Re: "Watch this space", (PostBag, Dec 22).
In his letter regarding 25 watches, Mr Johnsen appears to believe that US$1.5 million (48.9 million baht) worth of timepieces is akin to a loaf of bread. He also forgets that corruption is like pregnancy, there is no "little bit" of either. The crime is to be corrupt and this country already has plenty of that. A proper investigative body having a good look at the government may also have found the watches to be just the tip of the iceberg, but the NACC doesn't match up to that description. Being slightly less corrupt is not good enough when you have used military force to remove a government on the pretence of corruption.
Lungstib
Recipe for disaster
On Dec 12 last year, the Bangkok Post reported, "The road death rate in Thailand is a matter of extreme concern as the country now ranks first, surpassing the deadliest country in the last survey, Libya." And last June, the newspaper reported, "Speeding, which is the main factor in most accidents, is a deeply ingrained habit with as many as 70% of traffic participants regularly doing so according to TARC research."
But this week it was reported, "A police panel set up to solve traffic problems has proposed the increase of speed limits on expressways and motorways to be in line with the current situation," and "has agreed to increase the speed limits on expressways and motorways to between 100 and 110 kilometres per hour". Surely this is a recipe for future suicide and manslaughter?
Phra Alan James Cooper
Don't follow the Irish
Re: "Follow the Irish", (PostBag, Dec 21).
Colin Roth's assertion that the result of the 2016 Referendum on EU membership does not represent the will of the British people because it is "advisory" rather than "decisive" makes no sense. As for his claim that some "Leave" votes were simply anti-government and had nothing to do with the EU, well, he just conjured that out of thin air.
I also question his claim that voters were influenced by "lies" from prominent politicians advocating Britain's departure from the EU. Some of the claims can perhaps be better described as over optimistic or inaccurate, and in any case were mirrored by predictions by prominent "remainers", who claimed that a decision to leave would immediately have a disastrous impact on the British economy, resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs.
I do believe that there is a more fundamental issue at stake here than economics: the perception of what a nation-state should look like in this increasingly interconnected world, and that is why I do not think that the arguments put forward by either side had a decisive effect on the outcome of the vote. Remainers are content that Britain surrender sovereignty in exchange for membership of a supranational bureaucracy which, they believe, delivers worthwhile benefits, but leavers wish to see Britain regain its sovereignty, which it has defended for centuries, sometimes at great cost in lives and treasure.
As for the Irish, well, they made a democratic decision and if they are happy to be subservient to hordes of staggeringly well-remunerated bureaucrats and politicians in Brussels and Strasbourg, then that is their business. Oh, and don't forget, every month the whole circus has to pack up and be transported, lock stock and barrel, from Brussels to Strasbourg and back again four days later, at an annual cost of about US$200 million, just to mollify the French. What a farce!
Robin Grant
Show common sense
The somewhat ingenuous claim that the Brexit result represents the "democratic will of 17 million people" made by Robin Grant (and many self-serving UK politicians) completely disregards the fact that the total electorate numbered 46.5 million and that almost 30 million did not vote for Brexit, but are now finally aware of and must suffer the heinous consequences. Given that the opinion polls all showed a 10% or so margin predicted in favour of "Remain", inclement weather, and the election being held on a working day all led to a certain lack of concern. In the event a minority with extreme views, spurred on by the pernicious lies blatantly spread by certain unscrupulous individuals which later investigation proved seriously affected the result, won the day.
As far as I am concerned, I can think of many reasons, particularly emanating from European Court decisions and the costly expansion, largely because of US and Nato pressure, to extend the EU to the boundaries of Russia to bring them into the Western alliance, but in considering the benefits and the enormous virtually insoluble problems that clearly would arise in doing so, it was stupid to even consider it! All expat Brits who rely on income from the UK have another reason to be concerned. Please show a modicum of common sense while our currency is still of some value.
Tony Ash
Distribute the info
Re: "Fact checking fibbing politicians works, study finds", (Online, Dec 21).
Perhaps this short news story should be translated into Thai on flyers and distributed at bus, train, and other public transit areas, outside factory gates in industrial complexes and in every corner of Thailand. It might make a difference. Then again, it might make no difference at all.
Jack Gilead
Suspicious cash
Re: "Driver returns B300k to Israeli tourist", (BP, Dec 21).
Khun Yaya Jehmaeng is the latest in a long string of impressively honest and honourable Thai drivers who have returned small and large fortunes to careless and forgetful customers. My deep respect and sincere appreciation go out to Thai drivers in general -- the vast majority of whom are upright, honest and hardworking, despite being widely maligned.
I do wonder about the latest incident, however. Not about the taxi driver, but about the so-called "tourist" involved. What kind of tourist travels around with 300,000 baht cash in their bag? Big spenders, travelling in luxury, pay their bills with credit cards or electronic transfers.
Budget travellers don't have need for such large amounts of cash. I hope the authorities are looking into this rather strange anomaly to uncover the story behind the story.
Samanea Saman
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