[Obituary: Dianne Feinstein, trailblazing senator who defied CIA and White House]

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I don't know much about her, but IMO it's an abomination that anyone could spend 3 decades sucking large off the taxpayer to sit in congress, and especially that they did it till age 90. It's not like it's a real job, is it?

 

I'd like a 3 term or 10 years maximum for any politician in any country.

 

The very valid reason is the saying "power corrupts".

While I do rule out term limits out of hand ... The voters can limit terms at every election. Wish all issues had simple answers but they do not. I am not one to state that all serving in positions of public trust are automatically corrupt (that said, I also recognize that the USA systems have been corrupted over time).

[Your best life quotes]

34 minutes ago, 300sd said:

Wisdom comes to us when it can no longer do any good.

What was the old Pennsylvania Dutch (Deutsh) saying? "We are too soon old and too late smart".

 

[Your best life quotes]

11 minutes ago, poyai111 said:

For the romantics and those who have lived the Thai experience:

"Qando amor non es locura, non es amor.", translation: "when love is not madness, it is not love" - Spanish is such a beautiful language 

Si, si ... es verdad.

[Your best life quotes]

2 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

What does that mean?

I can't see any such qoute 

Probably true ???? 

"I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." - Bob Seger quotes from BrainyQuote.com.

 

We live and learn. Earlier in our lives we were unaware of what would come into our experiences.

[Your best life quotes]

I wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then - B. Seeger 

[⟺ You Believe in GOD: Do You Believe GOD is Trustworthy?]

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

IMPOSE

The word you were looking for is "impose"...

Right?

 

Anyway, what was meant by "establishing" a religion, anyway?

 

And why are we even talking about this here?

 

Do you find GOD trustworthy or not?

 

If so, then give a few examples, why don't you...

 

 

To which god do you refer? I addressed the linking of the 1956, “in god we trust” motto that you addressed for historic background.

[Media organisations to probe Surachate’s payments to journalists]

16 minutes ago, RandolphGB said:

So Thai journalists are just as corrupt as the police, army, government and businesses.

 

 

 

It does make me reflect on this theme being played out in my birth country (USA). You cannot trust any educated person, politician, media, government institution … only listen to the one man fighting for you personally … you know the lead nominee of the minority political party.

[⟺ You Believe in GOD: Do You Believe GOD is Trustworthy?]

1 minute ago, fredwiggy said:

That's what it means to you, but not to those who believe. Half of the world fears death, but those who believe have hope, because we are only here for about 85 years or so, so we know there's a better place waiting for us. Religion isn't required, as it's man made. Many religions don't follow God, so what hope do they receive? To be part of a universe that just happened to be here all along? Christianity makes sense, although some find it hard to believe in some of the Bible's teachings. I do also, but it doesn't matter, because some things could have been interpreted wrong. I'd rather have hope than think nothing will happen when I die, and hope is what makes a lot of people obey God's laws, because if no one did, the world would be in much worse shape. We have to be held accountable for our free will choices.

And the followers of the Isis cult were also promised eternal life for believers. But I respect all having an equal right to believe as they wish. A central tenant of the founding of the USA. I would note that all US “Rights” have restrictions … sorry, if one believes in human sacrifices … nope. And no imposing beliefs on others … a current issue in American society today.

[⟺ You Believe in GOD: Do You Believe GOD is Trustworthy?]

4 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

The Question Is:  If, and only if, you believe in God, do you believe God to be trustworthy?

 

If yes, then why?

If no, then why?

 

IF you do NOT believe in GOD, 

THEN, this TOPIC is NOT for you, …and...

Therefore...

Please do not comment here.

 

Since I DO believe in GOD, I will only comment that...

 

I have not found GOD to be completely trustworthy.

 

However, I assume that your views might differ from mine.

 

In God We Trust, is the phrase like the Greenback?

 

And when you cannot trust the Greenback?...

 

 

 

Can we trust in GOD to always be trustworthy?

 

How has GOD proved Himself to be trustworthy during the past few years, for example?

 

Ever thought about it???

 

 

 

 

Just a bit of the history, “In god We Trust” associated with US currency. It was imposed in 1956 under the Republican Eisenhower Administration. The idea being to counter those communists as Marx had stated that religion is an opiate of the people. For me, “E Pluribus Unum” remains the motto … since the establishment clause firmly states the government of the USA will establish no religious belief on the citizens.

[American TikToker condemns Bangkok taxi driver for trying to rip him off]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Not if it's true...

In faring world. Here, defamation is judged as causing damage to someone or some business reputation. At least, that is my understanding.

[Sleeper train - Chiang Mai to Bangkok]

Just a note on our experience at the end of March. Took the #10 train (newer Chinese car), two interconnected compartments. Overnight train, compartments were fine, bathroom and separate shower stall down the hall. Unfortunately, the care air conditioning was set on refrigerate. Could not sleep. In the morning, they turned off the air and immediate hot and humid.

[Pratumnak soi 5 nice Sunset...but]

18 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Grinders, saws, music, loud talkers, loud motorbikes are common here.

Many places that seem nice can unfortunately, easily get spoiled. 

I recall on first retiring here and riding the motorbike. Suddenly, a loud voice speaking in Thai was a my side. Scared the bejabbits out of me! One of those sound trucks which ride around advertising things. Thailand has been the only country where I had experienced this.

