Re: "Oxfam calls for wealth tax to tackle inequality", (Business, Jan 22).
The new Oxfam study released this week indicates that the world's richest 26 individuals have more wealth than the combined assets of the poorest half of the world's population. What a startling statistic! Imagine, just 26 super-rich people have more money than the combined total of 3.8 billion individuals!
I recognise that most of these ultra-rich multi-billionaires have worked hard to get to where they are. And they have undoubtedly brought outstanding ideas, intellect and management skills to their business empires. But, there seems to be something nauseatingly perverse about our legal and governing systems that allows such outrageous concentration of wealth -- often achieved, at least in part, on the backs of the poor.
Let's not ignore the fact that the vast majority of those 3.8 billion who comprise the poorest half of the world's population also work incredibly long and hard. Perhaps only for the lack of a lucky break, being born in the wrong place at the wrong time, or never having an opportunity for a decent education, they have been relegated to a life of drudgery and abject poverty.
Just how many billions of dollars does a rich person need anyway? I can barely imagine a million dollars, much less a billion. But, I would think that one or two billion ought to be way more than enough for anyone. After that -- or some other sensible level -- it seems we should have effective systems in place to redirect wealth to help the poorest lift themselves out of poverty. In today's world, there should be no excuses for failing to provide all people with access to affordable health care and education, adequate food and a clean environment.
Samanea Saman
A community service
Re: "Dogs' purpose", (Life, Jan 21).
Great article. In Connecticut, where I live they are all called service animals. Our public library has programmes every Saturday on service animals. Some times they even bring in horses.
It is a very strict programme and expensive. They do offer financial help if needed. They are big in our international airports. When there are major delays they bring in the service animals to calm down families who are travelling with young children.
I could not believe that the people in Thailand's hotels and restaurants are not aware of this. It shows that there is much to do in the schools. These programmes should be taught. Professionals will gladly run these free of cost.
Froggie
Will the horror end?
Re: "Bus driver caught with tiger skulls", (BP, Jan 23).
This story stretches beyond the bounds of decency to a degree difficult to fathom. Police catch three individuals in possession of an obscene number of bear claws and a fourth party in possession of other protected wildlife bodyparts, they interview the individual who appears to be the mastermind and give him 15 days to produce documents he claims give him permission to be in possession of said body parts. Why are these people not in jail awaiting prosecution for such horrific crimes? When will this ever end? Thailand is an embarrassment.
Mr M
Sex joke of the day
Another joke day in the "Land of Smiles". We learn that a political party has filed a complaint against Netflix's Sex Education programme fearing it will "corrupt youth".
Those who filed the complaint must be living in Victorian times. Thai youth, or the youth in any country today, do things that would make the most experienced sex workers blush. Better that those who filed this asinine complaint live and learn instead.
Ohpchoi
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