Your Sept 26 editorial addressed the issue of an ageing society and some of the problems associated with this demographic shift.
None of the implications are positive. Then the following day there was a report saying nearly a million stateless people are living here. Is there nobody in the government that can see the correlation for an easy solution to the stateless issue and a way to improve future demographics?
Awarding all stateless citizens with Thai citizenship would improve society on two levels easily. Money and resources (5,000 baht per head) would no longer need to be spent to monitor them. Money would be also be made by allowing these people to become fully productive, and contribute taxes to the government. Instantly, they become an asset instead of a liability and cost. International prestige would also be generated through an act of this nature which is important for a country that depends on tourism and the desire of people to come visit.
Ask yourself how you would feel if you were considered stateless? You could not have "hope" for your life or your children because the world denies your existence on paper. If you would not desire this experience for your existence, why support doing this to others?
Darius Hober
Desperate Democrats
Re: "Republican thugs", (PostBag, Sept 25).
I can't help noting the appalling hypocrisy of Eric Bahrt's last comment trying to paint Bill Clinton like a saint because no charges were ever levelled against him.
Bush, Rice and Powell started a war in Iraq using fake information, yet no charges were filed against them. Brett Kavanaugh has an impeccable record until some women decided to tarnish his image without proof about something that might have happened 36 years ago. Why is this happening? The Democrats are desperate and looking for leverage because Russian interference never existed. The reality is not Russian but collusion by the Democrats and the UK to undermine Trump's campaign. The Democrats hope to impeach Trump before the truth comes out. Eric's idol Hillary has never been indicted but it appears her days are numbered.
Clara Holzer
Deep State hokum
Re: "US set for fireworks", (PostBag, Sept 26).
HHB makes references to a "Deep State" out to take down President Trump. S/he refers to all those that don't want Trump to be president as "saboteurs".
The idea of a Deep State in America is simply a conspiracy theory, a means to dismiss any negatives related to the president. The problems in America or any country will be solved by intelligent discussion among all parties. Such critical thought is sometimes avoided by the simplistic spreading of paranoia-based conspiracy theories. People not supporting the president are not saboteurs. Just Americans with concerns.
RV
Least best Thailand
Re: "No misery here", (PostBag, Sept 27).
To support his argument, Songdej Praditsmanont cited Bloomberg's Misery Index.
If Bloomberg had changed this to a Happiness Index, Thailand may still top the list as the happiest country in the world, not the least miserable.
Of course, Bloomberg relies on the prehistoric belief that low unemployment and inflation generally make people worry less. Thailand tops the list because of its unique way (or should I say, weird way?) of calculating the unemployment rate. For example, if a guy from Isan got laid-off from a construction job in Bangkok and went home to help his family working in the rice field, he is still counted as employed. That's why our unemployment is ridiculously low, less than 1%! That would be the holy grail of developed countries.
And for low prices, they can be a sign of poor demand. Thais dare not spend because they are worried about the future. Will there be an election? How short will the new government be in power? More "Shut Down Bangkok"? Another coup?
I wouldn't crow about Bloomberg's meaningless ranking. When you are in a beauty contest, you want to be the most beautiful contestant, not the least ugly, don't you?
Somsak Pola
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