Re: "Don't knock the polls", (PostBag, Oct 8).
The argument whether polls accurately reflect the prime minister's popularity misses the more important point: However popular he might be, even if he has the same popularity as North Korea's dictator, it doesn't alter the fact he was not elected to govern the Thai people by them according to democratic principles.
Is he really popular? Quite possibly! That signifies nothing of worth, certainly nothing equivalent to sound democratic credentials or good morals, neither of which are entailed by doing incredibly well in a popularity contest under a rule of law characterised by censorship and intimidation, which has forced respected academics into exile, and that has imprisoned such exemplary Thai citizens as the international award winning Jatupat Boonpattararaksa (Pai Dao Din) in strict accord with the rule of law made up for such purposes.
If popularity in polls were a reliable indicator of moral stature, that would make both Thaksin and Yingluck paragons of excellence, something I would have trouble conceding, although they do at least have the virtue of having been elected by the formerly free Thai people to govern the Thai nation, and unlike a popularity poll, that deserves respect.
Felix Qui
Gun blame runs deep
Ken Albertsen, in his Oct 7 letter, "Murderous gun law", decries the gun laws in the US. Much of what he says is true, except for one thing. The "bump stock" device allegedly used by the Las Vegas shooter was approved for sale by the Democrats under the Obama administration in 2010. It was decided the device was a firearm part and not regulated under the gun control act.
Richard Westwell
Hua Hin
Right not to be shot
How old is the Second Amendment anyway? Isn't it outdated. There is gun control in Canada and Australia. How many gun killings have there been in these countries in the past 10 years compared to the US. Stop this stupidity.
Michael Chahine
No wishful thinking
I was a little disappointed with Wolf's apparently light-hearted, casual dismissal of my suggestions regarding how to improve the service offered to passengers by the MRT as mere wishful thinking on my part, for a variety of reasons.
To begin with, my letter was primarily referring to the unacceptable service offered on the MRT, with my reference to the BTS being largely secondary, although with an equally valid condemnation of profit being allowed to subordinate an essential, and much needed improvement in the public service it professes to provide.
Secondly, using the problems my outline suggestions might cause at BTS Siam Station, although perfectly valid, highlight why the world often fails to move forward, as people find it easier to focus on the problem itself rather than on the solution. After all, there are always problems that arise in achieving anything truly worthwhile, but we really do need constructive, creative and positive responses to these challenges if we are to effect desirous improvement. I hope Wolf may consider giving some thought to the solutions of the problem that he rightly identified at one particular BTS station. He made a very good point!
Finally, the numbers of people currently forced to wait on the MRT platforms for several trains to pass whilst waiting for the one that can finally accommodate them, blocks the opposite platform and entire concourse at peak times, making passenger disembarkation incredibly difficult at most MRT stations. If, Heaven forbid, an emergency occurred that required a mass evacuation of the stations in question, then the blockages caused by people arriving and hoping to depart simultaneously would create a very worrisome scenario in terms of public safety -- at least on a par with that at one BTS station.
I would not feel comfortable assigning that potential problem to the realms of "wishful thinking".
GMT
Contact: Bangkok Post Building
136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110
fax: +02 6164000 Email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th
all Letter Writers Must Provide Full Name And Address.
all Published Correspondence Is Subject To Editing At Our Discretion.
