Re: "Cops recapture 2 Uighur escapees", (BP, Feb 15).
This headline trumpets another crime busting success by the Royal Thai Police: The addition of two more words --"from China", to the headline, making it read, "Cops recapture 2 Uighur escapees from China" would clarify who and what the "escapees" are ultimately trying to escape from, and that the cops' quick recapture is probably the first step in their repatriation to China. It is fear of repatriation, which seems the policy choice of Thai Immigration, that prompted the Uighurs to escape from their unlocked cell in the first place.
In China, they would face imprisonment, followed by internment in a re-education camp, whose curriculum is replacing Uighur culture with indoctrination in loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. At ages 27 and 30, the two "escapees" are young enough to make a new life for themselves in any of the many countries that would welcome them as refugees.
Recently, the footballer Hakeem al-Araibi and a Saudi teen were saved from repatriation by Bahrain's change of mind and by the intervention of the UNHCR respectively. It would be nice to see Thai authorities take the initiative for a change, and make an independent decision to not repatriate Uighurs. However, by being called "escapees" rather than refugees, the Uighurs' prospects do not look good.
Edward Zile
Sign up for change
As I once again pack my bags to escape the yearly poison in the North I have come up with an idea that will enhance the prospect of all parties being the next government.
How about they sign a promise that if elected, in 12 months' time, there will be no more hazardous pollution in Bangkok and the seasonal haze caused by burn-offs in the North will no longer occur. They could also promise that road deaths will be reduced by at least 25%, and that they will take whatever action is needed to achieve these results that are achievable with the political will.
If the same thing occurs again after 12 months in office, then they immediately resign from office with no excuses whatsoever.
They continue to blame the weather and spray toy water pistols in the air and nothing changes. We the people want changes in these things that will also improve the economy as a side benefit. Will anyone sign up to this challenge?
Raspy Nik
Enact simple remedies
I am surprised the authorities have not enacted some fairly simple remedies used in other countries to reduce air pollution. One example is to allow drivers to enter Bangkok only on certain days of the week. Another, more obvious, is to require buses to turn their engines off when parked at certain bus stops for up to 10 minutes -- all the while sending exhaust gases into the air we breathe. Turning off their engines while parked at stops would not only save taxpayer money, but also help reduce air pollution. Seems like a win-win!
Bob Curteman
Monopoly rules apply
Re: "So, what's really wrong with functional finance?", (Opinion, Feb 15).
For anyone who was (understandably) lost while reading Paul Krugman's explanation of modern monetary theory, if you have ever played the Monopoly Game, then you already understand MMT.
The rules of the game of Monopoly were written by Charles Darrow in 1933, which was the same time that the US dollar became a fiat currency (the same time that President FDR took the United States off the gold standard). As per the Monopoly rules, "The bank never 'goes broke'… the bank may issue as much money as needed by writing on any ordinary paper."
The US federal government using a free-floating, non-convertible currency is the same as "the bank". The MMT insight is that any federal spending beyond federal taxes that are collected is "cash-financed" with newly-created dollars added to the outstanding float of dollars.
The bygone financing function of federal tax collection and selling US Treasury bonds takes a back seat behind more important functions like maintaining price stability, maintaining demand for the dollar and maintaining the constitutionally-enshrined power of the purse of Congress.
In other words, even though there is an unlimited amount of fiat dollars (Monopoly money), Congress (the "banker") still has to approve any deficit spending that creates new dollars being added to the US banking system (or the Monopoly players).
Eddie Delzio
Keep complaining
Re: "Always tell taxman", (PostBag, Feb 16).
Robin Grant suggests that I'm advocating for tax evasion. I've done nothing of the sort! It's perfectly legal to keep my income in my own country. That was the purpose of getting income "verification" letters from the embassy!
So I asked a legitimate question, which is if Thai immigration would accept embassy letters that don't substantiate anything, why not instead accept 12 months of bank statements from an American bank which would show my income? If we assume it's a waste of time to complain, as David James Wong claims, then why is he always complaining?
Eric Bahrt
Baht not Bahrt
Re: "Bahrt relocation", (PostBag, Feb 16).
When is he going to understand that life in Thailand is not about Bahrt -- it is about baht!
Alan Beale
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