10 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

He hates the US.

I know. Some who have never been there or some who have visited judge everyone by what Trump does or what they see while on vacation or working in a limited area for awhile. . They think because people voted him in it's their fault he does wrong things.

Every politician on earth screws some things up and fixes others. Trump is not how all Americans think. Many are turning their backs on him because of this war, not yet seeing the endgame. He's just another in the long line of promise makers.

I don't hate any nations because of what some of their citizens have done.

Edited yesterday at 11:48 AM1 day by fredwiggy

36 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

There are multiple links you can find if you want to know what Trump's done.

Insulted every nation on earth, except Russia and Israel.

Insulted every journalist or media corporation that dare to write the truth about him.

Alienated every major trading partner with his tariffs.

Has lied about almost every achievement he never realised.

Lied about renewable energy.

Do I need to sum up some more of what he has done?

Edited yesterday at 12:04 PM1 day by CallumWK

35 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

He hates the US.

I was first in the USA in the early eighties, for an international conference. I went back there on average about once every three years for conferences and technical exchanges until the early 2000's.

I witnessed a country that used to make 50% of the world's steel decline slowly to one that only makes one-twentieth of what China produces. I saw people who took justifiable pride in the goods and services they made getting pushed aside by accountants and financial engineers , whose only focus was the quarterly bottom line.

I don't hate the US, it's a wonderful country that still could do remarkable things. Having said that, I do despise what it is becoming.

14 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

Insulted every nation on earth, except Russia and Israel.

Insulted every journalist or media corporation that dare to write the truth about him.

Alienated every major trading partner with his tariffs.

Has lied about almost every achievement he never realised.

Lied about renewable energy.

Do I need to sum up some more of what he has done?

The world isn't all looking at Americans because of what Trump has said. People aren't that ignorant, and know there have been changes all through history, either good or bad, because of politicians decisions. They also know most politicians will be gone in a few years, hopefully replaced by one that does a better job. People always dismiss the good things when a politician goes sideways.

Some other nations have taken advantage of America for a long time, and Trump always said America first. He's alienating some of course for that reason. This explains that from AI.............President Donald Trump’s "America First" stance centers on the belief that foreign nations exploit the U.S. through unbalanced trade deficits and unequal defense-spending burdens. Supporters back his push for reciprocal tariffs and protection for local workers, while critics warn these isolationist measures risk straining global alliances and raising costs. 

How do you help yourself without hurting others? And his biggest contrarians are those countries he's imposing tariffs on. Economic and Domestic Goals

• Boost US Manufacturing: Make foreign goods more expensive so people buy American-made products.

• Create Jobs: Encourage foreign and domestic companies to build factories inside the United States.

• Reduce Trade Deficits: Lower the gap between the value of goods the US buys from other countries versus what it sells.

Legal and Policy Reasons

• Forced Labor Claims: Use Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to target countries that the US claims fail to stop goods made by forced labor.

• Replacing Expired Rules: Create new legal paths for tariffs after earlier global import taxes were blocked by the Supreme Court.

• Retaliation: Punish specific countries like Canada or Brazil for what the administration calls unfair or discriminatory treatment of US products.

He does exaggerate from that ego, which everyone knows.He also from that same ego insults others, especially women. I've always seen him as a misogynist racist boor.

Will Trump's actions cause more world problems in the long run or level the playing field better? When I see the endgame, I'll be the first to criticize him if things get or stay worse, and not just for America because America does need most other nations for trade.

Edited yesterday at 12:32 PM1 day by fredwiggy

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

You really are a clueless fellow aren't you? Not a good thing for a man in his 70's to assume so much.

You wanted me to show you what Trump's achieved, and i provided 2 links. If you had a computer, you can also look this information up, instead of trying to demean others you know nothing about, and who are likely a lot brighter than the people you're used to. Every insult you've directed towards me has been wrong, and that has you looking like an unloaded gun.

There are multiple links you can find if you want to know what Trump's done. Of course, being yourself, any things that are placed before you, you will dismiss. That's what having Trump on your brain does to some.

Yes, I am so clueless I wiped the floor with you when we were discussing the average life expectancy of Americans and Australians.

16 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I witnessed a country that used to make 50% of the world's steel decline slowly to one that only makes one-twentieth of what China produces. I saw people who took justifiable pride in the goods and services they made getting pushed aside by accountants and financial engineers , whose only focus was the quarterly bottom line.

I don't hate the US, it's a wonderful country that still could do remarkable things. Having said that, I do despise what it is becoming.

