5 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

As the next one will try to fix mistakes Trump is making. Carter and Obama, along with most other presidents, did some good and bad. Carter helped with foreign relations and environmental issues, and Obama helped many Americans with healthcare and did get rid of Bin Laden. They all do many minor things that are necessary, but do some things that hurt, like all other politicians worldwide.

LOl

1. Which Trump mistake are you referring to?

2. Carter foreign relations. LMAO. Panama Canal. Iranian hostage crisis.

3. Obama care . Tripled most Americans premiums.

4. Bin Landen. Agreed. His finest and quite frankly his only accomplishment.

5. Trump is doing the same with Iran to ensure Iran never has a nuclear weapon. Agreed by Hillary, Obama, Harris and Biden. But they took no action. Just, DON’T.

29 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

1. United States: ~306 million

2. United Kingdom: ~68 million

3. Canada: ~20 million

4. Australia: ~17 million

Number of people with English as first language by country.

Based on the data from the US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) 22% of the total population (approximately 76.6 million) aged 5 and older speak a language other than English at home, a figure that includes both immigrants and US born generations.

The last census had 349 million inhabitants in the US. So if you deduct 349 - 76 =273 million.

Amazingly the number of white people plus black Afro-Americans are about the same number.

Considering that 68 million are from Latino origin and they have the smallest proficiency in English, the survey has found that you have to wait for the third generation born and educated in the US to get full proficiency. Other ethnics achieved higher proficiency at the second generation.

So I would be interested to know where this 306 million with English as 1st language come from.

6 minutes ago, HolmesEquivelant said:

LOl

1. Which Trump mistake are you referring to?

2. Carter foreign relations. LMAO. Panama Canal. Iranian hostage crisis.

3. Obama care . Tripled most Americans premiums.

4. Bin Landen. Agreed. His finest and quite frankly his only accomplishment.

5. Trump is doing the same with Iran to ensure Iran never has a nuclear weapon. Agreed by Hillary, Obama, Harris and Biden. But they took no action. Just, DON’T.

It's easy to look up, and overlook if you don't, all of what the president's have done throughout the years. I've never been to any side politically, preferring to sit back and watch what they eventually do right or wrong, before I judge them. I know the reasons the US needed to go after Iran, but with war comes mistakes, along with some good outcomes, as history has shown, so we all need to sit ack and see the endgame of this conflict before jumping to conclusions.

I see Trump for exactly what he is, which doesn't always correlate to what he is as a president. I've also seen the things he's done right and wrong. Being on America's side first and foremost is a no brainer, without letting other countries take advantage of you like other president's have, but alienating comes along with that, and the US needs other countries as much as we need them, so negotiating is always done better with a person that's not a strong narcissist like trump is, as power goes to their heads.

31 minutes ago, Patrick Wahle said:

Based on the data from the US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) 22% of the total population (approximately 76.6 million) aged 5 and older speak a language other than English at home, a figure that includes both immigrants and US born generations.

The last census had 349 million inhabitants in the US. So if you deduct 349 - 76 =273 million.

Amazingly the number of white people plus black Afro-Americans are about the same number.

Considering that 68 million are from Latino origin and they have the smallest proficiency in English, the survey has found that you have to wait for the third generation born and educated in the US to get full proficiency. Other ethnics achieved higher proficiency at the second generation.

So I would be interested to know where this 306 million with English as 1st language come from.

The fact that a person speaks a language other than English at home does not preclude them from having English as a first language. In fact, in my experience, it is rather common if a person was born in or settled as a child in an English-speaking country, they will routinely speak the language of their parents at home to their parents, who immigrated as adults but the child will feel that English is their first language as it is the language they use at school, college, work and with their peers.

This would increase your figure of 273 million rather considerably.

3 hours ago, Lacessit said:

In case you have not noticed, Latin America is predominantly Catholic.

HIV/AIDS started in Africa. Two Popes helped its spread by warning against using condoms as a prevention measure.

Your post is only remarkable for its sheer ignorance.

I would agree the Catholic banning of condoms is weird and really not good.

But I think a big factor in African populations is also reproductive rates among Muslims who as far as I know don't care about the Pope's ideas.

from Google: asking about Pope and population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa.

"High birth rates and population growth occur across all religious and secular groups in the region—including Muslims, Protestants, and traditional practitioners—not just Roman Catholics."

The real problem is lack of cable TV, Netflix and YouTube.

