American kindness was evidenced by their closure of USAID which may cost millions of lives in developing countries.

6 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

American kindness was evidenced by their closure of USAID which may cost millions of lives in developing countries.

America first isn't a bad idea, and many other countries have reduced their donations. Think of how much the US has donated in the past. I'm thinking it will start once again.

On 7/25/2026 at 8:51 PM, blaze master said:

The vast majority of people never deal with ice. Its a strange yet predictable attempt.

Ruben Ray Martinez (Age 23), Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, Keith Porter Jr. (Age 43), Renee Nicole Good (Age 37), Alex Pretti (Age 37), Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero (Age 25), and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo had dealings with ICE and were shot and killed by ICE. Over 50 people have died in ICE detention since 2025. Thank God not many people have to have dealings with ICE; it appears to be a terminal interaction.

2 minutes ago, Back Stage said:

Ruben Ray Martinez (Age 23), Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, Keith Porter Jr. (Age 43), Renee Nicole Good (Age 37), Alex Pretti (Age 37), Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero (Age 25), and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo had dealings with ICE and were shot and killed by ICE. Over 50 people have died in ICE detention since 2025. Thank God not many people have to have dealings with ICE; it appears to be a terminal interaction.

Not many? US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) records hundreds of thousands of direct enforcement interactions yearly, including roughly 150,055 administrative and criminal arrests, over 183,000 active participants monitored in Alternatives to Detention programs, and hundreds of thousands of annual detainer issuances and book-ins.

Enforcement and Arrest Metrics

• Administrative arrests: ~113,430 yearly via Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

• Criminal arrests: ~35,640 combined annual arrests by ERO and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

• Detainers and book-ins: Hundreds of thousands of civil immigration detainer requests sent to local jails.

• Like all things media related. Bias, exaggerations and opinions.

Edited Monday at 02:18 AM2 days by fredwiggy

On 7/25/2026 at 7:21 PM, Yagoda said:

not every alien is a criminal

And not every criminal is an alien.

20 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Americans remind me of the Flanders and Swann song, "The Reluctant Cannibal". When the father advises the son, "Always be sincere, whether you mean it or not".

I think Americans exhibit superficial friendliness, that is probably true.

Is that only Americans though?

Thankfully, the days of the ME American you must do as I say because we know best are behind us. I can fondly remember American soldiers coming across to Ontario to drink and hit on the girls, all thinking they were better than everyone else. Only issue was they made less than Cdn Soldiers (STILL DO), and the bars were filled with uni students and Cdn military.

Same thing in a lot of countries.

Now it is universal though how many times have we heard a tourist argue that the thai should do things the way they do back home LOL>

1 minute ago, kingstonkid said:

Thankfully, the days of the ME American you must do as I say because we know best are behind us. I can fondly remember American soldiers coming across to Ontario to drink and hit on the girls, all thinking they were better than everyone else. Only issue was they made less than Cdn Soldiers (STILL DO), and the bars were filled with uni students and Cdn military.

Same thing in a lot of countries.

Now it is universal though how many times have we heard a tourist argue that the thai should do things the way they do back home LOL>

"how many times have we heard a tourist argue that the thai should do things the way they do back home"

The folks on AN say this no matter what nation they hail from.

I don't know that Americans have a tendency to bash any other nationality.

But many like to bash Yanks.

22 hours ago, papa al said:

Well no.

Many non-libs object to the Billions sent to Israel

to support genocide & stuff.

and buying-off Congress/Trump.

Endless war.

☮️ 🙏 😎

Nothing to compare to, other countries, but for me, #1 for financial opportunities and ability to retire early.

I went from basically poor, unemployed, divorced, living with mommy again, at 27 yrs old, but bought her house at 28 yrs old, so she had a place to live, rent free, and within 3 yrs was working only 2 days a week for an employer, while self employed also, and started reconning retirement locations at 35.

Took all of 8 yrs, to go from very poor, to finacially independent, with last 10 yrs, 35-45 yrs old, flying around reconning different cities & countries to retire.

That's with another marriage & divorce in those 8 years. Try doing that in any other country. Sum it up, took less then 10 to get my sh!t together, and have enough money to retire. With a lot of Sex, Drugs & RR enjoyment along the way, and why it took so long.

USA, like anywhere, I think, is just a location, ignore the stats, as anyone, anywhere, at anytime, can be whoever they want to be.

Live with your choices.

Could be why USA is in top 5 for millionaires per capita ...

Edited Monday at 02:35 AM2 days by KhunLA

37 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Not too many? US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) records hundreds of thousands of direct enforcement interactions yearly, including roughly 150,055 administrative and criminal arrests, over 183,000 active participants monitored in Alternatives to Detention programs, and hundreds of thousands of annual detainer issuances and book-ins.

Enforcement and Arrest Metrics

• Administrative arrests: ~113,430 yearly via Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

• Criminal arrests: ~35,640 combined annual arrests by ERO and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

• Detainers and book-ins: Hundreds of thousands of civil immigration detainer requests sent to local jails.

• Like all things media related. Bias, exaggerations and opinions.

