Rob Browder

Would you classify the tariffs we had until the 1980s/90s in the same way? Our middle-class was a heck of a lot better off, in those times. Regardless, there are other questions at-hand: 1) National Security and self-reliance of the nation - especially for critical industries. 2) Reliable employment for the citizens of the nation, producing for their fellow citizens. 3) Related to #2 - keeping the wealth of the nation flowing WITHIN its borders - between citizens / local-businesses - vs being siphoned-away via mercantilism. 4) "Financialization" (playing tricks with money) replacing tangible production of goods and services as the driving-force of the nation's economy. That said, the MANNER in which this policy is being implemented is insane - and I have my doubts it is well-motivated, to address the above concerns. Especially regarding #2, "work visas" are being utilized to PREVENT benefit to Americans from new jobs - almost all net-jobs-created post-covid going to the foreign-born.

If you are not familiar, do some digging into what happened when Sam Walton (greatest generation) died. He had insisted on a "Made in America" section for appliances, etc - because that generation's propaganda included teaching this as "patriotic." Upon his death, his spoiled (boomer) kids ripped that out, given they were taught "globalization / free-trade" propaganda. They FORCED suppliers to move operations to Chinese factories, or lose their access to Wal Mart shelf-space. Given the size of their operation - a massive % of domestic retail - companies would be ruined if they did not agree. A proper trial and punishment is too good for such people - but I guess we would need to follow the Constitution, vs dusting-off the thumb-screws, rack, etc. Next-up for trial - those who made billions off of the covid "lockdown" psychological-operation / terrorism. One oft-missed lesson here, is that "propaganda" and "conditioning" is not always "bad." Most people don't "think things through" to an extent they can make "good" decisions with regard to national-policy. The dumbing-down of education has only made this worse - no "civics," and not even solid math, physics, chemistry, and biology required for a HS Diploma - or, even many "college degrees" (= why they could get-away with their scientifically-insane Covid policy). So, it boils-down to a question of who the rulers are, and their intentions. Do they care about the well-being of your people and future - or just money, or some other group's interests?

HK was a different situation. The Brit-lease ran out after 99 years. The CCP then "got it back," unless Britain decided to violate their agreement, and go to war for it. But, the CCP didn't want to stop it making money (for them), so we got the "two systems" compromise. But, after the CIA/USAID started running "freedom" (sic) operations there, the CCP said to hell with "two systems" - in the context of the judiciary - and started rounding-up and disappearing HK "color revolution" protesters. Two things can be true at the same time - sometimes many related and seemingly-opposing things. The USA's foreign-policy is a force for evil in the world (coups, death-squads, etc), and so is the CCP's ("dash-line" territorial-robbery of its neighbors) - as was the USSR's. See also, the European colonial powers' actions in their former colonies, which was evil (note: Patrice Lumumba) - but so were the communists who opposed them. Both "sides" pretend they support freedom, regularly kill anyone "good" - those who care about the interests of their own people/nation - when they won't "play ball" with them. Picking one or the other "side" usually means you have to ignore 1/2 of the lies and atrocities.

Note that China does not have the ability to project military power to USA shores - so there is no justification for the USA to take a war-footing with China. Nukes? Sure, but that is a 2-way street and mutual-suicide, so not part of the equation. That said, we also should NOT be financing a dictatorship's military - as we have since the 1990s - with anti-American trade-policy. As to Taiwan - which is at the focal-point (though not the whole picture) - we should try to get the same thing needed for Ukraine - a neutral country solution. This would involve removing it as a pawn for USA-power in the region, in exchange for China agreeing they may remain independent, indefinitely.

