Patong2021

USAID DID NOT fund a transgender opera performance. Nor did it finance pronoun lessons in Peru. These are some of the falsehoods that Musk has claimed. Yes, there is fraud and yes there is waste. The fraud has already been identified in audit reports and is typically addressed by the organization. DOGE and Musk did not discover anything that wasn't already declared. Unfortunately, Musk is firing the people who are tasked with discovering the fraud and prosecuting the perps. If Trump was truly serious about rooting out fraud and waste, he would use forensic auditors. That is what they do. They can unravel and trace back complex fraud. Instead, Musk is using 19 year old computer programmers who have no understanding of finance or of forensic accounting. This is not about fraud or waste, but is about the elimination of social programs and regulatory controls. And yes, the USA is marginalized and is rapidly losing influence. It is becoming a pariah. US nationals are not welcome in many countries where they thought they were. It takes a special kind of arrogance and stupidity to alienate Canada and the Nordic Europeans who are usually quite tolerant of idiots. Soon US nationals will be like the Russians, welcome in only a few backwater tourist destinations. Who knows, maybe Trump can make Haiti the Riviera of the Caribbean.

The Thai government makes a straightforward statement sharing information. China has shared information. There is no panic and yet, out of the woodwork come some to claim non existent conspiracies. People have been wearing masks because of the air pollution. I wore a mask for much of high season because the PM counts were in the serious health injury range. I was literally coughing up and blowing out my nose, black sputum on a couple days. The mask prevented that when I was outdoors. Transparency. When they don't people complain and claim information is withheld. It is because of the air pollution. Alot of people have been visiting the hospitals because of respiratory distress. This has been reported on.

Some countries achieve their spend value through accounting manipulation. - The US includes its Coast Guard in its military budget. Canada does not. - The US spends an estimated 2%+ on redundant military bases in the USA. Anytime the US military has recommended closing the base, congress has refused because of their economic importance. The bases are in effect economic investments in communities. - The US military includes comprehensive and generous health insurance for personnel and their families in its military budget. Other countries do not include the full cost because some of it is already covered by the national health plan. - The US military maintains an extensive fleet of private use aircraft , naval vessels and automobiles. Marine One costs between $16,700 and almost $20,000 per hour to operate, according to Pentagon data for the 2022 budget year. Air Force One is even more expensive: roughly $200,000 per hour. But those figures only scratch the surface of the real cost. There also are military cargo planes that travel ahead of the president to make sure his armoured limousines are in place, not to mention the enormous security apparatus that follows the president everywhere. Consider that Trump goes to Palm Beach almost every weekend and the cost of trump's travel, and his wife and families, and the VP's travel and their related friends and families all gets included in the military budget. - The US military and some other countries operate multiple social facilities and that is all included in the military budget. - The US includes industrial financing in its military budget. Other countries fund through their civilian industrial and economic development budgets. - The US is a major provider of housing and subsidized commissary benefits to the families of military personnel. Other countries do similar, but in some countries the funding is provided by civilian departments. - Some countries deploy their military for civil functions. In the USA the army corps of engineers is contracting out the LA fire cleanup. In other countries, civilian agencies do this. Military spending is not always what it appears to be and some countries who are accused of paying little, are spending but classifying the expense differently.

Do you even know what the term woke means? It means that one is aware of and attentive to societal inequities. In the good old days, it was called being respectful and socially responsible. The golden rule is a cornerstone of being woke . The people protesting are not much different than those who deride social responsibility. Like you, they wish to dictate their views to others.

The only crap is what you are claiming. You missed this. Gallup says the same thing; Trump’s approval rating is a whopping 15 points below the historical average for all other presidents elected since 1953. Gallup noted that Bill Clinton was the next lowest polling at just 51% — six points higher — than Trump is now. John Kennedy (72%) and Jimmy Carter (71%) were the highest rated at this point in their presidencies.

Most likely a friend of one of the young men. She is not scantily clad. She is wearing shorts and a secure top that unlike many blouses won't sag or slip exposing the dreaded, shocking sight of a bosom. Patong and Bangla never fails to disappoint. I never understood why the BiB don't have foot patrols. A few uniformed officers would do wonders.

The issue of smoking cannabis in public space is that it is a heavy, sticky smoke. I really resent running or cycling along and running into a cloud of cannabis exhaust. It's no different than diesel fumes. You want to smoke, good for you, go do it where you don't bother other people. Smoke as much as you want. The issue isn't with the smokers who are considerate with others, it's that specific foreign group who smoke wherever and whenever they please. They all look the same and they all behave the same. In Hua Hin, it is 50+ year old solitary white males who look like they live at the Sally Ann dorm and give off an aura of perpetual failure. Ever since cannabis was legalized, I have yet to encounter a Thai smoking cannabis in public, let alone being a nuisance. Of course there are Thai cannabis users, but they are not the ones smoking in the crowded areas in the tourist areas BTW, Gen X are now at retirement age.

