "the food stamp crowd". A very low cost way to show that you care for people.

On 7/4/2025 at 1:47 PM, angryguy said:

I think OP is european and is unable to see the perspective of anyone else

Main thing is, that Donald sees the perspective of anyone else.

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Historically in general in modern times republicans are much worse for increasing the national debt than democrats.

This current Trump ugly bill of unfairness and medical misery for the poor reallty takes the cake though. 

During my time in the US, I had the opportunity to talk to very affluent people. Job related. Among them, a good number of them told me that they are basically opposed to any sort of "social security".

- The "mild" version: "Why support the losers of the Nation with tax money".
- The more radical version: "Let them eat s*it and let them die".

On 7/4/2025 at 10:48 AM, mogandave said:

What are your claims based on? 

Just for once, Financial analysts and the Financial Press are in agreement, indeed something very rare.

They conclude (in a nutshell): The benefits of this bill are questionable, but the budget deficit will increase massively.

5 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

We need it more. Get it from Europe. America first

A "undermilitarised Europe" has nothing left to "give away". Only warm handshakes.

6 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

And how is Trump "abandoning" "Ukraine".

By stopping the delivery of essential military equippement.

Without American military support, the faith of the Ukraine is sealed. The only support from Europe are "warm handshakes". Military equippement can not be spared, as Europe itself is undersupplied with military hardware as it is. AND: The Ukraine is running out of able bodied soldiers.

It shows that Trump has clear priorities:

- China
- Israel

Europe generally is of no interest to him, unless somebody comes along and tells him that a continent of 500 million inhabitants are also 500 million consumers. That will awaken his "deal making instinct".

The only way to enter Donald Trumps mental universe.

On 7/1/2025 at 9:08 AM, Photoguy21 said:

How exactly is America the "greatest country ever"? You are only a few hundred years old. In world time you have just taken your first few steps.

It seems the BBB has passed.

The US Empire is about 200 years old. This BBB will ensure that the US empire has reached it's peak already. Many ways for an Empire to decline, but a sure fire way to achieve this is "financial overextension". The budget deficit will baloon out of control over the next few years.

As a footnote: Already today, every 5th Tax Dollar must be spent just to service the national dept. Thanks to the BBB it will get worse. Accelerating the "financial overextension" greatly.

1 hour ago, Cameroni said:

 

Nothing wrong at all, as has been said upthread already, the current president has decided he wants a lower Dollar. Plus the Dollar, not so long ago was on a major bull run. It's perfectly normal that it would go down. If you look at the all time US Dollar Index, you will see the Dollar has been much lower, and the current movement is perfectly normal.

 

 

All fine and good, how has an alpine republic, (founded in 1291),consisting of less than 9 million habitants has reached a monetary status that has become a international monetary "measuring-stick"? 

I know why. Do you? To lose 12% within 2 months is "normal" to you as a currency loss?. Explain this to the rest of the world.

1 hour ago, Cameroni said:

 

No it hasn't, stop posting lies and misinformation. As you can see here the dollar is not at a new low, far from it. Kindly  stop posting outright lies.

 

Never mind all those "indicies". Against the Swiss Franc the US$ has lost 12% within 2 monthts. There must be something wrong with the "reserve currency" of the world.

11 hours ago, AndreasHG said:

The dollar continues its run to new lows. Just five months into the Trump II administration, the U.S. dollar has already lost against major foreign currencies as much as it lost in four years during the Trump I administration.

 

Fortunately for our American friends living in Thailand, the Thai baht is going through a bit of a weakness. That’s why the dollar’s depreciation against the Thai baht since the start of the Trump II administration is relatively small: just 5.1%.
But with 3.5 years left, Trump II is well on his way to achieving his MAPA (Make Americans Poor Again) goal, beating his remarkable first term feat, when the US dollar depreciated 16.8% against the Thai Baht.

 

 

In this heated debate, something got lost. In the Crimea as well as in currently occupied Eastern Ukraine people speak Russian, not Ukrainian.

Many things that keep a Nation together, but it's mainly the language. For the Eastern Ukraine, it might be a "coming-home event", of course not approved by Kiev.

On 6/28/2025 at 10:25 AM, johng said:

 

Where in Thailand are you and which DAB radio did you buy ?

 

I tried to receive DAB broadcasts in Pattaya /Jomtien area with a RTLsdr  dongle  but had no success at all...I'm not even sure if they have DAB transmissions here ( from the Pattaya transmitter) and seem to been in a bit of a radio blind spot as even FM radio is quite bad.

Don't know about Thailand as I live in the middle of Europe.

In my case: The radio I bought was "defect" to begin with. Returned it to the store and got another brand. Works 100%.

It pays to stay away from "bargains". Better to buy a product in the "mid-price-range".

I would visit a "electronic store" near you and ask about the local circumstances.

3 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Presumably if the empty shell of Biden won and the woke deep state were still running America, swissie would have no problem with debt, rising tide and boats. I've learned to spot irrational hatred posts a mile away.

Can you bring all this in connection to my thread?

As the world turns. Thai Officialdom does keep certain statistics. They have found out that the average Farang invests a relatively lage sum in Thailand upon arrival in his retirement destination. Almost always in connection with some "newly found love in Thailand". After the initial investment, most Farangs live on monthly pensions from Farangland. Ergo: Not contributig massively to the well being of Thailand as a whole.

Falling out of favor is always connected to some form of "social degredation".

During my time in Thailand, I have tried to form some "Union", representing the "rights" of Farangs in Thailand, with the help of European Embassies. At the time, Embassies nor Farangs were interested in such a concept. So, I gave up.

Farangs would fare much better today, if they would have realised that without some sort of representation, eventually they would end up at the whims of some "local immigration warlords".

Apperantly, we have arrived at this point. Local "immigration warlords" have taken over.

11 minutes ago, novacova said:

Gold. But unless one is prepared mentally then it’ll probably be worthless for many. Survival is a mental game.

Gold is always good, at least it was for the last 5000 years. For those that have it.

For all others: "If you have nothing, you have nothing to lose". Strictly speaking, about half of the worlds population.

8 minutes ago, novacova said:

Only a matter of time before the levees break and put all the hocus-pocus under. Probably a good idea to be mentally prepared for those of us who are still around when it does.

To be mentally prepared is a good idea.

How would one prepare financially, as the next question.

Of importance: Airlines do not fly out persons in a "critical healt condition".

Boy, did we have a goood run for the last 75 years in the West (economically). Outside of some "recessions", it was mainly up,up,up.

(When the tide rises, all the boats rise with it). Thanks to productivity gains/technological advances, but mainly by financing all this by dept (Government/Corporate/Private).

- An expensive "social security" concept was established and other government "givaways", not covered by Taxes. Why raise taxes if you can borrow the money?

But now, the focus increasingly shifts toward the cost of servicing the debt. (Just interest). Some countries are nearing a "critical level".

We are running out of financial Hokus Pokus to keep the credit engine running. Possibly the tide will reverse and all the boats will have to go down with the tide. A clensing of a overextended financial Ponzi Scheme, hopefully not lasting for decades.