1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

Your friends are all in the top 20%. They do not reflect the American reality. 

 

No, they are not.  Just my brother, and probably not now, and lives on fixed income.  Nice fixed income, due to his choices in life.  But just their pension & Soc Sec.

 

Half retired or near retirement, with their kids, having families, working, owning (paying for) homes, cars, school.   Some with grandkids, doing the same, and no major complaints.

 

Most all blue collar workers.  Emphasis on 'workers', putting in the time, not waiting for hand outs.

 

So nobody replying lives there .... got it.

 

Just another bast USA, Trump, MAGA thread .... carry on.

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

That used to be the case. To state something like that you must be out of touch. Obviously you have alot of affluent friends that are doing well. Good on them. But, that is just not the reality for 70-80% of the population right now. You are describing the America that once was, no longer is, and never will be again. 

Are you now the voice of the people?  

15 hours ago, Jingthing said:

If so and it may be, I'm calling it a SUICIDE.

It would have happened with our without Don. He is simply precipitating the fall of the empire and lowering the quality of life for most Americans. Dramatically. 

4 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

 

No, they are not.  Just my brother, and probably not now, and lives on fixed income.  Nice fixed income, due to his choices in life.  But just their pension & Soc Sec.

 

Half retired or near retirement, with their kids, having families, working, owning (paying for) homes, cars, school.   Some with grandkids, doing the same, and no major complaints.

 

Most all blue collar workers.  Emphasis on 'workers', putting in the time, not waiting for hand outs.

 

So nobody replying lives there .... got it.

 

Just another bast USA, Trump, MAGA thread .... carry on.

I’m in the USA.   It’s not the doom and gloom the lefties want it to be.  

Have a listen, your beloved and greatest POTUS is live now on all major networks discussing the build back after the Biden mess. Brilliance and mastery redefined MAGA style. It's better than golden.

 

 

 

13 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

That used to be the case. To state something like that you must be out of touch. Obviously you have alot of affluent friends that are doing well. Good on them. But, that is just not the reality for 70-80% of the population right now. You are describing the America that once was, no longer is, and never will be again. 

 

Your hate is blinding.  More than half are considered 'middle class'.   2 people working a McD's would have a income of $62.4k, and that comes with healthcare.

 

 

 

Note that 8% of that declining 10% of middle class went up in status, not down.

 

 

51 % + 19 % = 70 %

 

Leaves 30 % not in middle or upper class folks,   Not your silly 70-80 % imaginary group.

 

Have a nice day.

 

 

16 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Are you slow? I did it over 20 years. Your life must be really limited. Thailand has 400 baht hotels, lots of trains and buses and 1000 baht flights. Pretty easy to visit 100 towns.

 

Ubon is in my top 5 worst cities. 

Suuuuuurrrrrre, you've been to a 100 towns........😂.............🤥.....................😂

14 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Dr Pepper tastes like cough medicine. Awful!

Everyone is different. Much like some like drinking carbonated water (soda water) which I find repulsive.

26 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The bottom 70% are struggling mightily. Life in the US is declining by almost every metric. $2000 a month per couple for health insurance?

 

Things can get expensive.

You need a decent career.

Best to get some training in something.

And marry well. If you have a wife who also has a good job, then things can be good.

Depends on your situation.

If you live abroad though and try to go back, you may struggle.

 

 

<>

15 minutes ago, transam said:

Suuuuuurrrrrre, you've been to a 100 towns........😂.............🤥.....................😂

 

That's actually easy, if you leave the barstool.   I've been to almost every province, and slept in almost every one.   So there's about 70 with just one loop around the country.  Which I've done multiple times, and try to stay different towns when O&A.

 

First couple years in the Muang districts, not necessarily same town.   Or different beach towns, along most of TH's coastline, so that's got to be near  30+ alone.  Add in riverside towns, and easily another 30+.  Hilltop views, or areas just outside a Nat Park, good another 30+.   Add 10 for being near the dams alone, not counting other lakeside towns.

 

I don't think there's a beach I haven't stopped & peeked at, (OK, maybe a few) along the Gulf, from Cambodian border, to the bottom of NST.  Or from Ranong to Trang.

 

That 200+ without even the stops in between.  Just Krung Thep alone, probably stayed in 10-15 different districts of.

Trump just put out a speech!

He claims he "inherited a mess and he is fixing it".

 

Price chart of Trump price decreases:

Price of eggs is down 82% since March? 

 

 

 

 

Trump says he is "taking on the gigantic health insurance companies". 

 

Health insurance will go down?

 

Democrat parties were controlled by the insurance companies? 

 

 

 

Trump mentions "The American Dream" is home ownership.

 

Border invasion drove up housing costs? 

 

Mortgage chart:

 

58 minutes ago, armagetiton said:

Have a listen, your beloved and greatest POTUS is live now on all major networks discussing the build back after the Biden mess. Brilliance and mastery redefined MAGA style. It's better than golden.

Sarcasm I get it.

