swissie

Have 17 different Thai Bank Accounts. And keep your (main) liquid assests in your home country.

I am quite sure that "long-term Farangs" have nothing much to worry about. Not so for "newcomers".............

Let's face it: Long overdue. Increse will come. But for long term residents some "grandfathering" rule will be granted to long term residents. Otherwise this will easily turn into an "international diplomatic incident", making headlines all over the world. But: New residents will have to pay more for the right to stay long-term in Thailand. Just a matter of time.

My youth in Europe was "dull". But I always suspected there must be some "men's paradise" somewhere. EUREKA ! Some 20 years ago I found it. In Pattaya.

The only thing that can be said with certainty at this point is: One is subjected to the war propaganda from both sides. Those "news" can not be veryfied independently. So whatever one wants to believe, it's "take your pick". (Serious news agencies point that out). Not surprisingly, westen news sources are biased in favour of the Ukraine. Western "war correspondants" prefer to report 200 km's away from the frontline and taking their clues from Ukrainian Facebook posters. I remain: The longer this war goes on, the more the odds are stacked against the Ukraine.

There are a few other countries where one can "stash their plunder": The state of Delaware in the US, the British Channel Islands, the Cayman Islands, Panama etc etc. The list is not complete. Mythologie Switzerland: Today, if I want to deposit 10'000 CHF on my Swiss bank account in cash, my bank wants to know exactly where the money came from. Wire transfers are also monitored. If I wanted to "hide" money, my choice would certainly not be Switzerland these days.

What about the majority of wars that were won by the party that had more weapons and personnel?

20 years from now, in the US, the names will mainly be of spanish origin.

There is the political Neutrality. Economic and Moral Neutrality does not exist. Nowhere. We all take sides. But if 2 countries have decided to bang each others head in, a neutral country is allowed to sell weapons to both parties. Otherwise the feuding countries will find ways to get their weaponery from "non-neutral-countries". Generally, I believe the world needs more "chickens" rather than more "war heroes". I personnally am glad that I am part of the neutral chicken crowd in the middle of a world that worships war heros more than neutral bystanders. Once again.

Shortly after the US Treasury sold an equal amount of Treasury Bills/Bonds. US and foreighn investors bought them eagerly.

Quote: "Take a country like Switserland,too chicken to support either side". This is called "Neutrality". Imagine every country practicing "neutrality". Neutral countries not attacking other neutral countries. The only pathway to world peace. Not going to happen.

Flash news. The Ukraine sends more "fresh-fighters" to the front. New law in Russia will allow for 700'000 more Russian "fresh-fighters". Who will have more "fresh-fighters" on the battlefield?

Afghanistan: Mountainous terrain, favoring guerilla warfare. Not the guerillas, but the US-"stinger" ground to air missiles defeated the Russians. Not to be compared with the Ukranian terrain, favoring conventional warfare. What Russian Assets can be seized, have been seized already. Even the 11ent "sanction-package" has no major effect on the Russian economy. Russian exports heve already been re-directed to other parts of the world.

There is hope. You kept a sense of humor. You believe in reincarnation. Hmmmm. As far as I interpret the christian gospel, in paradise alcohol and sex drugs and rock n' roll are not part of the daily curriculum. Be careful what you ask for. Given that, I myself would reject any sort of reincarnation. I would rather apply for eternal death, eternal sleep, eternal nothingness. I was in this state before I was born and I liked it for billions of years.

Sounds like "life hates me and I hate life". Consider this: Before you were born you were dead for billions and billions of years. After you die, you will again be dead for billions and billions of years. You are only alive for a depressingly short time. There is nothing more boring than being dead. If nothing else: Sit under a fuzzy tree with a can of beer in your left hand an Delete vigoruosly with your right hand while singing "I did it my way". Once dead, you can't do any of those things anymore.