Some analysts are predicting globalism is getting close to an end.

And China being the world's manufacturer is getting close to an end.

And some of Trump's policies reflect that.

But I won't start debating it. Not sure.

9 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Yes, I am so clueless I wiped the floor with you when we were discussing the average life expectancy of Americans and Australians.

That I was a couple of years off in such a mundane topic and you thinking you wiped the floor with me sure sees you as one who doesn't win many arguments, especially ones that really matter. Nothing to be proud but ashamed of. You and a couple of others here might think you're on a high school debate team but this is an adult forum, where you're supposed to act accordingly. That I provided links to show where you were wrong elsewhere is always dismissed from that same attitude towards Americans.

Your bias and hatred towards Americans in general is a much larger issue you need to get under control. This along with you thinking you're smarter than everyone and using teen insults to try and demean others further emphasizes that clueless attitude. You aren't smarter than anyone here by thinking you are, although that fact goes over your head daily.

Yes, you did have a good reputation here, but as you age, the real you is showing. I could say to grow up, but it's already past that argument.

As far as Trump is concerned, you can look up what he's done and don't need anyone's help to know the truth beyond the exaggerations and lies.

Edited 15 hours ago15 hr by fredwiggy

8 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Your bias and hatred towards Americans

He dislikes the fact that the USA is better than Australia.

1 minute ago, Effective altruism said:

He dislikes the fact that the USA is better than Australia.

I'm not sure why they go to such lengths to try and demean America when it's such a great nation. Not good to judge for the actions of a politician or past history. Best to look inward and see how things are wrong at home.

Just now, fredwiggy said:

I'm not sure why they go to such lengths to try and demean America when it's such a great nation. Not good to judge for the actions of a politician or past history. Best to look inward and see how things are wrong at home.

Since I have been on this site, I have noticed that the OP and people from Europe love to criticize the USA. It seems to make them feel better about their sad lives. The fact of the matter is that Europe and Australia have their fair share of dirty laundry in their closets.

5 minutes ago, Effective altruism said:

Since I have been on this site, I have noticed that the OP and people from Europe love to criticize the USA. It seems to make them feel better about their sad lives. The fact of the matter is that Europe and Australia have their fair share of dirty laundry in their closets.

They surely have, and eventually learned from it like the US does. This is one reason I see prejudice as the worst type of attitude, as it's better to learn from yours and others mistakes, then working together for a better solution for both, instead of continuing to point out where others go wrong, and dismiss your own problems. Other countries need each other, and the ones that suffer are those who's only agenda is greed and hatred. With all the technology different countries have, working together with resource sharing could solve most of life's problems.

1 hour ago, Effective altruism said:

He dislikes the fact that the USA is better than Australia.

Oh yes, I would much prefer to shell out USD 70,000 in America for a medication that cost me AUD 100 in Australia. I pine for the opportunity to train my kids to hide under their desks at school. I really want to live in a country where the homicide rate is 5-6 times that of Australia.

I define a sad life as one where the poster has lost contact with reality.

On 7/26/2026 at 2:29 AM, Yagoda said:

got it. diplomacy and signaling in foreign policy are not your strong points

You do not need to comment this. The question clearly only has one answer! YES!

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

That I was a couple of years off in such a mundane topic and you thinking you wiped the floor with me sure sees you as one who doesn't win many arguments, especially ones that really matter. Nothing to be proud but ashamed of. You and a couple of others here might think you're on a high school debate team but this is an adult forum, where you're supposed to act accordingly. That I provided links to show where you were wrong elsewhere is always dismissed from that same attitude towards Americans.

Your bias and hatred towards Americans in general is a much larger issue you need to get under control. This along with you thinking you're smarter than everyone and using teen insults to try and demean others further emphasizes that clueless attitude. You aren't smarter than anyone here by thinking you are, although that fact goes over your head daily.

Yes, you did have a good reputation here, but as you age, the real you is showing. I could say to grow up, but it's already past that argument.

As far as Trump is concerned, you can look up what he's done and don't need anyone's help to know the truth beyond the exaggerations and lies.

Keep up the good work with the attempts at gaslighting.

Trump has involved America in a war which has no exit strategy. Which hits everyone's pocket, irrespective of whether one is American or not. One would have to be as dumb as a rock to not understand that.

Just now, Lacessit said:

Keep up the good work with the attempts at gaslighting.

