PostBag
Re: "Chalerm plays down toxic milk scandal," Bangkok Post, Oct 2. Our health minister shows just how much he cares about his countrymen, which is not at all. Apparently, trade relations with China are more important than our children, who might get poisoned by tainted Chinese dairy products.
But this is nothing new here. I remember some years ago when a government agency conducted tests to find out the levels of antibiotics in school milk. After the tests the public was told that the authorities had indeed found out who the culprits were, but would not tell the public because this would damage the business of those firms.
Once again the ordinary citizen has to understand that politicians are not public servants but are much higher up in the food chain; that they can and will do as they please, mainly to protect their own vested interests. Our kids will have to pay dearly.
MIKE HORWOOD
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Chalerm is bad for health
Was PM Somchai serious when he said recently that only the best and most suitable people were being chosen to be in his cabinet? It would seem that the only medical experience of the Public Health Minister is that of chronic foot-in-mouth disease.
MARTIN R
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A hazard of cycling
An article in My Life magazine of Oct 2 states incorrectly that bicycling causes erectile dysfunction because "if the seat is narrow, you will sit on your penis, which obstructs blood flow in your artery".
In cases where bicycling has interfered with erectile function, it has done so by putting excessive and prolonged pressure on the perineum, not on the penis. In men, the perineum is the narrow soft tissue between the scrotum and the anus, and it contains blood vessels and nerves that are necessary for an erection to occur.
CHA-AM JAMAL
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Stop writing charters
In your Oct 2 editorial, "Of charters and political reform," you say "a country cannot go without a constitution". Yes and no. Some countries do not have any written constitution (e.g. United Kingdom, New Zealand and Israel). It would be best for Thailand as well not to have any written constitution. As the past 18 written constitutions have proven, they are nothing but a distraction.
VISOOT PHONGSATHORN
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Creativity is the key
In his letter, "Entering an era of new economic systems," (Postbag, Sept 29), Dr David Hill makes a point of paramount importance to the future of mankind on this fragile planet.
Scarcity of economic resources is a simple and fundamental truth, one that is being ignored in an economic system (i.e. a version of capitalism) that places endless and largely unnecessary production and consumption as a long-term goal.
This is quite simply unsustainable in a world economic order that is using finite resources in an unsustainable way, period.
Albert Einstein was a man of great intellect, perception and brilliance, and he said some years ago, "If we are to solve the problems of today, then we have to adopt different methods of thinking than the ones that created those problems in the first place."
In short, we have to think differently, innovatively and creatively.
So Dr Hill is spot on: we need creative solutions to an economic system that is doomed to hit the "brick wall" that he refers to. Therefore, the need to extract the politicians and other established interest groups - whose sole interest is selfish and short-term in nature - from this creative and urgent thinking process is vital.
After all, Harold Wilson once said, "A week is a long time in politics." Today that "long time" is even shorter in our sound-bite, media-controlled world, which serves the interests of the status quo by rebuffing and demonising possible salvation through creative thinking as "radical", "progressive" and (more pejoratively) "socialist".
We surely need progressive (long-term) and radical (different) solutions from independent thinkers, which are more likely to be appropriately adaptable and responsive to changes in our (social) economic environment, than more of the same stale and poisonous wine in very outmoded bottles.
BERNARDINO
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Right (hook) for the job?
Re: Chuwit's assault on a TV newsman. The Bangkok election committee claims this is a private matter. But isn't Chuwit running for governor? This is an issue of public interest - who wants a thug in charge who lashes out at people he doesn't agree with?
But then again, maybe he's the perfect candidate for governor, considering the way politics thrives in Thailand these days. Perhaps he should run for PM!
RICHARD FELDMAN
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Bill to control begging beggars belief
The Beggar Control Bill approved by this cabinet glaringly shows the government's incompetence.
The bill would licence those whom the government has failed to provide opportunities or care for to beg, e.g. the elderly without care, the homeless, disabled or underprivileged.
The Man in London and his brother-in-law should heed Hubert Humphrey: "The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped."
Past governments, as well as this one, have consistently failed to provide for a safety net for the elderly without care, or education and training that would enable all to develop their thinking and working potential to the fullest - so we wouldn't have the homeless, disabled or underprivileged.
But instead of acknowledging its accountability, PM Somchai's government wants to wash its hands of the matter by licensing them to beg. What a privilege!PM Somchai, instead of licensing people to beg, go after your sister-in-law for the taxes she evaded. You said you are not biased towards anybody. Fine. Surely a bail-jumper doesn't deserve a diplomatic passport? Cancel it. Push to have ex-PM Thaksin extradited and tried post-haste, so that if he is guilty we can use the penalties to build homes for the homeless, vocational schools for the disabled, etc.
Don't licence beggars. Rather, create conditions such that none need beg and all can live in dignity.
BURIN KANTABUTRA
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