I found reading Atiya Atchakulwisut's Tuesday column, 'Rocker Toon's noble cause is just too great' very depressing.
I was reminded once again about how much lower health care is on the list of priorities of this government especially when compared to arms-buying, which is obviously a much higher priority. To me this is the greatest argument for why we need an elected government answerable to the people even if it is a bit chaotic at times.
Despite their claims about wanting to bring happiness to the people, eventually we always see when the military is in charge for any length of time, it is bringing happiness to the relatively small number of people in the military which is most important to them.
Observer
Dreams of democracy
Thaworn Senneam, a former Democrat party MP, was quoted in yesterday's edition of the Post referring to Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha's possible role in politics: "Most importantly, he can declare he will engage in politics openly, even though he will not run as a candidate and may choose to become a non-elected outsider prime minister."
By using the words "non-elected", he has just confirmed to Thailand, and the rest of the world, that Thailand is not, nor ever will be a democracy as long as people with this misguided mindset run the country.
Farang Observer
Pattaya
'Barbaric' Americans?
Re: "Contempt for tradition", (PostBag, Nov 7).
Eric Bahrt calls Thais who took the Loy Krathong festival a little too far "barbarians".
Mr Bahrt should look back at his own country, the US, where on Oct 1, a 64-year-old gunman opened fire on a crowd of concertgoers in Las Vegas -- killing 58 people.
And at 11.30am on Sunday morning, a 26-year-old man walked into a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and shot at peaceful people who were attending a religious service -- half of the 26 dead were children, including one who was only just over a year old.
Thais enjoying an annual festival a little boisterously should not be described as committing acts of barbarism.
However, I leave it to Mr Bahrt to pick whatever name he fancies to call the behaviour of a nation where mass killings happen almost on a daily basis -- like in the US.
By the way, thank you for your fair-mindedness.
Chavalit Wannawijitr
US legacy lives on
Eric Bahrt might trace the breakdown of many Thai traditions to the time the Americans were here during the Vietnam conflict era. It was they who introduced water throwing during Songkran, Halloween and other "Americanisms".
If it were possible to build a time machine and go back in time, the government during that period should have banned the United States for using Thailand for military and recreational purposes. It might have solved many problems existing today.
449900
News alert: guns kill
Another mass shooting with an assault rifle, 26 more people massacred -- this time in Texas. More tears, more candlelight vigils and more people insisting on their right to bear arms.
And still it goes on in a country claiming to be civilised and relying on laws written several hundred years ago. Well, laws change with the times, but it seems Americans do not.
Martin R
Toying with the truth
US President Donald Trump has once again demonstrated his above-the-bar IQ by commenting that the Texas church shooting was caused by "mental health problem", not guns (BP, Nov 7).
Mr Trump must have believed the shooter thought his gun was a toy and he was spraying plastic bullets inside a Toy "R" Us store.
Yingwai Suchaovanich
Judicious justice
Re: "3 nabbed over 'fake' sacred items", (BP, Nov 7).
The authorities should not waste taxpayers' money or their own time by initiating an investigation in this case. Wait and see if any of those involved in the scam sue each other first.
RH Suga
Lamphun
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