Looks like the MAGA cult is having fun with polling results. The reality is far from what is claimed Trump's approval rating slips as Americans worry about the economy By Jason Lange February 19, 2025 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-approval-rating-slips-americans-worry-about-economy-2025-02-19/ U.S. President Donald Trump's approval rating has ticked slightly lower in recent days as more Americans worried about the direction of the U.S. economy as the new leader threatens a host of countries with tariffs, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found. The six-day poll, which closed on Tuesday, showed 44% of respondents approved of the job Trump is doing as president, down from 45% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted January 24-26. Trump's approval rating stood at 47% in a January 20-21 poll conducted in the hours after the Republican's return to the White House. Gallup says the same thing; Trump’s approval rating now 45% in its poll is 5-percentage points higher than he was at the same time during his first term. But it is a whopping 15 points below the historical average for all other presidents elected since 1953. Gallup noted that Bill Clinton was the next lowest polling at just 51% — six points higher — than Trump is now. John Kennedy (72%) and Jimmy Carter (71%) were the highest rated at this point in their presidencies. https://www.pennlive.com/news/2025/02/new-trump-approval-poll-includes-brutal-stat-that-the-president-is-not-going-to-like.html The reality is; Greg Sargent/February 22, 2025 New Republic FLASHING SIREN Trump’s Own Pollster Just Hit Him With Very Bad News—and a Warning A poll of swing-district voters is already showing heaps of warning signs for Republicans bent on helping billionaires. That was fast. The takeaway is watch the midterms in 18 months. Things will change. The only positive for Trump is that the Democrats are still disorganized and unable to take full advantage of the opportunity,

Because it is intentionally misleading.

Ok, but the fact is that the TBill rate is 3.995 to 4.35% and the special social security fund security rate is 4.625%. All that you have done is say that that there is a law that establishes how the rate is set. The rate may indeed reflect the market for the format specified in the formula, but really it means nothing if the interest rate is higher than what it would be if the relationship was not forced.

An educational post. We are seeing the legacy of the Russian occupation. The east has always been dysfunctional. The Russians had children spying on parents, and neighbors betraying each other. A people riddled with chemicals and toxins, and indoctrinated in totalitarianism. It will take another 2 generations to purge the Russian contagion. Fortunately, Germany will remain rooted in a moderate political position. Conservative in Germany just means a different approach to economic management and some reasonable changes in social policy. There will be no jackboots in the street, nor embrace of Trump as the German people will have none of that.

Please stop doing that. Musk is not a neo Nazi. He has not advocated any form of racial purity policy, nor has he advocated the elimination of any racial or ethnic group. On the contrary, he has embraced many visible ethnic groups on the basis of their work ethic. We may not like his lack of empathy or his near sociopathic lifestyle, but he is the result of integrating people on the spectrum. Had he been left in a special needs workshop as they used to do up until the 1970's he would be making furniture or sorting mail and not disrupting lives today.

I recently watched the Imitation Game again. Benedict Cumberbatch was smashing as Alan Turing. The answer to the question here, is found in the film

Criminals and nasty people aged 25, sometimes manage to survive to age 60. They often do not change their ways and remain criminals and nasty at age 60.

Doubling down on being a bigot? And a smug one at that. As someone who has suffered from the presence of European settlers in my homeland, particularly from the looting of national resources over the centuries and then watching as the European intruders entered into the creation of borders that ignored the historical presence of original peoples, I am struck by your ignorance and arrogance. You really should not offer guidance on appropriate settler activity.

The $75.7 Billion value is from the 2025 Social Security Budget. Approx. $22 billion was advanced at the end of 2024. See page 2 of the 2025 Presidential budget https://www.ssa.gov/budget/assets/materials/2025/2025BST.pdf The current T Bill rate depending on discount and term for new investments is 3.99% to 4.35% https://home.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/TextView?type=daily_treasury_bill_rates&field_tdr_date_value=2025 The current interest rate for new Special-issue interest rates on new investment is 4.625% https://www.ssa.gov/oact/progdata/newIssueRates.html I believe it is reasonable to conclude that the higher interest rate means that the taxpayers are paying more on Social Security debt than if they took standard T Bill debt. It is therefore reasonable to deduce that the taxpayers are paying a slight premium and this is in effect an additional pay-in to the Social Security fund. I missed this difference in the interest rate, which furthers the position that taxpayers are indeed supporting Social Security. Thanking you for pointing out the difference, even though that was not your intent.

