Galong

I'm sure it'll be a good 'show.'

So, what we have here is Trump floating another 🥱 vague “Great Healthcare Plan” while simultaneously pouring money into everything else: roughly $901 billion in the current military budget with a proposal to raise it to $1.5 trillion, expanded ICE funding exceeding $100 billion through 2029 (about $27 to $28 billion per year), continued farm subsidies tied to an $867 billion, 10-year farm bill, plus the usual presidential travel, security, and executive excesses that never seem to face austerity. At the same time, the U.S. national debt has risen from about $19.9 trillion when he first took office to roughly $27 trillion by 2020, and now sits around $36 to $37 trillion, an increase of roughly $16 to $17 trillion across that period. So the obvious question remains: where, exactly, is the money for this mystery healthcare plan supposed to come from? Wishful thinking, accounting magic, or just another tab added to the national credit card. Midterms: assuming they proceed normally is optimistic. Losing Congress would mean investigations, resistance, and something he has always treated as optional: accountability. With emergency declarations, federalized forces, and expansive interpretations of executive power readily available, postponement or disruption would likely look safer to him than risking an election he might lose badly.

It would be nice if I could delete this topic. Admin, can you delete this topic, please?

It makes too much sense, so it's probably just a rumor. The friend who told me usually doesn't spread silly rumors, that's why I posted here.

It makes sense on many levels to have SSA form 7162 sent electronically to save on postage and to take both the US and Thai postal systems out of the transaction. We could still have to sign it and post it back, thus preventing potential fraud, but it would (sort of) assure that we get them. I never got one this year. A friend said he heard it was going to happen, but can't remember where he saw that news and I can't find anything online.

Yep, got mine at some point today too... didn't see when it came it, but it's here. thanks to the dreadful exchange rate, the COLA barely made an impact. 🤦

Correction: my wife tells me I DID get a COLA letter a while back. It's a good thing one of us still has remnants of a memory. 🤦‍♂️

That's a concern. I never got my form 7162 via post this year. I have every other year. I didn't get this COLA letter either. My address has been the same for 25+ years. I hope my address isn't somehow an issue. Thanks for letting me know.

I got my personal Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) notice online in the message section of My Social Security. I didn't get anything by post. Did others get it by post?

I haven't gotten my Bangkok Bank deposit for this month yet. I assume it will arrive tomorrow since it was a big holiday. My Soc Sec says paid on the 2nd. IF there was a problem with form 7162, would there likely be some sort of notice on the My Soc Sec site warning me of an upcoming problem or would the Feb payment not showing up being the first time I would know there is a problem. I did the phone call method on Sept 2nd. I have received nothing since then by mail or on my site stating there was an issue. I'm assuming it's all good, but who knows. 🤷

I haven't read that anywhere. It would make sense that the government would waive the form this time, but nothing this government does makes sense, so who knows. Expect the worst under this totally inept administration.

Oh sure, let’s only let people vote after they’ve “helped the country.” So, um, who decides that? A government committee? A vibes-based scoring system? Your cousin who thinks mowing his lawn is patriotic duty? And what counts as “helping”? Teacher? Nurse? Caregiver? Or just “whatever the current government feels like”? This plan turns voting rights into a permission slip handed out by whoever’s in power. What could go wrong?

Ah yes, the great mystery of why people in a tropical country with ongoing Covid cases, flu, RSV, TB, and other airborne threats might still wear masks. Shocking, really. Maybe it’s not “paranoia,” but basic disease prevention, cultural courtesy, and, you know, not wanting to share your respiratory souvenirs with Grandma. Thailand’s packed streets, crowded markets, and spotty ventilation make masks a smart move, even if you don’t personally enjoy them while buying your Slurpee. Call it what you want, but protecting yourself and others isn’t “soulless.” It’s just hygiene with manners. I’ve lived here 33 years, and I’m fit, healthy, and not exactly the paranoid type, but after catching Covid a couple of months ago, I’m still dealing with lingering symptoms (Long Covid, perhaps). So yeah, I appreciate not inhaling other people’s exhaled mystery particles, thanks.

Ah yes, the classic “I was hit and I turned out fine” defense... says adults who think violence teaches discipline. Reality: violence teaches violence. Somehow, current violence is 'justified' because of previous violence... seriously? And, nothing screams “I’m perfectly well-adjusted” like proudly defending child assault because you can’t imagine parenting without caveman tactics. Intelligent/caring parents use consequences, loss of privileges or... and here's a wild idea... communication. You know, methods that actually build respect instead of trauma.

I like your comments... and LOVE your "Spitting Image" avatar... kudos! That show is hilarious! I only recently started watching it.