I know with certainty that the gain-of-function research was funded by NIAID - paid in a contract to "Eco Health Alliance" - after the DOD declined fund the SAME research project, due to their involvement vis-a-vis the biological-weapons convention. This is all from declassified records. I also know that the spike-protein found on the Covid virus (original strain), with the tell-tale "furin cleavage site," was an exact-match for one developed for gene-therapy purposes by Moderna - patented in 2016. The paper showing that is here: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fviro.2022.834808/full Are you suggesting US-Gov "didn't know" about the quality of the lab - or Chinese building practices in general, until after Covid? The lab's poor-quality was noted by the French who helped build it - warning the US State-Dept years before covid. https://dailycaller.com/2021/07/26/france-wuhan-lab-david-asher-state-department/ The USA decided to do the research there, anyway, because Obama had banned the research in the USA (for the most part - some limited-exceptions). AND, they didn't even use the highest-rated facilities in the lab for that work, per some reports (level 2 was used, vs level 3 or 4). Corruption leads to all sorts of things, which both separately, and sometimes in a "bi-partisan" fashion, implicate both halves of the Uniparty. What happened with Covid is firmly in the bi-partisan - and global corruption - category.

The Outsourcing should never have begun. Any justification ala the "Sino-Soviet split" strategy ended with the fall of the USSR. Yet, our factories continued to be dismantled and sent to China - at rapid-speed, after Bill Clinton and Gingrich tag-teamed them MFN (now NTR) in the WTO. Why? Because they could pay lower overhead/labor costs, by wrecking the American middle-class. This was traitorous behavior - completely the fault of OUR govt, which took down the tariffs in the first place, AND the Wall-St types for carrying out the Outsourcing. There would be trials and firing-squads, if I were emperor of the USA As far as how Trump is trying to "fix" things - a steady, annual-incremental tariff-increase policy would have made life a lot easier on everyone, vs what he is doing. Remember, in his 1st Term-campaign he promised a 35% tariff on Mexico to reverse NAFTA and bring home those lost-factories - but then, as POTUS, he stabbed us in the back with his NAFTA-II treaty, instead. One would be a fool to trust his motives. I hope they are not doing these tariffs "rapid speed" now, because they are planning for a war - but that would be my best-guess. Also, see how much in T-Bills must be re-financed this year - is another factor. Yet, the war-machine is blowing MORE deficit-spending - again - Trump says he wants $1 Trillion for the MIC this year. This leads back to my theoretical reason - war with China. Americans just voted AGAINST war, but we are getting it in spades, thus far.

If you are referring to the lab in Wuhan, the "gain of function" work was funded by the USA - so "the pot calling the kettle black" to blame China. As well, the USA played right along with the entire pandemic-narrative, even though they knew only very old and/or sick people were ever at risk from that virus. We can speculate as to the agenda behind every part of what transpired, but clearly, the USA created and pushed what happened, as much as China did.

Also @ujayujay The term "proper" is a joke, while agent-schemes are run by immigration. ~360 days/year on visa-exemptions are quite acceptable to immigration, with agent-facilitated entries. They do not set a fixed limit time out of country between visa-exempt / tourist entries, so they can run their greedy little schemes on the edges of some unknown variable - using the fear of arbitrary enforcement as the sales-pitch. Clearly, agent-service is their preferred method of interaction. They make a joke of themselves by how they run their operations - might as well dress-up in clown suits. I do everything "by the book" with them - and yet, I am the one who has often felt be-clowned, by doing so.

Exactly. Why comply with all the rules, only to go through a rigamarole to which those using agents - who may have only a pittance in a Thai bank-account - are not subjected? In this case, they seem to think he might have used an agent before, and don't want the gravy-train to stop. "We suspect your previous immigration office committed fraud?" "OK, so why don't you take it up with THEM?" Perhaps, because they'd laugh, since the Bangkok office runs the same scheme for ~15K Baht? So far, my retirement-based extensions have been no-issues. But if that changes, I am investing my 800K in something useful. Immigration clearly would prefer it this way. I'll take the hint, when the day comes ("when" not "if" - IMO - I'm expecting it). It's their country, and if they want to run their Immigration 3rd World style - up to them.

As long as your "permitted stay" is from a Non-O Visa Entry, you are able to apply for a 12-month extension for the same reason as the visa was issued ("married to a Thai" in your case). The "enter before" date on the visa-sticker does not matter. That is VERY good news, if you can use them for your 12-mo extension(s) - could be done in July, per what I outlined above.