Yes. If you wanted to really press the point, you could go back to the 1980's when the issue was critical. Allan Greenspan had the commission on funding. It's easy to blame politicians though. Every time they want to reform, people come back and complain that they won't contribute more or accept reduced payments. maybe it's time for the US population to put on their big boy pants and deal with the issue and accept the changes of increased contributions and/or limited benefits.

It most certainly can. The US Congress decides the funding for the Social Security administrative budget. The 2025 administrative budget is $75.7 billion. This money comes form the US taxpayer. You have confirmed that the Social Security payments program is supported by the payroll tax and a self-employment tax. You do not deny that excess contributions were required to be invested in US debt. The interest on the debt is paid by US taxpayers. The investment principal is guaranteed by US taxpayers. Yes, Social Security payments would be required to be reduced if the Trust fund is exhausted. However, the reality is that while there is no law in place that requires taxpayers to make up the difference, the economic impact of a shortfall would be devastating. The US experience has shown that there would be a bail out using taxpayer money. This was done for the auto industry and the banking industry. The Social Security payments represent 5% of the US GDP. It is considered a too big to fail part of the economy. 90% of the elderly income is derived from social security payments.

You seem so focused on trying to show me up that you are ignoring what I wrote; Canada will not pay the supplemental Old Age Security guaranteed income to non residents. What part of SUPPLEMENTAL did you not understand? And FYI, The GIS is indeed part of Old Age Security. The government says so. It states this on the website. It is one of 3 additional Old Age Security benefits. And yes, I stated that the GIS is not paid to people living outside canada. And as per the OAS website, there are conditions for non residents to collect, because it is not universal - have been a Canadian citizen or a legal resident of Canada on the day before you left Canada - have resided in Canada for at least 20 years since the age of 18 The last condition is rather critical for those who have been living in Thailand since the age of 18 and have not legally resided in Canada for at least 20 years.

Ok. And then there are those who become a burden on others. I am weary of carrying that burden and then being criticized when i say enough.

Ok. You left out a large number of critical facts. What was this? A technical school, a quality university with international accreditation? If it was one of the mediocre Thai educational facilities, it would make sense not to see foreigners, because hopefully, that could do better. Technically, all non Thais are farangs. You may have missed the Myanmar, Malaysian and Chinese foreign students in attendance. There are 30,000+ foreign students in Thailand. Not a lot, but they are there. The capable western foreign students, like many of the Thai students who can afford it, leave Thailand for graduate and post graduate education. Some also leave for undergraduate studies. The Thaksin clan made sure to complete their education at US universities. In respect to the "place" that farangs hold, it is no different than in your home country. Socio economic characteristics determine one's position in the hierarchy. Don't expect uneducated and retirees of limited financial means to occupy high social status. Nor will IT gig workers, day traders and generic day trippers from border countries occupy high status. The foreigners with wealth and status jobs such as diplomats, scientists, senior business executives have status. They always have and they socialize in circles that the typical western foreigner never breaches. The top layer of foreigners engages in a self preservation type of segregation, avoiding and excluding anyone who is not of perceived acceptable status. It can be intimidating to be invited to dinner at someone's palatial home filled with servants. Certain foreigners also occupy a higher status just because of their nationality and location; For example Japanese people are typically treated with more respect than the run of the mill Australian. It's all about personal presentation, politeness, deference and visual image. This is why the experienced westerners warn others to dress appropriately when interacting with the police or immigration.

She is rather pathetic. She is asking the public to pour more scorn and ridicule on her incompetent self. No patriotic citizen will agree with her. One need only look at the critical errors underway in the USA to understand her folly.

What large Israeli jewish population? Didn't the immigration and government confirm that on any given day, no more than 84 Israelis are in Pai?

Oh look at what you did, with that. You are not particularly cleaver. On the contrary, the comment demonstrates that you are not familiar with the issue, nor willing to consider the actual facts. BTW the country you think you are laughing about both raises swine and exports pork products. And no they are not the exclusive domain of Christians. On any given day, no more than 84 people of the nationality that you claim are an overload, are present in Pai. On any given day, none are the subject of an arrest or a court case. On the the other hand there are a number of western people who are. Perhaps if Pai made bathing and being lice free a requirement, it might reduce tourist overload from certain origins. If a requirement for an education and proper dental hygiene was added, it might further slash numbers.

And label all British visitors as drug traffickers and repeatedly write, deport, deport, deport and then make generalizations about British passport holders, you know stuff like colonial savages, and money lusting demons who control the banking system.