So the consumer index is at it's lowest since 2014! That mean confidence now is lower than during the entire Covid epidemic.

'US Consumer Confidence Plummets to Lowest Level Since 2014'

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-27/us-consumer-confidence-plummets-to-lowest-level-since-2014

Everyone I know over there, is prospering. Working at and earning a good life, or happily retired. Don't know anyone having financial problems, or concerned about the future economy.

5 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Everyone I know over there, is prospering. Working at and earning a good life, or happily retired. Don't know anyone having financial problems, or concerned about the future economy.

Yeh, riiiiight, all 300,000,000+ of them.......😂

11 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Everyone I know over there, is prospering. Working at and earning a good life, or happily retired. Don't know anyone having financial problems, or concerned about the future economy.

I doubt someone who lives hand to mouth in Thailand knows many well off people in the US

It's a K-shaped economy. The financial situation of the wealthiest is improving, while it is deteriorating for the less wealthy categories.

29 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

I doubt someone who lives hand to mouth in Thailand knows many well off people in the US

I don't know anyone that lives 'hand to mouth' in TH, since I left Udon, 8 or 9 yrs ago. And they were all expats, though none used agents to skirt the financials. Or in the USA for that matter. Obviously travel in different circles than you.

Most people I know live a very comfy lifestyle, inclusive, as I think you are implying I live 'hand to mouth' and too funny.

As usual, attack the messenger, not the message.

Troll along elsewhere ...

1 minute ago, KhunLA said:

I don't know anyone that lives 'hand to mouth' in TH, since I left Udon, 8 or 9 yrs ago. And they were all expats, though none used agents to skirt the financials. Or in the USA for that matter. Obviously travel in different circles than you.

Most people I know live a very comfy lifestyle, inclusive, as I think you are implying I live 'hand to mouth' and too funny.

As usual, attack the messenger, not the message.

Troll along elsewhere ...

How do you know anyone's financial position, and how they get by......? 🤥

You don't......🤫

16 minutes ago, transam said:

How do you know anyone's financial position, and how they get by......? 🤥

You don't......🤫

If I know them, I think I'd know their financial position. As they would easily figure out mine. Don't have to be a rocket scientist, to know how your friends & family are doing, or even some acquaintances. Do you not talk to people you know ?

But somehow, you do not know me or them, but can tell me I don't know anything about them. What is with you people.

Troll on elsewhere. 2 more added

7 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

If I know them, I think I'd know their financial position. As they would easily figure out mine. Don't have to be a rocket scientist, to know how your friends & family are doing, or even some acquaintances. Do you not talk to people you know ?

But somehow, you do not know me or them, but can tell me I don't know anything about them. What is with you people.

Troll on elsewhere. 2 more added

My nose isn't anywhere near my friends or guessing about their finances, if yours is, that's funny, but I am sure you know nothing about others' finances, unless by one to one with a problem, perhaps...............🤗

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Everyone I know over there, is prospering. Working at and earning a good life, or happily retired. Don't know anyone having financial problems, or concerned about the future economy.

I guess the 42 million Americans who are on food stamps don't figure in your calculations.

14 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I guess the 42 million Americans who are on food stamps don't figure in your calculations.

I don't know them. And when I lived there, those on welfare, most were there by their own actions, or lack of, would be more appropriate. Trust me, I know what I'm talking, as I used to be a slum lord, and most of them, that myself and other we rented to, they were scamming the system.

By that, I mean, had a partner working with decent income, and probably didn't need the free rent, food & medical. Just weren't married or registered as living in the house.

Live with your choices.

You will likely get replies from a lot of guys who rarely or never go back to America, you may even get replies from some who have never been to America.

As an American who owns a business there I can tell you that the level of consumer confidence right now is lower than I've ever witnessed it in my life time, and that includes the Carter era. Trump has absolutely decimated the economy on a micro level, and on a local level and tens of thousands of businesses are closing.