Easy for us to quote stats when we are not one of the people who were killed by ICE.

16 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

"how many times have we heard a tourist argue that the thai should do things the way they do back home"

The folks on AN say this no matter what nation they hail from.

I don't know that Americans have a tendency to bash any other nationality.

But many like to bash Yanks.

Back in the 70's and early 80s, there was a definite hate for Americans in European and Asian countries. The number of requests Canadians used to get for a Tim Hortons mug or something to put on their backpack was huge.

Then the rest of the Western world caught up.

As to here, I am sure there are AN members tht remember the American girls getting on the stage during the COUP and talking about how Thais were mistreated and how things should be.

But again, as you have said, things have become more Global.

1 minute ago, Back Stage said:

Easy for us to quote stats when we are not one of the people who were killed by ICE.

Most people will never see violence from strangers in their lives like this, so the stats are valid. Only a few killed by ICE compares to the same from the police worldwide. Most will never experience violence. Sad that some do of course.

On 7/25/2026 at 10:27 PM, GammaGlobulin said:

But, usually, I will have absolutely NOTHING to do with foreigners here.

Except constantly talk to them in the forums I guess.

3 hours ago, Lacessit said:

To be consistent, I will post the cost comparisons in US dollars.

92% of Americans have some form of medical insurance. In Australia, Medicare is universal. Every taxpayer pays a 2% Medicare levy on their taxable income.

I have private medical insurance, costing USD 2500 per year. It's a luxury, not a necessity. It ensures when I go back to Australia, I can have surgery within a month of getting there, and not have to go on a waiting list of 6-12 months.

My private health insurance re-activates the minute I set foot in Australia. I pay no premiums while I am in Thailand. There are no arrears to pay.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme ( PBS ) caps most medications at USD 5 per prescription. For a concession card holder like me, my yearly spend on medications is capped at USD 200.

As a side note, Trump and Big Pharma want Australia to cancel the PBS.

Australia has an annual spend of about USD 1 billion on medical rearch. We are noted for punching above our weight in the field.

CSL sells about USD 5 billion of medical products such as immunoglobulins, plasma, recombinant proteins and differentiated vaccines annually to the USA - products either America can't make, or are in short supply.

I have never claimed socialism is perfect. No political system is. I am, however, amused by the irony of a country railing against its evils, while maintaining a socialist organization at its heart - the American military.

Australian private health insurance usually requires a 12 month waiting period after reactivation.

1 hour ago, Back Stage said:

Ruben Ray Martinez (Age 23), Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, Keith Porter Jr. (Age 43), Renee Nicole Good (Age 37), Alex Pretti (Age 37), Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero (Age 25), and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo had dealings with ICE and were shot and killed by ICE. Over 50 people have died in ICE detention since 2025. Thank God not many people have to have dealings with ICE; it appears to be a terminal interaction.

That is nothing compared to the amount of people who have been killed, robbed or whatever by illegal aliens..

58 minutes ago, Back Stage said:

Easy for us to quote stats when we are not one of the people who were killed by ICE.

Yes, so many killed by ICE. 11 ... 11 ... 11 people, in a country of ~350M since Trump took office. Fun fact for you, more than 2X as many have died in the USA from lightning stikes

... "AI Overview

Since January 2025, media trackers and human rights organizations have documented at least 8 to 11 fatal shootings involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and broader immigration enforcement operations. Several high-profile cases involved unarmed individuals shot inside or near vehicles during enforcement encounters, though federal authorities frequently asserted that the vehicles were "weaponized" against officers" ...

You have a greater chance of being killed by lightning, than ICE

On 7/26/2026 at 8:00 AM, papa al said:

Most Americans are nice enough.

It is the warmongering tyrannical government that is the problem.

And its supporters...?

Well, one of my best friends in Thailand is an American Trump supporter. Great guy. We just don't talk politics, we both know that would ruin it.

Edited Monday at 04:06 AM2 days by thaibreaker

31 minutes ago, thaibreaker said:

And its supporters...?

Well, one of my best friends in Thailand is an American Trump supporter. Great guy. We just don't talk politics, we both know that would ruin it.

Thailandnews subscription

A heartwarming story.

but

Not just trump

most all govt corrupt bigly.

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Nothing to compare to, other countries, but for me, #1 for financial opportunities and ability to retire early.

I went from basically poor, unemployed, divorced, living with mommy again, at 27 yrs old, but bought her house at 28 yrs old, so she had a place to live, rent free, and within 3 yrs was working only 2 days a week for an employer, while self employed also, and started reconning retirement locations at 35.

Took all of 8 yrs, to go from very poor, to finacially independent, with last 10 yrs, 35-45 yrs old, flying around reconning different cities & countries to retire.

That's with another marriage & divorce in those 8 years. Try doing that in any other country. Sum it up, took less then 10 to get my sh!t together, and have enough money to retire. With a lot of Sex, Drugs & RR enjoyment along the way, and why it took so long.

USA, like anywhere, I think, is just a location, ignore the stats, as anyone, anywhere, at anytime, can be whoever they want to be.

Live with your choices.

Could be why USA is in top 5 for millionaires per capita ...