So no distractions from entertainment and procreation occurs.

Edited Thursday at 06:18 AM5 days by cdemundo

On 8/25/2026 at 9:08 PM, CharlieH said:

ASEAN NOW is a Thailand-based forum with an international membership; the nationality of its ownership has no bearing on what members are entitled to discuss.

There is certainly plenty happening elsewhere in the world, and members are welcome to discuss it in the appropriate sections. However, the suggestion that the USA is the only country where people can openly criticise their government or leadership without fear of consequences is simply not correct. Many countries, including the UK and numerous other democracies, protect political expression and routinely see vigorous public criticism of governments and political leaders.

Thailand has its own laws and restrictions regarding certain forms of speech, and members should of course remain mindful of those. But none of that requires us to centre world-news discussion on one particular country, nor does it prevent members from starting discussions about events elsewhere. If there are subjects you believe deserve more attention, you're very welcome to post them.The "Political soapbox forum", "what the papers say" were created for just such discussions, neither of which is country specific.

We don’t believe you.

Well, the QUORA is American yet the biggest posters/whiners by far are the Brits. So much envy too that I suspect some third parties may perhaps be involved stirring up trouble among the allies.

A rather silly question. This forum comments on and debates issues in many countries across the planet.

Edited Thursday at 07:41 AM5 days by Thingamabob
One word missing .

It an USA urgenty

9 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Nice pearls.

I see you are also a racist.

On 8/26/2026 at 1:02 PM, ronnie50 said:

Or ask university students or faculty that support a free Palestine and an end to illegal Israeli occupation...

That, I must admit is America's greatest failing: not getting rid of the communists in education, 50 years ago. BEFORE they influenced half the country's younger generations.

I realized that much has already been said on this forum and that it has basically gone the "got you" phase. But, I wanted to add an opinion that I hope is not too political.

As an American, I would love to have more topics about what is happening in other parts of the world. I do not believe, as the original posted stated that America is one of the only nations with free press. There is an uneducated belief by many Americans that we are "the freeest country in the world." This is of course not correct and based on pure ignorance of the rest of the world. Part of this is due to the false teaching of "American exceptualizm" that is perpetuated by our government and media. Part of it is n just human nature. We all see the world from the perspective of our personal place in it.

As to why there seems to be more forums about America, I think several other posters have touched on this issue. One, unfortunately what happens in America effects the rest of the world. The Iran war is a good example of that. Two, what is happening in the US right now is such a shift in perspective, is kind of like watching people slowing down to see a traffic accident.

I would be more than willing to read about what is happening in other parts of the world, one of the reasons I read Asea now.

8 hours ago, Old John said:

That, I must admit is America's greatest failing: not getting rid of the communists in education, 50 years ago. BEFORE they influenced half the country's younger generations.

America incarcerates people at the rate of 541 per 100,000 population. Vietnam's incarceration rate is about 100 per 100,000. A Communist country.

What surprised me most about visiting Vietnam was the near invisibility of its police force. The police in Thailand and the US are far more visible. Both are alleged to be democracies.

Communism is a political system which has its faults. All political systems do. It does not have horns and a tail.

4 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

America incarcerates people at the rate of 541 per 100,000 population. Vietnam's incarceration rate is about 100 per 100,000. A Communist country.

What surprised me most about visiting Vietnam was the near invisibility of its police force. The police in Thailand and the US are far more visible. Both are alleged to be democracies.

Communism is a political system which has its faults. All political systems do. It does not have horns and a tail.

Irrelevant.

We have more people, more criminals.

Prisons exist for a reason. Despite what the DSA has brainwashed you into believing.

Your country was a convict country. Many of the descendants are no better.

27 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

America incarcerates people at the rate of 541 per 100,000 population. Vietnam's incarceration rate is about 100 per 100,000. A Communist country.

What surprised me most about visiting Vietnam was the near invisibility of its police force. The police in Thailand and the US are far more visible. Both are alleged to be democracies.

Communism is a political system which has its faults. All political systems do. It does not have horns and a tail.

What is your problem with people being tossed jail?

The short answer is really simple, and I say this as an American: Donald Trump dominates the world news every day. When you turn on the news, it's likely the first thing you hear is something about Trump. And it's also likely what you hear is not good.

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

America incarcerates people at the rate of 541 per 100,000 population. Vietnam's incarceration rate is about 100 per 100,000. A Communist country.