It really depends on what you want to get at Jomtien. For retirement, it is one of the easiest places to get it done. For a tourist-extension, also no problem, if you have a TM-30. But, for a 90-Day Non-O visa (from exempt or tourist status), or for Marriage-based extensions, they are absolutely horrendous. Not because of the organization of the office-space (recently improved) or seating, etc - but because of the nature of the people who handle those "desks" at Jomtien. I look forward to hearing the heads of those have been replaced, some day.

Yes, my thoughts exactly ... except 90-day reports if the "7-day grace period" expires over the weekend/holidays - but this does not apply to the OP.

Some embassies are not legally blocked (their domestic laws) from verifying pension-incomes, as is the USA, for example. In those cases, I don't see the problem. They should simply "delete" - or at least "make optional" - the whole income/bank-money verification process - not needed in Cambodia or Laos. They could accept a flat-fee in lieu of such proofs, as they currently do "unofficially," via their agent partners.

If it were me, I would border-bounce for another 90-day entry before your "Visa" expires (22nd April), then start seasoning the 400K. Use a re-entry permit to keep that 90-day "permitted stay" alive until you return, at which point your current "permitted stay" is still good through mid July. Apply for the 1-year extension upon return, with the money already seasoned, and with you in-country to deal with the "under consideration" home-visit. If you are doing your marriage extension at Jomtien, you are (bleeped) in terms of "their attitude," no matter what - 60-days or 12-months. They will likely be as rude to your wife as possible, and look for any reason to deny the extension. That said, you can get it done with persistence, and if you can watch them abuse your wife without exploding. I used the Non-O-ME from Savannahkhet specifically for this reason, for years. I don't know if Trat is friendly with marriage-extensions. It is a hassle at any office, really - even in places where they are at least "civil" about it. In Bangkok, they told my wife I was a "criminal" for having used a Non-O-ME Visa in the past - though that experience was far less-bad than Jomtien, in that they didn't literally "make up" fake requirements to block me. Out in the sticks it was better - they were even polite - but it took all day, every year. I now use a retirement-extension from Jomtien, which is EASY there. You mentioned the money-thing, so not ideal for you. And, your first 12-month extension from a Non-O Visa must be for the same reason as the visa, so would need to be for marriage. The next year, could use retirement via agent for a 12,500 Baht fee - just keep in mind, if the marriage-extension is too painful. I don't think this is in your plan - but, be forewarned - the one thing you MUST avoid in Jomtien, is trying to get a Non-O 90-day stamp from a visa-exempt entry for either Retirement OR Marriage. They break the money-seasoning rules, and demand a 15K baht payoff via an agent for that 90-day stamp - for over 10 years. The IO has some "deal" worked out with higher-ups, so no appeal is possible.

All for permission to simply live with your Thai wife. It's insane. I am glad you made it over all the hurdles - including things which are clearly not relevant to whether you 1) have 400K in the bank, 2) Your marriage is de-jure and de-facto. Also, glad to hear your I/O was not rude to you or your wife. Thank goodness I am over 50, and will never have to go through a similar rigamorole, again.

Good tip on the dissolved-solids meter. But, RO doesn't have to be slow; that noise the machines make (in my experience) is a pump which is forcing the water through the filters. I have a multi-filter system at home, including RO, and it is slow w/o the pump running.

Ever hear of "Good Cop / Bad Cop" - aka "Mutt and Jeff"? That is how the 2-party system works. What is amazing to me, is how people in both camps can be so easily manipulated to see ONLY the "other" side's bad policies. My advise is - remember that the "bi-partisan" policies are usually the most harmful to our lives, freedom, and future. And watch for the Orwellian inverse language in those - like "Patriot Act" or "CARES Act."

Gosh, I wonder why you added "bleach" in this context. Why go digging into who put up the website - instead of looking at the results of the journal studies? If you are ashamed of being fooled by a very sophisticated govt/pharma/msm propaganda barrage - one which used heavy doses of terror/fear to obtain compliance - don't be. The goal is not to be fooled again.

