Re: "Bus firms demand fare hikes to improve service", (BP, Nov 19).
We know a fare increase will in reality not improve bus services, as most buses are ancient, will not restart easily if their motors are turned off, and with the windows always open, most passengers choke on diesel fumes and other fumes while stuck in traffic jams.
How about the bus companies first demonstrating improved service first, to justify a fare hike? Why demand a fare hike by making promises that will never happen? The same argument could be made for the Skytrain service and subway systems as well.
Disgruntled Commuter
Country has lost charm
Re: "Paradise lost...", (PostBag, Nov 19).
I refer to Lungstib's letter regarding Thailand tourism and completely agree with him. The country is being ruined by the pursuit of the baht. Bangkok is no longer the exotic oriental city it once was and is in the process of being converted into the world's biggest shopping mall. One small but important example was the demolition of Hemingway's 100-year-old teak house which used to house the French ambassador and which in any other country which professes to encourage tourism would have been protected.
Phuket is another example. It is almost completely reliant on tourists and one of its attractions was beachside restaurants which were a great draw in addition to providing employment for many people. What do they do? One individual took it upon himself to declare that the beaches should be given back to the people. The beachside restaurants were bulldozed but I do not see masses of locals flocking to Surin Beach, for example. TAT talk the talk but when it comes to walking the walk and actually being creative they are next to useless and our neighbours such as Vietnam and Cambodia must be rubbing their hands in anticipation.
Scottie
Phuket
US not 'infested'
Re: "America last", (PostBag, Nov 18).
Based on his reaction to my earlier letter, I have to conclude that Kuldeep Nagi has not spent much time in America's heartland. His parroting of old stereotypes glosses over the nuances that underlie the "fly-over states".
Yes; there are some right-wing extremists in the central US states -- as in many parts of the world today. But, to say that the region is "infested" with such people is simply wrong and is a gross insult to the vast majority of the people living in these states.
Likewise, while some US heartland citizens view immigrants as a drain on social programmes, far more people in this part of the country celebrate the US melting pot, recognise the contributions of immigrants to society, and welcome legal immigrants.
Nagi also repeats outdated perspectives on US agricultural subsidies, which have been significantly reduced over recent decades.
US agricultural subsidies are now far less in terms of gross payments and "producer support estimates" (a measure of the percentage of subsidies farmers receive relative to total farm income) than those of the EU, China, Japan, Korea, and Indonesia.
Most American farmers that I know would be quite happy to forego government payments and compete in a world without subsidies, should all other countries agree to do the same.
I do fully agree with Nagi's view that the US has wasted billions on needless wars. I would point out, however, that this view is also shared by many people in America's heartland. That does not negate the relevance of a strong military; rather, it mainly calls for better leadership to avoid senseless wars.
Samanea Saman
Chasing the Chinese
Much has been made of the salvage of the tourist boat, the Phoenix, that capsized killing a boatload of Chinese tourists. I wonder if the same fuss would have been made if the tourists were not Chinese, but from some lesser known country. Why does the Thai government always bend over backward and continue to appease and kiss China's behind over every issue, big or small, important or trivial?
David James Wong
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