connda

Politicians are both sides of the aisles are corrupt.

So what. If the US voters want to change to a Socialist form of government - It's up to them.

I've never seen an alcohol vending machine outside of Japan.

Did "Democracy" fail to work? Did not the New York voters select their choice at the ballot box? What options were there to Mamdani: Sliwa and Cuomo? Who has to live with the election results? Trump? No - New Yorkers. If New Yorkers don't like the selection they can change it next election. Do I care that Zohran Mamdani is mayor of New York. Nope. I'm more concerned with who is PM in Thailand. Mamdani will bring Communism back to the United States. Bunk - Mamdani is a Socialist and its up to the voters whether or not they want a Socialist city.

I see this article has brought the "I Hate Russians" members out of the woodwork.

Neither is Buddhism, imho, and yet I put it on the list. "None" isn't a religion either, yet I was asked to include it. "Ridiculous poll." No really. The poll shows that the vast majority of AN members are not religious, and they are the most vocal in spreading the "good news" that there is no god.

...on the backs of that segment of the population who can least afford it. They should raise the VAT on luxury good to generate their 3 billion - or - rein in government spending.

The bottom line is that she is teaching without a work permit, and I'll bet she doesn't have the correct visa either. She's the tip of the iceberg.

Teaching yoga without a work permit is common practice all over Thailand, especially up here in the Chiang Mai area.

...depending on the poll you look at.

Maybe. I think Trump and the Republican party are in for a shock after the results of the 2026 Mid-Term elections are counted. Trump provided his base with an American First vision where the tide of his presidency would raise all ships and boats in the MAGA oceans and seas. But he has reneged on his vision and on his promises - you know, the promises that benefit regular people. Oh, he's taking good care of the wealthy and connected and foreign interests aligned with his campaigns (America Second), while tossing table scraps to the average American commoners. And Republicans as a whole always act that way: corporations and the obscenely wealthy first, bones and table scraps for the "little people." I believe that the Democrat wins in New York City and in Virginia are foreshadowing a major upheaval in the political landscapes. Will that upheaval benefit regular people? Probably not - then it's "pitchforks, torches, and guillotines in the town square." Time will tell. It always does. Time is The Great Revealer.

Sounds like his own "voice" to me personally. However, if you wish to check for plagiarism, it is easy enough to do in this day and age of AI. Just Google: "Free Plagiarism Checker" and go to town. The only link that is cited for the OP's opinion piece in the Plagiarism Checker that I used is the original Asean Now link to his OP. It's not plagiarized.

Pretty humorous considering that the majority of forum members are old, white guys.

I don't like the OP's premise, but his screed is OPINION. Opinion doesn't require "facts being <sic> backed-up with links and data." I don't agree with any of it, but I'll support his right to his opinion. This nonsense demanding that the OP supply, "facts being backup with links and data," to support an opinion piece is just your way of attempting to shut down his voice. "Opinion" is self-evident 'truth' to the holder of the opinion regardless if others consider the opinion to be highly factual or utter baloney. I consider his OP to be utter baloney, but he has my backing to express his opinion. Censorship - to me personally - is more vile then the worse of opinions.

What a bowl of racist pablum. What pushed Trump to victory were minorities: Black and Asians, who once were Democrats and then flipped for the 2024 election. Trump already has the conservative white male vote wrapped up and tied with a bow. Hey OP. You hate whites, right? Just say it. You could have shortened the entire OP to, "I hate whites." Or more likely, "I hate straight white conservative males." 👈 Less words, more impact.

Hi Stressed Eric.

Nothing like rooting for Nazis. 😕

Start in Nan and explore. Outside of the cities like Pattaya and Phuket you can really discover that makes Thailand -Thailand.

Exactly. It changed nothing.

I've always have been an introvert, i.e., I like my privacy. However, I can go full extrovert in a heartbeat. I can be very outgoing when I want to be. It's all situational. Have I changed since moving to Thailand 18+ years ago. Nope. Still the same.

I'm a conservative (not MAGA). Actually I'm an old school liberal which, according to the new progressives, makes me far-right. But I'm not, just a conservative who believes that societies needs social safety nets and things such as access to food and health care are a human right. And as an US veteran, I'm admittedly anti-war. I gave Trump his 100 days to make America great again. But - what we got is the solid look at the serial lying megalomaniacal narcissist. Bad news for American and the rest of the world. So yeah - Pseudologia fantastica? 100% percent. And that's a major problem, imho. And as such, here's a preview of the 2026 Midterm Elections.

Shades of Nov 3, 2026 midterms. As James Carvell so aptly stated to Bill Clinton, "It's the economy, stupid!" Well, that an Trump's constant bellicose lying.

Good Christians maintain morality. Morality is good and is the foundation of finding a path out of the suffering of this existence. I can even except that good Christian attain "heaven." Christianity fits within Buddhist cosmology. Where we part ways is that neither an existence in "heaven" or "hell" nor all points in-between are not "for ever and ever." And highly moral people don't get tossed into everlasting Hell for not uttering, "Jesus is the only God."

In reality in Buddhist cosmology there is no beginning - but there is an end. One of my teachers recommends contemplating a mountain, like Mount Rainier, comprised of nothing but bones. Now there is the quantitative result of past lives. A mountain of bones. The exercise is to get you to let go of identifying your present body as "self" and to twist you out of identifying with this 70 or 80 years of existence in your present body. Lay down and really contemplate that. This life in and of itself is insignificant outside of the ability to act morally and meditate which are the keys to the end of suffering within dualistic existence.