Is America a third world country?

We have several podcasters, mostly political podcasters, that have become millionaires. I really don’t know how the monetization works, but I heard podcasters get paid from YouTube on the number of subscribers, hits on their video and likes that are check marked, plus anyone watching their podcast can also donate any amount they like to the podcaster.

I was stunned at first when I learned some of these podcasters are even multimillionaires. When I watched a few if them, I noticed they use a lot of clips from other YouTube videos from CNN, MSNBC, FOX and other podcasters. It almost seems like a racket.
 

Been There said:
The U.S. taxpayer shoulders the expenses of several different categories, including undocumented aliens, for which we have no such category. Because the U.S. has many enemies and adversaries, it’s super important to keep our military strong by keeping our equipment and ordinances in ready shape. We must supply our ground troops with the very best equipment. For this reason, a lot of money is necessary.

Thankfully, our recruitment is back on track in all branches with recruitment back up in 2025 I learned a few months ago that the female recruitment into the Army has exceeded their goal. Although the females have surpassed their goals, our male recruits into the Army are slightly behind their goal. The other branches are doing ok. The Army missed their numbers by about 25% during COVID and a few years afterward.
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As to having the very best equipment, may I suggest you do a Google search concerning where the government is sourcing $900 million to convert the Qatari 747 into an additional Air Force One? I dare not say more to prevent violating the ban on political posts.
 
Been There said:
We have several podcasters, mostly political podcasters, that have become millionaires. I really don’t know how the monetization works, but I heard podcasters get paid from YouTube on the number of subscribers, hits on their video and likes that are check marked, plus anyone watching their podcast can also donate any amount they like to the podcaster.

I was stunned at first when I learned some of these podcasters are even multimillionaires. When I watched a few if them, I noticed they use a lot of clips from other YouTube videos from CNN, MSNBC, FOX and other podcasters. It almost seems like a racket.
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IMO, it is a racket, but you know one really cares what I think. All I can add is, don't watch them. ASIDE: I lost interest looking for the right emoji--use what ever pops into mind.
 

oslooskar said:
You mentioned keeping your wallet on a sturdy chain. So, out of curiosity, did you ever actually have a problem in Thailand? Because I haven’t, and neither has anyone I know here.
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There are plenty of ex-pats on Youtube telling their horror stories. I've not read the entire thread, but I assume you're not suggesting Thailand is a crime-free panacea. Wherever there is poverty, there is crime. And then, when the richest places are drowning in foreigners, resentment builds. It's not unique to Thailand, of course.
 
Packerjohn said:
There is no answer to this question because there are poor people and there are rich people. However, the fact is that the upper 2 or 3 % are getting richer, the middle class is disappearing and the lower class, well, they are getting more and more despair. I have spent time in Texas and there sure are a lot of gated communities. The rich are afraid to let the riff raff in.
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I have never liked the idea of gated communities and would not want to live in one. It offends my sense of egalitarianism. I don't even have a front fence, let alone a locked gate.
 
Rakaia said:
@VaughanJB
The brother of my daughter's friend got fatally stabbed in Phuket by another foreigner a couple of years ago so I guess that Thailand is not much different from anywhere else on the crime score.
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I am sorry to hear that. Even crime stats are misleading. I mean, apparently violent crime is "relatively low" in Thailand, but that's no comfort to those affected by it. The only way to avoid such crime is to live away from other humans. It's also worth remembering that in a survey in 2017, 4 out of 5 Thai believed the Police were corrupt. If true, it's safe to assume an under-reporting of crime in general.
 
Warrigal said:
I have never liked the idea of gated communities and would not want to live in one. It offends my sense of egalitarianism. I don't even have a front fence, let alone a locked gate.
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When I was looking to buy my house in Houston, I visited the Police to get advice. Meaning, I asked them where the crime hotspots were, where the places to avoid where, etc. They were very happy to help.
 
VaughanJB said:
There are plenty of ex-pats on Youtube telling their horror stories. I've not read the entire thread, but I assume you're not suggesting Thailand is a crime-free panacea. Wherever there is poverty, there is crime. And then, when the richest places are drowning in foreigners, resentment builds. It's not unique to Thailand, of course.
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Those so-called "horror stories" usually come from the same expats who spend their time in the sleaziest nightlife areas with bar girls and ladyboys. Hardly a representative picture of daily life here. Most of those YouTube expats just need something to whine about to get attention. In reality, San Francisco has a far higher crime rate than Rayong, and unlike back home, I can walk here without constantly being on guard.
 