Trump has involved America in a war which has no exit strategy. Which hits everyone's pocket, irrespective of whether one is American or not. One would have to be as dumb as a rock to not understand that.

That you think it's gaslighting shows your failure to see the truth. When you're prejudiced against any particular person or place, you're blinded to that truth, where you only see your own opinions. No one here , let alone myself, doesn't see what's been going on for decades, and how some politicians ruin things. What those haters don't see are the things they actually do right.

If you haven't yet noticed by what I've been saying, I've never been nor ever will be a Trump fan, but that doesn't mean I don't see the good things he's done, along with all the other presidents since my birth. I don't measure any of them, as they'll never do everything right, because a politicians position, especially the presidents, is one of power, and with that power comes ego, narcissism and stubborn beliefs, which can in turn hurt others.

This war has a definite exit strategy. To get Iran to never have a nuclear weapon, stop killing it's own citizens, and finally, hopefully, to get rid of those terrorist thinking leaders once and for all. A start gives their own citizens more power than they think, but fear has them not coming all together at once to oust those leaders so they have a democracy instead of dictatorship. The permanent opening of the Strait will only help everyone, including Iran, at least as long as oil is used as fuel worldwide.

Try to make a reply without an assumption about what others here know or how they think.

And seeing you live in Thailand, why bother worrying about the US and what it does, as it isn't affecting you personally anyway, besides the temporary rise in gas prices, a small temporary negative if the positive comes out larger later on.

Edited 13 hours ago13 hr by fredwiggy

25 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

small temporaryThat you think it's gaslighting shows your failure to see the truth. When you're prejudiced against any particular person or place, you're blinded to that truth, where you only see your own opinions. No one here , let alone myself, doesn't see what's been going on for decades, and how some politicians ruin things. What those haters don't see are the things they actually do right.

If you haven't yet noticed by what I've been saying, I've never been nor ever will be a Trump fan, but that doesn't mean I don't see the good things he's done, along with all the other presidents since my birth. I don't measure any of them, as they'll never do everything right, because a politicians position, especially the presidents, is one of power, and with that power comes ego, narcissism and stubborn beliefs, which can in turn hurt others.

This war has a definite exit strategy. To get Iran to never have a nuclear weapon, stop killing it's own citizens, and finally, hopefully, to get rid of those terrorist thinking leaders once and for all. A start gives their own citizens more power than they think, but fear has them not coming all together at once to oust those leaders so they have a democracy instead of dictatorship. The permanent opening of the Strait will only help everyone, including Iran, at least as long as oil is used as fuel worldwide.

Try to make a reply without an assumption about what others here know or how they think.

And seeing you live in Thailand, why bother worrying about the US and what it does, as it isn't affecting you personally anyway, besides the temporary rise in gas prices, a small temporary negative if the positive comes out larger later on.

I can't think of any other democracy in the world which would have allowed a convicted felon and sexual predator anywhere near the starting gate of politics, let alone be elected.

The truth is, the majority of American voters bought into a cult belief, and discarded crtical thinking. It's the same principle that operates with all religions.

Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz. Through its Houthi proxies, it can also cut off access to the Indian Ocean in the Red Sea.

Russia and Iran can mutually support one another via the Caspian Sea. America is powerless to interdict the two-way flow, unless it goes to war with Russia as well.

Cutting off 20% of the world's oil supply has consequences beyond your "small temporary negative". Oil wells have to shut down, taking months or years to restart. Oil is in everything - fertilizers, lipsticks, car tyres, pharmaceuticals, lubricants, plastics. You name it, oil was probably involved in it somewhere in the supply chain.

These are facts. What you are expressing is wishful thinking.

21 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I can't think of any other democracy in the world which would have allowed a convicted felon and sexual predator anywhere near the starting gate of politics, let alone be elected.

The truth is, the majority of American voters bought into a cult belief, and discarded crtical thinking. It's the same principle that operates with all religions.

Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz. Through its Houthi proxies, it can also cut off access to the Indian Ocean in the Red Sea.

Russia and Iran can mutually support one another via the Caspian Sea. America is powerless to interdict the two-way flow, unless it goes to war with Russia as well.

Cutting off 20% of the world's oil supply has consequences beyond your "small temporary negative". Oil wells have to shut down, taking months or years to restart. Oil is in everything - fertilizers, lipsticks, car tyres, pharmaceuticals, lubricants, plastics. You name it, oil was probably involved in it somewhere in the supply chain.

These are facts. What you are expressing is wishful thinking.