Well, if you mean how the virus came to be - yes, there is a lot on that. For example, the "gain of function" spike-protein used was patented by Moderna in 2016 - a perfect gene-match - 1 in 3-trilliion odds that match could happen naturally. It's trying to get into the heads of the people involved which is problematic. "They were trying to use this research to save lives," is what they will claim - and, in many cases, that may be true. For example, a virus used in gene-therapy for cancer would explain creating that spike-protein. The only way to restore trust, would be to return to a system where medical research is primarily conducted by non-profits and universities - and NOT universities with big corporate "grants" funding the medical-research. A profit-motive system is great for consumer-electronics and such - but the incentives go sideways when "sick people are more profitable."

Read what I said more closely - nothing to do with "Wikipedia earnings." Wikipedia requires "sources" - which must be from "approved" corporate-media sites. If you want "unbiased information" - you won't find it coming from those paid to have a particular opinion.

Are those the actual studies conducted and published in journals? Yes, they are!! Why not look at the DATA, instead of going on an ad-hominem attack on who put the DATA on a website? Wikipedia does not like the guy who set up the website? Do you really believe that Wikipedia is unbiased - a collection of bits of articles from corporate-owned media sites? Who / what corporations advertise in the corporate media? Do companies operate to make money? Do you think that affects what they publish?

I don't go down into what "they planned" beyond what is documented. It is too easy to get caught up in disinformation - planted to make anyone critical of government-policy "look crazy" or "unpatriotic," etc. The use of the term "conspiracy theory" to discredit was pushed by the CIA in the wake of the JFK Assassination as a way to respond to those skeptical of the Warren Report. It is best to avoid this trap. But, I do remember Rahm Emannuel's statement, "Never Let a Crisis Go To Waste" - and I keep that in mind when looking at implemented policies and the results. The St. Louis Fed employment chart, linked below, shows the results of post-covid lockdown government and corporate policy: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=15Kpl Draw a horizontal line from the pre-covid employment-level of both groups. Notice the "native born" is close to zero employment-gains, while the foreign-born number has gone up significantly.

Forget the "conspiracy theory" stuff - I don't listen to that either. Instead, read the published studies conducted on covid treatments (1) and mRNA vaccine harm and efficacy. Also, review the public "excess deaths" statistics from multiple countries. Take Europe, for example, and compare most and least vaccinated countries, and their excess-death rates post vaccine-rollout. If we use the most conservative estimate of VAERS under-reporting (a pre-covid study), the death-rate from the vaccines was over 500,000 Americans. This does not include medium and longer-term harm - is counting only short-term deaths. (1) This lists all the treatments and studies per-each: https://c19early.org/

In the USA, it was still an average age of mid-80s, and 3+ co-morbidities. In other words, people who were already dying. The difference in death-rates vs other countries had a lot to do with: 1) "CDC Guidelines" for covid treatment - literally the worst possible advice - send old people with covid home, and tell them to do nothing but take paracetamol until their lips turned blue, then call an ambulance. The hospital protocols were also the inverse of what would save lives. These ignored the known information at the time from more-successful treatment protocols, which were demonized by the Media and medical establishment, who are literally paid by Pharma, who had no interests in safe "off patent" treatments, which were proven to work. 2) High diabetes rates, and general bad-health across the USA population. The more unhealthy one is when dealing with an infection, the worse the probable outcome.

I can see the point with Europe - especially given no reason for NATO to exist after the USSR + Warsaw Pact dissolved. Funny, though, how to spite the massive and growing national-debt, Israel gets more and more free tens of billions in "aid," plus deploying military-backup costing many billion more, every year - and they just happen to have a PAC (not registered as a foreign-agent) which donates heavily to almost everyone in Congress, and to Trump's campaign. You get what you pay for, apparently - and with a huge ROI on those "donations." The "DOGE" savings could never hope to recoup those ongoing losses, so don't hold out hope for paying down debt, or DOGE refund-checks.