VaughanJB said:
It's also worth remembering that in a survey in 2017, 4 out of 5 Thai believed the Police were corrupt. If true, it's safe to assume an under-reporting of crime in general.
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Corruption isn’t unique to Thailand. In the U.S. the police routinely enforce unconstitutional laws and violate the rights of private citizens with impunity. In fact, the courts very often look the other way, and politicians actively enable it, which makes the corruption systemic rather than isolated. When the Bill of Rights is treated as optional depending on convenience, that’s corruption every bit as real as anything here, it's just cloaked in legality. Anyway, I'll stop here as we are not to get into political discussions.
 
oslooskar said:
Corruption isn’t unique to Thailand. In the U.S. the police routinely enforce unconstitutional laws and violate the rights of private citizens with impunity. In fact, the courts very often look the other way, and politicians actively enable it, which makes the corruption systemic rather than isolated. When the Bill of Rights is treated as optional depending on convenience, that’s corruption every bit as real as anything here, it's just cloaked in legality. Anyway, I'll stop here as we are not to get into political discussions.
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That wasn't the point I was making. The point was - stated crime figures are likely to be lower than they actually are because of the corruption. Corruption can be found wherever power is held.

oslooskar said:
Those so-called "horror stories" usually come from the same expats who spend their time in the sleaziest nightlife areas with bar girls and ladyboys. Hardly a representative picture of daily life here.
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Well, isn't this true of crime figures/experiences in any country? There are places in the US where crime is incredibly low. There are places where crime is concentrated. The overall view of the country is an aggregate.

You live in a crime free paradise, and I'm pleased for you. That does not mean that it's the same throughout Thailand. And with the corrupt law enforcement, it's likely crime is worse than stated. It's the same everywhere.
 
VaughanJB said:
That wasn't the point I was making. The point was - stated crime figures are likely to be lower than they actually are because of the corruption. Corruption can be found wherever power is held. Well, isn't this true of crime figures/experiences in any country? There are places in the US where crime is incredibly low. There are places where crime is concentrated. The overall view of the country is an aggregate. You live in a crime free paradise, and I'm pleased for you. That does not mean that it's the same throughout Thailand. And with the corrupt law enforcement, it's likely crime is worse than stated. It's the same everywhere.
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Of course crime varies by neighborhood anywhere in the world, I’ve lived in San Francisco most of my life, and believe me, the difference between Pacific Heights and the Tenderloin proves that point. But the fact remains: here in Rayong, day-to-day life is nothing like the chaos in today’s San Francisco. I can walk without being on guard, and I don’t see the homelessness, panhandling, or violent street crime that became all too common in my old hometown.

And, yes, corruption exists in Thailand, as it does everywhere, but that doesn’t erase the reality on the ground. My personal experience isn’t based on YouTube expat scare stories, it’s based on years of living here. And my reality is that Rayong is far safer for me than San Francisco is at this point in time.
 
oslooskar said:
Of course crime varies by neighborhood anywhere in the world, I’ve lived in San Francisco most of my life, and believe me, the difference between Pacific Heights and the Tenderloin proves that point. But the fact remains: here in Rayong, day-to-day life is nothing like the chaos in today’s San Francisco. I can walk without being on guard, and I don’t see the homelessness, panhandling, or violent street crime that became all too common in my old hometown.

And, yes, corruption exists in Thailand, as it does everywhere, but that doesn’t erase the reality on the ground. My personal experience isn’t based on YouTube expat scare stories, it’s based on years of living here. And my reality is that Rayong is far safer for me than San Francisco is at this point in time.
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But if you understand San Francisco and the differences between neighborhoods, why do you not (seemingly) apply the same line of thought to Rayong? It may be safer in Rayong overall than it is in San Francisco overall. Setting aside - once again - an acceptance of corruption in the police force mean we can't be sure of the stats across Thailand.

I sense you want to paint a rosy picture of Thailand, and have a bias to do so. I am glad that your experience has been good, and long may it continue. But to pretend it's just the "bars with ladyboys" that have crime (as you seem to have done) isn't correct. IMO. It is well known that homelessness is rampant in Thailand, for example. It may well be - not where you are. Again, I'm glad to hear it. I don't see homelessness where I live in the UK, but I'd not deny it exists.

But yes, you may feel - and be - safer where you are in Rayong. That's great. But it's worth noting, when comparing, that there are some basic necessities that are in question. I'm talking about, for example, the quality of water supplies. Not to mention, when you return to the US, you are free not to return to those more dangerous areas of SF.
 
Pepper said:
I am always, and was always, on guard. Second nature when you are born & grow up in NYC. Don't need to think about it, just always am, when outside.
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I get it. But what part of that is formed by common sense (you don't want to appear as a possible victim) and what part is due to imminent threat?
 
VaughanJB said:
I hear you. One can become accustomed to a certain mindset. One of the delimmas in the US is that freedom comes with a threat from those that would use such freedoms for ill-gotten gains.
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I felt that way when I left the country too. The times I let my guard down did not lead to pleasant results, be it Oxford or Zurich. I've only been to western countries.
 

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