11 hours ago, FrankieGoesToHolly said:

One of us knows what he is talking about. The other is full of hot air.

This other one is very accomplished at using AI to pose questions in such a way his set opinion is confirmed.

20 hours ago, Woke to Sounds said:

China better watch its piehole talkin that crapola.

The USA can and will bring Apple manufacturing, as just one example, back to Cali where it belongs.

💥 💯%

Gotta love those $3950 phones. Cali, the land of everything being over inflated. It will never happen.

On 1/4/2026 at 9:56 AM, flexomike said:

all in their to take over the world, if you think China's presence in South America is good for the US you have a major problem.

or you have a major problem?

1 hour ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Trump likes the uneducated as does Thailand both are a magnet for the deplorables. Changy chang chang !

I definitely agree that Trump likes people with less education as they are more susceptible to jingoism, memes and false accusations.

My question is are you calling all of us expats deplorables? If so, that's a fairly sweeping statement.

41 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I definitely agree that Trump likes people with less education as they are more susceptible to jingoism, memes and false accusations.

My question is are you calling all of us expats deplorables? If so, that's a fairly sweeping statement.

There is a trace of the deplorable in all of us, if we are honest. What I would say is that to live successfully in Thailand, one has to make peace with a lower calibration of the moral compass than would typically apply in Western liberal democracies. Those without a deep connection to Thailand unlike many of us here often hold a jaundiced view of the people who choose to come.

17 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Bit of a farce coming from a dictatorship that skirts international sanctions on Russia and that is currently bullying Taiwan and denying civil rights to Hong Kong residents.

similar to Trump letting Russia bullying/invading Ukraine and Trump bullying Greenland/Denmark, good analogy

16 hours ago, FlorC said:

Learn how to read .

so you having nothing besides the usual blablabla, not surprising

On 1/4/2026 at 10:14 AM, TedG said:

Do you want the world depending on the CCP? The aftermath of making China a favored trading partner was the loss of six million jobs.

Yes - I love my cheap tech and stuff - they are making a good job of it. Had a Bolt ride in a brilliant Chinese car yesterday. He payed 600k for it and it's uses 2k of electricty per month as oposed to 15k of gas which pollutes the atmosphere. They are both cheap and good - you can buy your $5k iphone from America if you want asnd chuck you pc away. China trades - Amercia invades. China builds - America destroys and they clip the wings of their oligarchs - what's not to like ?

3 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

it's uses 2k of electricty per month as oposed to 15k of gas

BS

2 hours ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

There is a trace of the deplorable in all of us, if we are honest. What I would say is that to live successfully in Thailand, one has to make peace with a lower calibration of the moral compass than would typically apply in Western liberal democracies. Those without a deep connection to Thailand unlike many of us here often hold a jaundiced view of the people who choose to come.

I agree. When people ask me why I chose Thailand with a suspicious tone I answer with this.

You asked me what is so fascinating about Thailand? I've been a student of archeology since high school and in particular Sukhothai and Bagan in Burma. I love the portico designs, and I love multiple aspects of the architectural designs of these ancient temples, and I spend as much time studying them and visiting these sites as I possibly can. 

Most people are just slack jawed at that point, and they just look at me and say wow I had no idea, this is something I never knew about you, that's fascinating stuff. 

19 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I agree. When people ask me why I chose Thailand with a suspicious tone I answer with this.

You asked me what is so fascinating about Thailand? I've been a student of archeology since high school and in particular Sukhothai and Bagan in Burma. I love the portico designs, and I love multiple aspects of the architectural designs of these ancient temples, and I spend as much time studying them and visiting these sites as I possibly can. 

Most people are just slack jawed at that point, and they just look at me and say wow I had no idea, this is something I never knew about you, that's fascinating stuff. 

And you are a non-drinking celibate Buddhist helping the poor and striving to create a more liberal Thailand by supporting the nascent democracy movements at great risk to yourself and your family but change has to start somewhere !!

28 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

BS

That's what he told me on a trip to Sattahip from Jonmtien in a brand spanking new car still with plastic on the seaTs. He maybe nicking his work's leccy I didn't dig down into the claim - he was moonlighting on Bolt.

22 hours ago, Alan Zweibel said:

You got it somewhat wrong. Chinese, through its belt and road initiative lends countries money for major infrastructure projects. Often these projects are corrupt boondoggles like the case of a major airport built in Sri Lanka. India had refused to finance it because it made no economic sense. China stepped in and when the project failed, as compensation took a huge chunk of land on the sea to build facilities.

That said, what do you expect the US to do about that?

you're saying the same thing.

The project fails to pay back loans and China takes control. That's their strategy. Doesn't matter the project, or the name of the project.

16 hours ago, gearbox said:

You must be living on another planet where good people and countries provide loans without collaterals. If you default on your mortgage payments the bank repossesses your home.

Not sure what you're on about. I said China provides loans knowing the country will default and just waits to take control.

That's usually because some powerful entities and they are continue to be useful