What surprised me most about visiting Vietnam was the near invisibility of its police force. The police in Thailand and the US are far more visible. Both are alleged to be democracies.

Communism is a political system which has its faults. All political systems do. It does not have horns and a tail.

One major reason more are in jail per capita in America is the fact they enforce the laws , unlike in Thailand, where a wai, compensation and admitting your guilt gets you out of jail or a halved sentence. Granted the justice system is broken in many places, but when your enforcement is weak, the criminals take advantage of it.

Harsh sentencing along with truth in that sentencing has more serving their times instead of walking earlier. This along with no prosecution for youth offenders, which has them laughing and out committing more crimes for lack of punishment.

Vietnam does better from the lack of gun crime and social differences, losing face for family is a deterrent. The lack of gang activity is also a reason, whereas America's main gun problem is gangs, after suicides.

Edited Thursday at 11:30 PM4 days by fredwiggy

3 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

One major reason more are in jail per capita in America is the fact they enforce the laws , unlike in Thailand, where a wai, compensation and admitting your guilt gets you out of jail or a halved sentence. Granted the justice system is broken in many places, but when your enforcement is weak, the criminals take advantage of it. Harsh sentencing along with truth in that sentencing has more serving their times instead of walking earlier. This along with no prosecution for youth offenders, which has them laughing and out committing more crimes for lack of punishment.

This is what soft on crimes gives the public. In my neck of the woods, there is soft on crime Steve T. Descano. Which has resulted in the death of two women this year.

4 minutes ago, TedG said:

This is what soft on crimes gives the public. In my neck of the woods, there is soft on crime Steve T. Descano. Which has resulted in the death of two women this year.

I remember that scumbag. No reason at all has a girl losing her life. Only one way to deal with those types.

6 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

One major reason more are in jail per capita in America is the fact they enforce the laws , unlike in Thailand, where a wai, compensation and admitting your guilt gets you out of jail or a halved sentence. Granted the justice system is broken in many places, but when your enforcement is weak, the criminals take advantage of it.

Harsh sentencing along with truth in that sentencing has more serving their times instead of walking earlier. This along with no prosecution for youth offenders, which has them laughing and out committing more crimes for lack of punishment.

Vietnam does better from the lack of gun crime and social differences, losing face for family is a deterrent. The lack of gang activity is also a reason, whereas America's main gun problem is gangs, after suicides.

America also incarcerates far more black people than represented in the general population, whereas Vietnam is a homogeneous racial group. But then, the same thing happens in Australia with Aboriginals, most notedly with teenagers.

9 hours ago, Lacessit said:

America also incarcerates far more black people than represented in the general population, whereas Vietnam is a homogeneous racial group. But then, the same thing happens in Australia with Aboriginals, most notedly with teenagers.

Well.....do black people commit more crimes than their relative population size?

On 8/28/2026 at 4:53 AM, Lacessit said:

America incarcerates people at the rate of 541 per 100,000 population. Vietnam's incarceration rate is about 100 per 100,000. A Communist country.

What surprised me most about visiting Vietnam was the near invisibility of its police force. The police in Thailand and the US are far more visible. Both are alleged to be democracies.

Communism is a political system which has its faults. All political systems do. It does not have horns and a tail.

But you do have to give the US credit: they release the violent offenders without bail... thus proving once again it is a free country.

On 8/28/2026 at 5:42 AM, topcat333 said:

The short answer is really simple, and I say this as an American: Donald Trump dominates the world news every day. When you turn on the news, it's likely the first thing you hear is something about Trump. And it's also likely what you hear is not good.

Not good??? According to whose set of principles?

Oh we all know that the US wants to dominate the world and so this forum too... many posts are all compared with the US but there is more world and more than individual cases.... Other nationalities and comments are often seen as not important enough.. But the US is the US so don't take it too seriously

2 hours ago, Old John said:

But you do have to give the US credit: they release the violent offenders without bail... thus proving once again it is a free country.

IIRC they also issue pardons to insurrectionists, drug dealers and fraudsters.

2 hours ago, Old John said:

Not good??? According to whose set of principles?

Gee, let me think - morality? honesty? decency?

Of course, if one endorses the actions of a serial liar, adjudged rapist, felon, sexual predator and grifter engaged in corruption as President, it says a lot about their own "principles".

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

Oh we all know that the US wants to dominate the world

The US government, or the US citizens?

1 hour ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

The US government, or the US citizens?

Is that a difference???