[Trump liable for fraud, judge finds in New York civil case]

2 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Does the (clearly blinkered) all-seeing-eye have a rational justification for claiming that Trump is "a traitor"?

I certainly allow that the 91 indictments should play out, I trust the citizen Grand Juries and the citizen Trial Juries to hear the evidence and make their determinations in my name as an American citizen. OK, to allow that all of them and the Prosecutors, Defense Lawyers, Judges are all corrupted as being prejudiced against The Donald? 

[What is the real deal with proposed foreign income tax changes?]

1 hour ago, jerrymahoney said:

Maybe read this for now:

 

https://mahanakornpartners.com/the-revenue-department-closes-loopholes-tightening-tax-collection-on-foreign-income/

Thanks, Jerry.

[What is the real deal with proposed foreign income tax changes?]

1 minute ago, jerrymahoney said:

I will assume any hard-core results from that meeting will become available elsewhere.

I agree, Jerry. I will stay tuned.

[What is the real deal with proposed foreign income tax changes?]

22 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Webinar. 1000 baht for non AMCHAM members.

Thanks but 1000 baht is best spent elsewhere. I am a US economic refugee retired on $2400. USD in a lower cost country as a career U.S. educator.

[Trump breaks with McCarthy, pushing Republicans to shut down the government]

13 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

1 man can do all that ... ????

And yet he was already President for 4 years, and we're all still here...go figure.

Trump wants the govt to do what is expect of all of us to do, live within our means, and don't spend more than we have.

 

Call me crazy, but sounds like common sense to me.

No, I won’t call you crazy. And I also want to see government spending to be brought under better control by Congress in a responsible way. The current demand to shut down the government is not the responsible way.

 

As to Trump? President for four years and during his administration a Republican majority sponsored tax cut, primarily benefiting the wealthy and corporations while not cutting spending. The factual result of his administration? An increase in the national debt of trillions of dollars.

 

OK, absolutely we need to bring the costs of demands for government spending on the national treasury into alignment with tax income. I look to fund Social Security earned by the lifetime of labor of the working middle class by raising the cap on Social Security contributions from income earned. I support an absolute demand that there be no earning of millions without taxation (SCOTUS ruled that corporations are equal citizens with me … treat them equally, taxwise).

[Trump breaks with McCarthy, pushing Republicans to shut down the government]

1 hour ago, TheFishman1 said:

Trump wants chaos. He doesn’t care about the hardships it’s going to be on regular working people he only thinks of one thing himself. He is the worst kind man to be president in the history of America.

Such a great current irony. The working middle class having the same interests being divided between those of us supporting Bernie’s approach and those supporting The Donald. So sad … look to the lifelong histories … which has consistently supported the working middle class?!

[What is the real deal with proposed foreign income tax changes?]

5 minutes ago, Misty said:

AMCHAM Thailand's excellent Tax committee has a seminar on this subject on 4 October. 

Thanks but I am not in Bangkok.

[Updating Maps in Toyota CHR]

I do not own that car but my dash unit allows either a plug in for my iPhone or a Bluetooth connection. I can use my iPhone GPS. Just an idea to check out.

[Looking for a hotel for one night near MRT/BTS that doesn't require reservations]

Take a look at FX Hotel Metrolink for location. But I cannot predict what hotels would have a room open …

[Why are UK expats still doing the 800K deposit for retirement extensions ?]

7 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said:

I pose this question guys cos i'm seeing UK bank deposit interest rates up to as much as 7% when the interest here in Thailand is no more than 2% so i believe. It does'nt make any financial sense to me other than if you don't have 65K monthly income.

 

Now i appreciate if you don't have the 800K or the 65K monthly income you're f***** and have to use an agent or a helpful IO

 

Any thoughts/comments guys ? 

Not a Brit but I would observe that in using the monthly income method would need to figure in the exchange rate. Sorry Cousins, as an American I am currently benefitting as I use the monthly income method of USD coming in each month.

[Poll showing Trump up 10 points over Biden for 2024 election criticized]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

Living overseas has always been a legitimate reason to get a mail-in ballot.  Being dead, living at the address of a vacant field, and being in a nursing home unable to even open your eyes or respond to a voice, hasn't.   Until recently.

 

I have heard the accusations. I have seen investigations without factual findings.

[Calls for clarification of new Tax regime which appears to target expat foreign income sources]

3 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

That would depend on where those capital gains and dividends came from.  In the US, money in a Roth IRA came from after tax investments.  And money in a traditional IRA is tax deferred—Uncle Sam will assess the tax—not Thailand.  The long arm of the IRS reaches American expats.  If they tax us—they need to protect us from double taxation.

My current thinking, based on my current understanding is that the current tax treaty between the USA and the Kingdom of Thailand protects citizens of both nations from double taxation. As the USA requires Americans pay income taxes from all global sources, I am exempt from having to pay income tax on that income again in Thailand. The current proposal would immediately bring in diplomatic actions breaching the existing treaty (ies). Sooo ... currently I will read, listen but not raise my blood pressure over this proposal.

[What is the real deal with proposed foreign income tax changes?]

9 hours ago, Misty said:

Who was the tax expert?

Representatives from American International Tax Advisors. They said they will return next month to update the Chiang Mai Expat Club members. The Club meets on the last Saturday of the month at Meliá Hotel in Chiang Mai.