There are ony 2 kinds of people. Those with a analytical mind and those with a "believe" mindset. Food for thaught for the latter: They should get their own God. Amazingly, Christians have adopted the God of Israel as their God as well. Although the old testament clearly states that God is the God of the Isrealites only. It was the apostel Paul that declared that God is good for everyone. (The greatest PR guy the world has ever seen). There are over 40'000 sub-christian believes. We sould be able to select our own personal christian God, not having to rely on an adopted God. My dog has it good. He always gets free meat snacks from the local butcher. Needless to say that to him the local butcher is his personal God.

Indeed, there is something laughable about this war of attricion. A country with 24 million inhabitants, trying to wage a (defensive) war against a country with 6 times the "personnel". Who will run out of "personnel" first? Finally: The crimea and eastern Ukraine will be "Russian Territory" (there, they speak Russian and "feel" Russian, not Ukrainian). Has been like this for centuries. In the aftermath, confronted with huge "rebuilding costs" , to be payed with money from the EU/US will further destabilise already fragile "western democracies". This time around, "western taxpayers" will not go along, as eastern european countries are detaching themselves further from "democratic values" on a monthly basis, while asking for more money from "the western countries." (Poland, Hungary mainly). At some point, "peace talks" will take place. Russia will keep the Eastern Ukraine and the Crimea. Russia will be financially "hurt". The Ukraine will be bankrupt. For "the West" the best scenario. All other scenarios would be far worse for "the West". PS: Why start "a counter offensive" without the necessary air-cover? Undersupplyed with weaponery and personnel. Indeed, laughable warfare. But from wich side?

In case of "rebuilding Germany". This was the "Marshall-Plan". Never affecting the US Taxpayer, as the funds were borrowed from "credit markets", At a time when the US "financial health" was beyound any questioning. Times have changed, as rating agencies have downgraded US Government dept. Same in Europe. "Rinse and repeat" not possible this time around.

Will any of what you posted change anything what I said in "final analysis" in the OP? = No!

Went to a "class reunion" 2 months ago. My last was in 1978 before. What can I say? Age is a terrible adversary. Especially for females. The attractive girls of yesteryear that I used to chase have turned into some sort of Egyptian Mummies, but still moving. I left in a state of shock. How vengeful can nature be when it comes to aging european females? The revenge of modern day living? No more class reunions for me. Rather prefer to look at 70 year old female Thai street vendors.

The final analysis. Who has more monetary/military/personal resources? Not the Ukraine. So, who will win the war? The Ukraine will not have the financial capabilitis to rebuild their country after the war. The "western" Taxpayers will be thrilled to hear that they will pay for the "rebuilding" of the Ukraine. Or what's left of it. Surely, the western taxpayers will gladly sell their family silver to pay for the rebuilding of the Ukraine.

How can this come as a surprise? Tourist Hot Spots are less friendly than rural areas. The more "rural", the better. Globally, for obvious reasons.

Even if we could "arrest" the current + 1.5 degree increase, at those temperatures the polar ice/glacierts will keep on melting. The oceans getting warmer/saltier. =The gulf stream slowing, monsoon weather patterns getting more unreliable. Just to name 2 drastic changes. In many criteria, we have surpassed crucial "pivot points" already. = No return possible. In mathematics: We are going from "linear" increases to "exponential" increases. As long as the main CO2 producers (China, India, Russia, US) don't take draconian measures, the efforts of the rest of the world remain exercises in futility. Sooner than we think, large parts of this globe will become "uninhabitable". = Too hot, no water. ------------- THE LACK OF HONESTY: Isn't it time to tell our children, that their life will become increasingly "unpleasant"? Mildly put.

From which sector of the UK Economy would the "growth" come from?

"The fall of the Roman Empire" slill makes for good reading. The "Fall of the British Empire" is equally fascinating. Next in line: "The fall of the American Empire". Replaced by the new Chinese Empire. All Empires eventually "fall". The only thing remarkable is, that the "Western Empire" has only lasted some short 200 years.