spidermike007

In my opinion the quality of life is very low, it has gotten lower as the years have progressed, and it's likely the lowest that it's ever been, if you take into account purchasing power and if you're not super wealthy. If you own your home free and clear, and you're living in a nice suburban or rural area, life can be of a decent caliber. Not great. But OK. I wouldn't trade my life here for a life back there, unless I was earning $3 million a year, and I would only do that for 2 years.

No. It was another failed negotiation and Trump got very little in return for his concessions. The biggest policy change the president unveiled was that the US will halt joint military exercises with South Korea, which has served as a crucial way for the US to put military pressure on North Korea. This announcement came as a surprise for a number of reasons. First, it appears that Trump made the concession without getting anything remotely comparable from Kim in return. Second, he framed it as a financial issue, pointing out that cutting back on the drills will save a “tremendous amount of money.” In the process, he criticized US ally South Korea for not pulling its weight. “South Korea contributes [to the military exercises], but not 100 percent, which is a subject that we have to talk to them about,” the president said. Analysts were shocked by the statement. “Apparently jet-fuel is so expensive, it’s worth casting aside a 60-year ally and friend,” Robert Kelly, a professor at South Korea’s Pusan National University, said. https://www.vox.com/world/2018/6/12/17452616/trump-kim-jong-un-north-korea-summit

But why stop now and I'm having so much fun? Besides he richly deserves the ridicule.

While I do agree with some of those points, personally I think the US is in a lot of trouble on a lot of levels, most of which is simply not acknowledged by relatively simple minded, propagandist chest pounders like Trump.

Kind of a typical response of a Trump supporter, it's the old Bush Jr. Doctrine, you're either with us or you're against us, everything's black and white and there is no gray area, no nuance, no room for discussion, no debate. We are the best, we are number one, we always have been, and we always will be.

Are you claiming the same about their industrial might? Chinese exports now account for over 30% of entire worldwide trade.

China will not only win this trade war, they will kick the US in the butt. Just another example of simpletons under estimating them, and diminishing not only the US economy, but it's remaining influence. And in the process dramatically overestimating the importance and the influence of the US on the rest of the world. There is no question America is not the country that it once was, and that the entire planet is infinitely less dependent on them than they used to be. Which is a good thing for the planet, but a terrible thing for the very simplistic president of the US. He has never won a trade war with Xi, and he was outsmarted in every negotiation with Kim, Putin and MBS. Trump is an absolutely terrible negotiator. https://youtu.be/HO7mt7d9Zp8?si=-LgZ__a835aIKdel

Why China will not only win this trade war, they will kick the US in the butt. Just another example of simpletons under estimating them, and diminishing not only the US economy, but it's remaining influence. And in the process dramatically overestimating the importance and the influence of the US on the rest of the world. There is no question America is not the country that it once was, and that the entire planet is infinitely less dependent on them than they used to be. Which is a good thing for the planet, but a terrible thing for our creepy leader. https://youtu.be/HO7mt7d9Zp8?si=-LgZ__a835aIKdel

Why China will not only win this trade war, they will kick the US in the butt. Just another example of simpletons under estimating them, and diminishing not only the US economy, but it's remaining influence. And in the process dramatically overestimating the importance and the influence of the US on the rest of the world. There is no question America is not the country that it once was, and that the entire planet is infinitely less dependent on them than they used to be. Which is a good thing for the planet, but a terrible thing for our creepy leader. https://youtu.be/HO7mt7d9Zp8?si=-LgZ__a835aIKdel

The US could not exist without Canada, Mexico and China. Period.