 

What a farcical angry man telling his subjects  in a threatening manner they will have a Happy Christmas and Happy New Year with BS and lies as he feathers his own and families nests. That isn't how the Kings Christmas message works. Anyone falling for this is an idiot.

Will Trump solve the fentanyl crisis?

If so, that's a major advancement. 

 

President Donald J. Trump Designates Fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction

 

 

8 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Will Trump solve the fentanyl crisis?

If so, that's a major advancement. 

 

President Donald J. Trump Designates Fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction

 

 

 

More lunacy. Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic (pain relief) and anesthetic in hospitals today and now its a weapon of mass destruction.

These SNL sketches are being written by the WH for them. 

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

 

Your hate is blinding.  More than half are considered 'middle class'.   2 people working a McD's would have a income of $62.4k, and that comes with healthcare.

 

 

 

Note that 8% of that declining 10% of middle class went up in status, not down.

 

 

51 % + 19 % = 70 %

 

Leaves 30 % not in middle or upper class folks,   Not your silly 70-80 % imaginary group.

 

Have a nice day.

 

 

I like a lot of your posts and consider you to be quite reasonable, but we disagree on this one. I spend a lot of time in America and I talk to a lot of people. I also have a retail business back there and I can tell you consumer confidence has not been lower in the past 30 years. 

 

That 70% figure is correct, they are having a hard time making ends, meet 52% are living paycheck to paycheck, and 70% have very little in the way of savings. The situation is absolutely dire, and your attempts to make it look rosy are not convincing. 

29 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

He claims he "inherited a mess and he is fixing it".

He helped create the "mess" to start with if you are referring to inflation in the Biden era. 

In the speech, Trump  blamed  Biden for economic mismanagement, including statements like "It’s not the Republicans’ fault. It’s the Democrats’ fault" and accusations of them having "looted our Treasury." He made no reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns, quantitative easing, or the bipartisan stimulus measures (including those from his first term) as contributing factors to the inflation spike that began in 2021.  From a non-partisan perspective, attributing inflation solely to the "inept previous government" without acknowledging broader causes—like global supply chain disruptions from the pandemic, necessary fiscal stimulus to support workers and businesses during lockdowns, or Federal Reserve policies is cherry-picking.

 

Inflation in the early 2020s was a multifaceted issue influenced by events beyond any single administration's control, and simplifying it this way in a national address aligns with partisan messaging to credit one's own party while fully blaming opponents, whilst at the same time try to embrace the nation with seasonal greetings. What a scumbag.

33 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Trump just put out a speech!

He claims he "inherited a mess and he is fixing it".

 

Price chart of Trump price decreases:

Price of eggs is down 82% since March? 

 

 

 

It's just not fair, don't they know who I am?

Don't they know how great I am?

Don't they know that I am the most incredible human being on the planet?

Don't they realize I'm the smartest guy in America? Don't they know how handsome I am?

 

I'm am so confused, flustered, unhappy and bitter. It's not my fault, I inherited all the problems that people are complaining about right now, and though I did say that I would tackle inflation, it's a lot harder than I thought it was going to be, and I'm finding that very frustrating. 

 

I know I said I would end the war in Ukraine in one day, but geez, diplomacy is so much harder than I thought it was going to be, and nobody seems to listen to me anymore. 

I thought I could control Putin, but he seems to have a very independent mind, and he won't listen to me! I just don't understand that. 

 

I also said that I would end the war between Israel and Gaza, but again nobody seems to listen to me, that Netanyahu has been such a pest. 

 

I think people just don't realize how great I am. I blame many of the failures on that, it has nothing to do with me, it's just that the world thinks too independently I guess. 

 

Golden Age?

 

Pyrite (Fool's Gold) Age maybe.

 

In his desperate, self-serving drivel of a speech Wednesday night, Trump spoke of "inheriting a mess from Biden".

 

Let's visit reality for a minute (MAGAs, get a visa)........

 

Trump inherited 4% Unemployment and 2.3% Inflation. UE is 4.6% now and inflation 3%.

 

The economy was growing when Trump took over. Though the government was closed, so GDP data has been hidden, it looks like things are slowing.

 

Now let's look at the American Carnage Trump left for Biden in 2017....

 

Trump left Unemployment of 6.8% (after inheriting 4.8% from Obama) and a Recession (after Obama left Trump a growing economy).

 

Oh, and the Federal Deficit for the current Fiscal Year will be $1,830,000,000,000, and perhaps higher.

 

Trump also claimed Biden left an international mess. Biden started the Ukraine War? Hamas?

 

Well, Russia is still trying to invade Ukraine, Gaza remains a mess and far from solved, the West Bank is worse than last year, Thailand and Cambodia are sort of at war, there's a possible war starting between the US and Venezuela....

 

But we certainly can all be thankful that the Cambodia-Armenia War is over as is Azajababadadan and Albania.

Last Chance to Dance Trance Vance talking at MAHA summit.