Never said Trump should have been elected, and I don't vote, as I don't trust any of them until I see evidence that they've helped the common man. The majority of Americans didn't vote for him. A majority did, and they're regretting it by now, although some are still hero worshipers and will stay that way.

Russia and iran aren't a real threat to the US, and both are making more enemies by the week, which won't end up well for either of them.

Oil will eventually be less important but is now, so this will work itself out as all nations need it, including Iran as a top one. America doesn't need it but will still be involved as it's part of world trade.

As far as leaders who have screwed up,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heads_of_state_and_government_who_were_later_imprisoned there are quite a few................https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/4/before-trump-which-other-world-leaders-were-charged-or-jailed

Edited 11 hours ago11 hr by fredwiggy

5 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Never said Trump should have been elected, and I don't vote, as I don't trust any of them until I see evidence that they've helped the common man. The majority of Americans didn't vote for him. A majority did, and they're regretting it by now, although some are still hero worshipers and will stay that way. Oil will eventually be less important but is now, so this will work itself out as all nations need it, including Iran as a top one. America doesn't need it but will still be involved as it's part of world trade. As far as leaders who have screwed up, there are quite a few................https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/4/before-trump-which-other-world-leaders-were-charged-or-jailed

Still deflecting. Other world leaders were charged and jailed during or after their term in office. Possible exception Netanyahu.

Tell me - how does America exit this war without ceding control of the Strait of Hormuz to Iran?

By far he is the dumbest. He has money because his dad gave him money, a process that repeats with his children and grandchildren. It’s not like he can claim to be self made. He caused nothing but problems in the world and thankfully the Americans particularly his supporters feel it too even if they don’t want to admit it. His crypto coin shows the man’s values!

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

Still deflecting. Other world leaders were charged and jailed during or after their term in office. Possible exception Netanyahu.

Tell me - how does America exit this war without ceding control of the Strait of Hormuz to Iran?

It's not deflecting when facts are posted. It's also not deflecting when I know how Trump really is, although some take that over the top and see only red. See what I think about Trump so you know I'm not on his but America's side.

The core issue in the ongoing conflict is not whether Iran can physically dominate the waterway, but rather how Tehran is actively weaponizing its geographic position and enforcing new, unapproved transit rules, tolls, and inspections on commercial shipping.They're hitting boats with drones that are deviating from Revolutionary Guard supervised routes. Another reason other countries there are looking at land oil transport and pipelines instead of relying on Iran's controlling.

8 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

It's not deflecting when facts are posted. It's also not deflecting when I know how Trump really is, although some take that over the top and see only red. See what I think about Trump so you know I'm not on his but America's side.

The core issue in the ongoing conflict is not whether Iran can physically dominate the waterway, but rather how Tehran is actively weaponizing its geographic position and enforcing new, unapproved transit rules, tolls, and inspections on commercial shipping.They're hitting boats with drones that are deviating from Revolutionary Guard supervised routes. Another reason other countries there are looking at land oil transport and pipelines instead of relying on Iran's controlling.

The problem is one of cost. Yes, other countries can transport by land and pipelines - ones that are not even built yet. Meantime, transport via the Suez Canal, Mediterranean, Atlantic and Indian Oceans is massively more in terms of time and cost than paying a toll to Iran.

Iran was never a threat to America before this war, it was a threat to Israel. The conflict was confined to the Middle East.

You are saying the exit strategy will be to ignore the Strait of Hormuz?

3 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

The problem is one of cost. Yes, other countries can transport by land and pipelines - ones that are not even built yet. Meantime, transport via the Suez Canal, Mediterranean, Atlantic and Indian Oceans is massively more in terms of time and cost than paying a toll to Iran.

Iran was never a threat to America before this war, it was a threat to Israel. The conflict was confined to the Middle East.

You are saying the exit strategy will be to ignore the Strait of Hormuz?

No, to continue to seek other ways diplomatically with other countries coalitions to secure the shipping lanes. Something permanent.

8 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

No, to continue to seek other ways diplomatically with other countries coalitions to secure the shipping lanes. Something permanent.

That sounds like more wishful thinking to me.

4 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

but this is an adult forum, where you're supposed to act accordingly

Without wanting to trigger you into yet another frenzy...you might wish to reflect on this.

9 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Tell me - how does America exit this war without ceding control of the Strait of Hormuz to Iran

destroying their civilization

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

destroying their civilization

You think that can happen without boots on the ground, which the American public has no stomach for?