ChicagoExpat

So true. No one else from any country at any time in history has ever done something as low as this. 🤡🤡🤡

Yes, he's a scam artist. But why should any country put up with their goods being taxed while they have allowed the other country's exports, tax-free, for decades?

I'm not a Trumpie, and understand that the smart people say tariffs are bad, but at the same time I don't know why any country should stand for a situation where there exports are taxed by a foreign country while they allow that same country to export to them duty-free.

Actually, no, SS is not affected or garnished. There is literally no downside to not paying the loan back except not getting a new passport. But there SHOULD be -- it should be taken from SS, or VA benefits, or assessed at tax time. No reason the taxpayer should fund irresponsible people more than they already do.

According to Malcolm Americans are the only ones who do stuff like this. He's a real genius so it must be true.

You're an idiot, Malcolm, and a bigot.

Yeah, pretty much. It takes a few days and they check with friends/relatives first, but they nearly all say no and the guy gets his ticket. Some guys have done it multiple times!

Another case in the papers was a guy who had a heart attack during the earthquake, owed $16K to a private hospital. His insurance will eventually cover it... but the GoFundMe already has $thousands$. He'll do quite well.

Yes, they buy the ticket, but it is a loan.

No, it doesn't. It's actually really common here -- I have a friend in the Consular Section and they do several each week.

That's the first option. If relatives are willing -- which they were in his case -- that's what they go with. It is a loan, but the only downside to not paying at least some of it back is you can't get a new passport. They don't report it to IRS, or anything. Great deal for the deadbeat, bad deal for the taxpayer.

That's not true, concerning the ticket. The second part is.

The Embassy buys tickets for people all the time. Sorry but you're incorrect.

I'm aware. They had close to half and shortly thereafter wiped out Fatah.

There are nicer bits? It's an unbroken history of slaughter and oppression.

Which is why there can never be peace.

The enemy is Israel only because they've been brainwashed to think so. Agree that Netanyahu must be delighted with this development; while I can't stand the guy, any good hearted person should be ecstatic that maybe, just maybe, the Islamic murder cult Hamas might lose some power.

Even they can see the horse they backed is a loser.

Alright, Kire, I think we’re done for the day, wouldn’t you say?

“Real men don’t support their wives financially…”. Kire, just when I think you’ve said the dumbest thing possible you always outdo yourself. In addition to revealing that you are a lazy leech who, if married, would sit around so his wife could support him, you’ve likely insulted nearly all of us here. Anyone here support their wife and family? If so, KireB thinks “you’re not a real man.” Well done… a dick-faced monkey is an inspired choice of avatar.

Amigo -- the problem with living overseas on American poverty-level income is that, while it's more than the locals make, it will leave you very little cushion for the problems of life -- illness, her desire that you support her whole family and build a house for them all (which she gets if you split), the occasional desire to travel, if you have kids, etc. This doesn't sound like much of a plan. It's nice to think of a "lady of virtue" loving you for your simple downstate smile, but I'm just not sure it's realistic and most likely you will end up poor and alone here, with the U.S. Embassy buying you a ticket home. I don't mean to dump all over your hopes, but I've been here long enough to see this happen over and over and over again.

Kai here in Bangkok seems good.

There's no way to defend this, or minimize it. You know how dumb Democrats looked when they defended something really stupid that Biden or his people did? How everyone could see it but them? Get what I'm saying?

"xtian" isn't a word. Another atheist cultist. Got it.

Literally nothing I can learn from anyone who says something that stupid. Or those who support something that stupid.