Nice KuhnLA!

************

What about Monaco.?

On 7/25/2026 at 3:38 PM, harvardgrad said:

Disclaimer: I lived in the US for over ten years.

I am Saudi Arabian and have travelled to Asia, the majority of Western Europe (UK, NL, PL, FR, ES.. etc).

I can’t help but notice that I find it pleasant running into Americans because it’s next to impossible not to bond in less than 3 minutes. This doesn’t mean other cultures are bad or unwelcoming, but it is always consistently Americans that are always open to help, small-talk, joke around even when abroad.

As an extrovert, I find that extremely valuable.

On 7/25/2026 at 3:38 PM, harvardgrad said:

Disclaimer: I lived in the US for over ten years.

I am Saudi Arabian and have travelled to Asia, the majority of Western Europe (UK, NL, PL, FR, ES.. etc).

I can’t help but notice that I find it pleasant running into Americans because it’s next to impossible not to bond in less than 3 minutes. This doesn’t mean other cultures are bad or unwelcoming, but it is always consistently Americans that are always open to help, small-talk, joke around even when abroad.

As an extrovert, I find that extremely valuable.

When ther yank heard you were from Saudia Arabia he figured that you probably own a few oil well and he was nice to you in case he needed a loan one day.

1 minute ago, papa al said:

Nice KuhnLA!

************

What about Monaco.?

I give up, what about Monaco ? Never been and no desire or reason to visit. Looks way too congested for me. I enjoy open spaces. NO THANKS

Thailand ... bliss for me ...

Less than 5 kms away from the house, with rolling hils, less than 10 kms away going the other direction ... and no yachts cluttering up and blocking the view of the bay.

Edited Monday at 04:55 AM2 days by KhunLA

On 7/25/2026 at 12:38 PM, harvardgrad said:

Disclaimer: I lived in the US for over ten years.

GeographicReference

I am Saudi Arabian and have travelled to Asia, the majority of Western Europe (UK, NL, PL, FR, ES.. etc).

I can’t help but notice that I find it pleasant running into Americans because it’s next to impossible not to bond in less than 3 minutes. This doesn’t mean other cultures are bad or unwelcoming, but it is always consistently Americans that are always open to help, small-talk, joke around even when abroad.

As an extrovert, I find that extremely valuable.

Thank you. I hold to the thought that the majority of my fellow Americans are "jai dee". I believe that was demonstrated to most of those attending the football matches. I also recognize and say I am in opposition to any experienced USA entry difficulties or negative experiences as a non-American. We do have more than our share of bad eggs letting themselves be known at present.

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

I give up, what about Monaco ?

many millionaires.?

18 minutes ago, papa al said:

many millionaires.?

Apparently not in the top 5 countries per capita. Certainly many have moved to or visit. Not sure how relavant to my original reply.

Other's people finances don't really impress me, as long as I have a we bit more than enough. All is good.

I could have easily reached multi USD millionaire status if I didn't retire. I'd rather be retired.

Edited Monday at 07:31 AM2 days by KhunLA

7 hours ago, save the frogs said:

You have proof that ICE kidnaps children?

Do you take pride in the videos of ICE protecting us from 5 year old domestic terrorists? You are unreachable.

15 minutes ago, amexpat said:

Do you take pride in the videos of ICE protecting us from 5 year old domestic terrorists? You are unreachable.

Embellish this story a little more, do you know the whole story, think not. I support ICE if it were not for the last administration the US would not be in the predicament they are in now.

6 hours ago, Back Stage said:

6 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

Not too many? US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) records hundreds of thousands of direct enforcement interactions yearly, including roughly 150,055 administrative and criminal arrests, over 183,000 active participants monitored in Alternatives to Detention programs, and hundreds of thousands of annual detainer issuances and book-ins.

Enforcement and Arrest Metrics

• Administrative arrests: ~113,430 yearly via Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

• Criminal arrests: ~35,640 combined annual arrests by ERO and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

• Detainers and book-ins: Hundreds of thousands of civil immigration detainer requests sent to local jails.

• Like all things media related. Bias, exaggerations and opinions.

Easy for us to quote stats when we are not one of the people who were killed by ICE

And it seems easy for you to miss the point.

2 minutes ago, blaze master said:

And it seems easy for you to miss the point.

Read what he said,"Thank God not many people have to have dealings with ICE; it appears to be a terminal interaction." then read my reply. I made the point. ICE isn't killing as many people all over the place as he made it sound. I pointed out that it's a fraction of how many interactions they have that aren't violent.

Edited Monday at 09:02 AM2 days by fredwiggy

2 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Read what he said,"Thank God not many people have to have dealings with ICE; it appears to be a terminal interaction." then read my reply. I made the point. ICE isn't killing as many people all over the place as he made it sound. I pointed out that it's a fraction of how many interactions they have that aren't violent.

It was directed at the other poster Fred. Not you.

32 minutes ago, flexomike said:

Embellish this story a little more, do you know the whole story, think not. I support ICE if it were not for the last administration the US would not be in the predicament they are in now.

The last Administration being trumps!!