For a nation whose citizens typically show respect and kindness face to face, there appears to be an issue when some people hide behind the facade of their tinted car windows.
While travelling back from Rayong yesterday in very heavy traffic as soon as each section of highway became solid a huge percentage of drivers decided to use the breakdown lane in order to continue their journey faster than everyone else. If it had been one or two people then I wouldn't be writing this letter, but it was not and I find it very upsetting as safety was seriously compromised for everyone including the many thousands of people who chose to drive safely in the normal lanes.
I find it somewhat sinister to note this change as many people get behind the wheel. Where has all the respect gone?
David Jackson
Making banks rich
I think the major banks should send roses to the Thai Immigration agency. The requirement to languish 800,000 baht from foreign retirees in their banks will increase their reserves by 65 billion baht. They of course can use this to lend out and charge interest, all at the expense of retirees.
There is a misconception that people who retire in this wonderful country will become a burden on society. If you examine the facts, this could not be further from the truth. In reality they contribute more to the economy than immigration understands. I do not argue that retirement in this or any country requires proof of some sort of stability. But they are able to make an investment in the economy be it buying homes, cars and so on.
Ron Fleitman
Victims of injustice
Re: "Another slant", (PostBag, May 6).
I sometimes disagree with Eric Bahrt's typically provocative missives in PostBag. I sometimes agree with him. And occasionally, I agree with him totally -- as with his recent letter regarding the injustices perpetrated on the Palestinians and the fact that the world effectively screams in remembrance of the Holocaust while suffering amnesia when it comes to the millions murdered by Joseph Stalin or Pol Pot (not to mention the millions sent to their graves as a result of the lunacy of Mao Zedong's "Great Leap Forward" and various acts of genocide in other countries).
Two wrongs never make a right. Specific to the Middle East, while it is understandable that the world tried to "right" the atrocities of the Holocaust, it was clearly wrong to have done so at the expense of driving Palestinians from their homeland. Although it may not have been the explicit intention to mistreat the Palestinians at the time Palestine was partitioned in 1947, the policies of Israel and its American backers (especially under the Trump administration) have inflicted great injustice on the Palestinian people.
Samanea Saman
Smoke and ire
For more than two months Chiang Rai residents have been subjected to the most polluted and toxic air of anywhere in the world.
On May 3, the Air Quality Index in Chiang Rai was 318 and the PM2.5 level was 208; in previous weeks it has been worse.
Arsonists are operating with impunity and burning huge swathes of local forests. The local government has lost control of the situation and there is a feeling of lawlessness here.
We are all choking, please help us.
Mehmet Hassan
Dearth of democracy
Re: "Poisonous billionaires", (PostBag, May 5).
I couldn't agree more with Vint Chavala that businessmen-turned-politicians are bad for democracy. Second only to military-turned-politicians (who also somehow usually turn out to be billionaires).
Chris Boyle
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