 

Talking about "challenging the old science orthodoxy" 

 

 

38 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I like a lot of your posts and consider you to be quite reasonable, but we disagree on this one. I spend a lot of time in America and I talk to a lot of people. I also have a retail business back there and I can tell you consumer confidence has not been lower in the past 30 years. 

 

Not saying inflation hasn't hit hard, especially if folks weren't in a good spot pre Biden.  COLA (past administration) 4 yrs was 20+ %, so real inflation probably 50%, at least, and housing market price skyrocketed, with rents also. 

 

Yea, that sucks, but suck it up.   Home interest rates were 14% when I bought my first house, 11% when I bought 2nd .... 3rd, I paid cash 

 

Minimum wage also doubled to $15, and nobody should be working for less.   A lot of the negative opinions, surely come from the younger folks, who think they deserve everything now, instead of putting in the time & work hours, for less than middle class wages & lifestyle.

 

Took me years to build equity and a solid income.   The late 70s & 80's weren't kind at all, as 3 of 4 airlines I worked for went into bankruptcy, last one, after I got to TH.   And those 2 career potential jobs, also went belly up, eventually, do to cheaper imported steel products and the other not going digital to compete.

 

But I didn't cry in beer from 2 taps in the front foyer, just dusted myself off and carried on.   Throw in 2 divorces and 2 live in relationships, crashed & burned, so catch me on a negative bender, and I might give you an ear full. 

 

Nah, just a beer with a burger, and pass you a doobie.  My beer mug was always half full.

 

Choices definitely matter.  Uni to learn a trade, not studies to try to figure out relationships.  Take engineering or computer sciences, marketing.   Not social psychology or liberal arts, and then wonder why you can't find a good paying job.

 

Or show up at the interview with no experience, tatted up & pieced, with 3 different hair colors and ask if they are 'gender pronoun' friendly.

 

We all started at the bottom, and put in our time, build seniority, if sticking with one company, and 'slowly' built equity.   Nothing came easy, and it doesn't today, and won't tomorrow.

Really must pay more attention! I read the headline and immediately thought of Mr Trump's umh, rumoured visit to a certain VIP hotel suite in Modcow!

26 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

 

Minimum wage also doubled to $15, and nobody should be working for less.   A lot of the negative opinions, surely come from the younger folks, who think they deserve everything now, instead of putting in the time & work hours, for less than middle class wages & lifestyle.

This is wrong. The National US Minimum wage is still at $7.25,  Many states have a higher minimum wage but a lot still use the federal minimum wage. I can not comment on what people should work for but you are incorrect on the current US minimum wage.

 

From Google.

As of late 2025, about 20 states follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour, including Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, with some (like Georgia, Oklahoma, Wyoming) having very low state rates that defer to the federal $7.25 for most employers, while others have no specific state minimum, meaning the federal rate applies

2 minutes ago, biervoormij said:

This is wrong. The National US Minimum wage is still at $7.25,  Many states have a higher minimum wage but a lot still use the federal minimum wage. I can not comment on what people should work for but you are incorrect on the current US minimum wage.

 

From Google.

As of late 2025, about 20 states follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour, including Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, with some (like Georgia, Oklahoma, Wyoming) having very low state rates that defer to the federal $7.25 for most employers, while others have no specific state minimum, meaning the federal rate applies

 

I know what the 'fed min wage is'.  Reread my post.  Only some legal or illegal immigrants would work at that salary.   But that's a conversation for another thread.   Along with an extra 20-50 (?) million non yanks in the USA, fighting for the same jobs & housing.

 

Supply & demand, along with higher 'real' minimum wage, $15 + healthcare to flip burgers at Mcd's,  jacks up inflation & prices across the board.

 

Don't cry about it, deal with it.   Make better choices.

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

We all started at the bottom, and put in our time, build seniority, if sticking with one company, and 'slowly' built equity.   Nothing came easy, and it doesn't today, and won't tomorrow.

Not me, I left university with enough money to live the rest of my life. Didn't have to work a day unless I wanted to work 

3 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

 

I know what the 'fed min wage is'.  Reread my post.  Only some legal or illegal immigrants would work at that salary.   But that's a conversation for another thread.   Along with an extra 20-50 (?) million non yanks in the USA, fighting for the same jobs & housing.

 

Supply & demand, along with higher 'real' minimum wage, $15 + healthcare to flip burgers at Mcd's,  jacks up inflation & prices across the board.

 

Don't cry about it, deal with it.   Make better choices.

Your post did not say 'real' minimum wage.  Your post said "Minimum wage also doubled to $15".

 

You maybe should reread what you wrote not what you think you wrote.

 

Also many Mcd's employees do not get medical benefits. It has been this way since I worked at a fast food place over 40 year ago. They keep employees below full time just so they do not have to provide them benefits. This is also the case with places like Walmart.

 

I am not crying about it I have done well but I also have empathy for others. I don't think life for a young person is as easy as it was when I was young. 

Make The Monroe Doctrine Great Again!

 

Make Piracy Great Again!