The guys who are claiming that everyone they know in America are doing well are living a very insulated life, and are completely out of touch with the life of the average American, or they are so partisan politically that they simply cannot admit that the Trump experiment is failing miserably.

My guess is that 75% of people in America are really struggling, another 15% are doing fairly well, and the top 10% are doing very well, while that top 1% are minting cash.

7 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I don't know them. And when I lived there, those on welfare, most were there by their own actions, or lack of, would be more appropriate. Trust me, I know what I'm talking, as I used to be a slum lord, and most of them, that myself and other we rented to, they were scamming the system.

By that, I mean, had a partner working with decent income, and probably didn't need the free rent, food & medical. Just weren't married or registered as living in the house.

Live with your choices.

Some people make bad choices. Some people just have sheer bad luck, such as an accident, or a health problem which prevents them from earning a decent wage.

For example, about 1 in 4 Americans have a mental health issue of varying severity. 50 -60% of those people go untreated, due to the ramshackle nature of the American health system.

You got lucky. It doesn't mean everyone does.

19 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Trump has absolutely decimated the economy on a micro level, and on a local level and tens of thousands of businesses are closing.

My guess is that 75% of people in America are really struggling, another 15% are doing fairly well, and the top 10% are doing very well, while that top 1% are minting cash.

Trump in office for 1 year, and decimated the economy ... too funny

75% struggling ... stats certainly contradict that. Bottom 75% would mean 28.7% of them are in the $75k-$150k household income bracket. That's not struggling, of even close to it, unless living way beyond your means. That's mismanagement, not, having too little money.

54% are making more than $75k

42% are making more than $100k

Bottom 30 %, yea, you're struggling. And tax dollars well spent supplementing their food & healthcare. Maybe even the next 15 % may need some assistance.

10 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

For example, about 1 in 4 Americans have a mental health issue of varying severity. 50 -60% of those people go untreated, due to the ramshackle nature of the American health system.

You got lucky. It doesn't mean everyone does.

25% of the country is mentally unstable, and half or more, go untreated. What orifice did you pull those out of. If untreated, how do you know that ain't right in the head.

So these are considered mental health issues. Then nothing has changed since I was 20 yrs old. I knew a gal that had mental health issues. Not really, but it was her excuse not to work, and she collected welfare; free housing, food and medical. As one health issue they can't say doesn't exist, as no physical test.

You guys are a crack up, and really hard to have a real conversation with.

But who has any faith in American economy ? I mean even when the Clintons and Obama's gangs were in power, crime was all over, drugs, and homeless people all over giving an image similar to a 3rd world country.

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Trump in office for 1 year, and decimated the economy ... too funny

75% struggling ... stats certainly contradict that. Bottom 75% would mean 28.7% of them are in the $75k-$150k household income bracket. That's not struggling, of even close to it, unless living way beyond your means. That's mismanagement, not, having too little money.

54% are making more than $75k

42% are making more than $100k

Bottom 30 %, yea, you're struggling. And tax dollars well spent supplementing their food & healthcare. Maybe even the next 15 % may need some assistance.

25% of the country is mentally unstable, and half or more, go untreated. What orifice did you pull those out of. If untreated, how do you know that ain't right in the head.

So these are considered mental health issues. Then nothing has changed since I was 20 yrs old. I knew a gal that had mental health issues. Not really, but it was her excuse not to work, and she collected welfare; free housing, food and medical. As one health issue they can't say doesn't exist, as no physical test.

You guys are a crack up, and really hard to have a real conversation with.

Let's see: I quoted 1 in four Americans. You are now quoting 1 in 5 Americans in only two categories - anxiety and depression. There's bipolar, ADHD, SUD, PTSD, OCD, bulimia, anorexia...

Did you flunk math and logic simultaneously?