A letter from the former PM of Canada. I consider it an important letter because there are very few world leaders that have the guts to speak out against this madman. Jean Chretien is 91 today and he gave himself a birthday present. He told Donald J. Trump to piss off in the The Globe and Mail. Here's his column: * * * Today is my 91st birthday. It’s an opportunity to celebrate with family and friends. To look back on the life I’ve had the privilege to lead. And to reflect on how much this country we all love so much has grown and changed over the course of the nine decades I’ve been on this Earth. This year, I’ve also decided to give myself a birthday present. I’m going to do something in this article that I don’t do very often anymore, and sound off on a big issue affecting the state of the nation and profoundly bothering me and so many other Canadians: The totally unacceptable insults and unprecedented threats to our very sovereignty from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. I have two very clear and simple messages. To Donald Trump, from one old guy to another: Give your head a shake! What could make you think that Canadians would ever give up the best country in the world – and make no mistake, that is what we are – to join the United States? I can tell you Canadians prize our independence. We love our country. We have built something here that is the envy of the world – when it comes to compassion, understanding, tolerance and finding a way for people of different backgrounds and faiths to live together in harmony. We’ve also built a strong social safety net – especially with public health care – that we are very proud of. It’s not perfect, but it’s based on the principle that the most vulnerable among us should be protected. This may not be the “American Way” or “the Trump Way.” But it is the reality I have witnessed and lived my whole long life. If you think that threatening and insulting us is going to win us over, you really don’t know a thing about us. You don’t know that when it came to fighting in two world wars for freedom, we signed up – both times – years before your country did. We fought and we sacrificed well beyond our numbers. We also had the guts to say no to your country when it tried to drag us into a completely unjustified and destabilizing war in Iraq. We built a nation across the most rugged, challenging geography imaginable. And we did it against the odds. We may look easy-going. Mild-mannered. But make no mistake, we have spine and toughness. And that leads me to my second message, to all our leaders, federal and provincial, as well as those who are aspiring to lead our country: Start showing that spine and toughness. That’s what Canadians want to see – what they need to see. It’s called leadership. You need to lead. Canadians are ready to follow. I know the spirit is there. Ever since Mr. Trump’s attacks, every political party is speaking out in favour of Canada. In fact, it is to my great satisfaction that even the Bloc Québécois is defending Canada. But you don’t win a hockey game by only playing defence. We all know that even when we satisfy one demand, Mr. Trump will come back with another, bigger demand. That’s not diplomacy; it’s blackmail. We need another approach – one that will break this cycle. Mr. Trump has accomplished one thing: He has unified Canadians more than we have been ever before! All leaders across our country have united in resolve to defend Canadian interests. When I came into office as prime minister, Canada faced a national unity crisis. The threat of Quebec separation was very real. We took action to deal with this existential threat in a manner that made Canadians, including Quebeckers, stronger, more united and even prouder of Canadian values. Now there is another existential threat. And we once again need to reduce our vulnerability. That is the challenge for this generation of political leaders. And you won’t accomplish it by using the same old approaches. Just like we did 30 years ago, we need a Plan B for 2025. Yes, telling the Americans we are their best friends and closest trading partner is good. So is lobbying hard in Washington and the state capitals, pointing out that tariffs will hurt the American economy too. So are retaliatory tariffs – when you are attacked, you have to defend yourself. But we also have to play offence. Let’s tell Mr. Trump that we too have border issues with the United States. Canada has tough gun control legislation, but illegal guns are pouring in from the U.S. We need to tell him that we expect the United States to act to reduce the number of guns crossing into Canada. We also want to protect the Arctic. But the United States refuses to recognize the Northwest Passage, insisting that it is an international waterway, even though it flows through the Canadian Arctic as Canadian waters. We need the United States to recognize the Northwest Passage as being Canadian waters. We also need to reduce Canada’s vulnerability in the first place. We need to be stronger. There are more trade barriers between provinces than between Canada and the United States. Let’s launch a national project to get rid of those barriers! And let’s strengthen the ties that bind this vast nation together through projects such as real national energy grid. We also have to understand that Mr. Trump isn’t just threatening us; he’s also targeting a growing list of other countries, as well as the European Union itself, and he is just getting started. Canada should quickly convene a meeting of the leaders of Denmark, Panama, Mexico, as well as with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to formulate a plan for fighting back these threats. Every time that Mr. Trump opens his mouth, he creates new allies for all of us. So let’s get organized! To fight back against a big, powerful bully, you need strength in numbers. The whole point is not to wait in dread for Donald Trump’s next blow. It’s to build a country and an international community that can withstand those blows. Canadians know me. They know I am an optimist. That I am practical. And that I always speak my mind. I made my share of mistakes over a long career, but I never for a moment doubted the decency of my fellow Canadians – or of my political opponents. The current and future generations of political leaders should remember they are not each other’s enemies – they are opponents. Nobody ever loved the cut-and-thrust of politics more than me, but I always understood that each of us was trying to make a positive contribution to make our community or country a better place. That spirit is more important now than ever, as we address this new challenge. Our leaders should keep that in mind. I am 91 today and blessed with good health. I am ready at the ramparts to help defend the independence of our country as I have done all my life. Vive le Canada! (Article shared by Steve Paikin)

Yeah it still hasn't settled in with alot of his supporters just how incredibly dangerous the man is. It will take some time for them to figure it out. Sooner or later the disappointment is going to be quite severe, and so will the regret. Jeez, I thought he was sincere! I did not realize he was insane!