4 hours ago, KhunLA said:

If I know them, I think I'd know their financial position. As they would easily figure out mine. Don't have to be a rocket scientist, to know how your friends & family are doing, or even some acquaintances. Do you not talk to people you know ?

But somehow, you do not know me or them, but can tell me I don't know anything about them. What is with you people.

Troll on elsewhere. 2 more added

He has never talked to anyone apart from on here.

5 hours ago, CallumWK said:

I doubt someone who lives hand to mouth in Thailand knows many well off people in the US

You have never met him in real life. You lefties just make stuff up to boost your ego.

8 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Let's see: I quoted 1 in four Americans. You are now quoting 1 in 5 Americans in only two categories - anxiety and depression. There's bipolar, ADHD, SUD, PTSD, OCD, bulimia, anorexia...

It's 1-5 for people in Australia. You should worry about your own country.

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/2020-21?utm_source=chatgpt.com

It's 1- 6 in Europe.

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

1 minute ago, TedG said:

It's 1-5 for people in Australia. You should worry about your own country.

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/2020-21?utm_source=chatgpt.com

It's 1- 6 in Europe.

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

He is from Victoria. They are weird. They are obsessed with aerial ping pong.

9 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

He has never talked to anyone apart from on here.

....says the basement dweller!🤣

2 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

He is from Victoria. They are weird. They are obsessed with aerial ping pong.

I've been to Australia, and I think it's a nice country with nice people. The OP is an outlier.

5 minutes ago, TedG said:

It's 1-5 for people in Australia. You should worry about your own country.

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/2020-21?utm_source=chatgpt.com

It's 1- 6 in Europe.

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

Last night's view from the ISS.

3 minutes ago, BLMFem said:

Last night's view from the ISS.

Yeah, so it's conspiracy time.

Every single one of your posts (and there are many) is dedicated to making Trump look bad.

So who is paying you? A shady NGO that Trump tried to shut down?

6 minutes ago, TedG said:

I've been to Australia, and I think it's a nice country with nice people. The OP is an outlier.

It's ok in parts. Victorians are different though. Often very arrogant. Their hero was Shane Warne a bogan who put baked beans on pizza.

8 minutes ago, BLMFem said:

....says the basement dweller!🤣

Happy to meet you in person but you a troll. You are the weirdest person on here. Your obsession with Trump is sick.

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

It's ok in parts. Victorians are different though. Often very arrogant. Their hero was Shane Warne a bogan who put baked beans on pizza.

I've never seen baked beans on a Pizza.

Just now, TedG said:

I've never seen baked beans on a Pizza.

Yeah he would add it. Warne was very dumb.

5 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Happy to meet you in person but you a troll. You are the weirdest person on here. Your obsession with Trump is sick.

It might have something to do with having dander skin flake, man.

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Let's see: I quoted 1 in four Americans. You are now quoting 1 in 5 Americans in only two categories - anxiety and depression. There's bipolar, ADHD, SUD, PTSD, OCD, bulimia, anorexia...

Did you flunk math and logic simultaneously?

Personally, it think the numbers are BS, as I stated, it's one of the easiest 'disability' to claim state & federal benefits. Stats show that, and as I stated, personal knowledge of chickie friend doing just that, for free housing, food & medical for her & 2 kids. Here's the kicker, I lived with her for a couple years, and made $50k a year (salary) at the time. Of course, not on record as member of household, as would have negated the freebies.

Adding to the scam, her mother owned the house the govt was paying the rent on, also illegal.

From AI ...

I got 2 denials, and had to appear in court for judication for my disability benefits, examined by 2 docs, (1 Soc Sec approved), with Xrays, MRI to prove injury & disability. She didn't require anything, except a doc to state she's nutter, and not much of a stretch.

That's why mental is used, apparently 25 - 35% of the time, as can't be disproven. So we're to believe, not only at that many got mental, but a whole bunch use it as an easy way for free bennies.

You believe what you want, I'll believe what I know and experienced.