Absolutely spot on, some of the things that Trump is doing are good, but the way he is going about it is all wrong. The man is a huge bull in a China closet in his approach to everything in life. Expect a lot of destruction, and not the good kind.

It's very obvious to those of us that have some objectivity that he's an extraordinarily miserable man, he does not find his life fulfilling, and he's in search of something, what I certainly don't know. But I would not trade my position for his, for all the fortune that he has. No way on earth, no thank you. He lives inside Hell and Hell lives inside his heart, mind, soul and brain from my point of view and many others. No jealousy, on any level.

I've always preferred smaller, I've always preferred an artisanal approach, and I've always enjoyed supporting creative individuals in small shops. Yeah, I am sticking it to the man. I just don't like huge corporations at all.

Trump appears hellbent on getting rid of every consumer protection and every environmental protection that ever existed, which makes him determined to lower the quality of life for everyone in America. That's just who he is, he is not a man of his word and he is NOT a man of the people. He is simply a very sad and very reckless fool.

There are so many benefits to frequenting the small mom and pop shops, some of which do a great job, and there's so much downside to supporting these huge corporate behemoths who usually offers substandard products at higher than usual prices. Of course the sheeples tend to prefer the places with lines where everyone goes, but some of us know better.

Pattaya may be worse than other places, but in reality every urban area in Thailand has major issues with sidewalks and they are a hazard waiting to happen. If you're not constantly paying attention and scanning the surface in front of you it's a recipe for a twisted ankle, a broken foot, a torn ligament, or a very nasty fall. Add in motorbikes on the sidewalk, low hanging signs and wires, pushcarts and vendors and you had better be very aware out there. It can be a battlefield! Not to mention the hazardous zebra crossings. And no, Buddha, God, nor any other supernatural force will not protect you, if you are not protecting yourself. Pedestrians beware.

It appears to accomplish absolutely nothing, and is likely just a result of some rather bizarre illusions that emanated from fake Puritan minds. Is it supposed to encourage people to work harder ? One can buy alcohol in the morning if one is planning on drinking in the afternoon after all, but simple minds I guess cannot grasp that concept, I suppose.

I'm not a liberal I'm a Centrist Democrat, but it's very likely you wouldn't know the difference. Few liberals are highly supportive of the death penalty, and are against abortion after the first trimester, I could go on. It's very likely that you label all Democrats as communists, traitors, and socialists. And that could not be further from the truth, the vast majority of Democrats in America are Centrists. This will be my last reply to you, I don't like dancing in circles with someone who is rather poorly informed.

I would bet your feelings toward Taylor Swift were neutral or even positive prior to Trump launching his diatribe of hatred and venom towards her. Like many of his followers you are simply towing the party line and parroting his hatred, perhaps without even a conscious thought about it. Trump himself likely never gave her a second thought, until she started speaking publicly, with rather pointed criticism of the man, which he richly deserved. He is so oversensitive, he's so thin skinned, he's such a petty lightweight, that he simply cannot handle an insult at all, he wilts like a wallflower and must engage in a hateful diatribe. He's very predictable in that regard. This is who and what he is. A petty bully.

Again, parroting the party line. Such an obedient devotee.

Abhisit is just as lost in space as he was when he was briefly PM. Casinos won't change anything as many Thais are compulsive gamblers anyway. What could what could cause harm is the fact that the next government will likely make them illegal again, causing billions of dollars worth of losses to the developers who were gullible enough to build them. All one has to do is look next door to Cambodia to see what a disaster that was.

Pretty simplistic answer. Trump was there, that's why she was booed, she's immensely popular, possibly far more so than the creep.

Three quotes come to mind thinking about this creep. In shallow men the fish of little thoughts cause much commotion. In oceanic minds the whales of inspiration make hardly a ruffle. Character is easier kept than recovered. There is a battle inside of every man. Two wolves that exist inside each of us. One is evil and anger. The other is hope. You know which one wins? The one you feed.