Chart Thai's master blueprint would support social responsibility hand-in-hand with economic growth

Story by CHATRUDEE THEPARAT

Chart Thai's policy platfo=rm strives to achieve balance in the country's social and economic foundation, according to Weerasak Kowsurat, head of the party's economic team.

"Balance in this sense means a balance between the society, economics and politics, between cultural needs and economic needs, between the rural and urban classes and the wealthy and the poor," he said.

"The government's job isn't to make everyone rich, but rather to give fair opportunities to everyone. And our basic philosophy is to make the people happier, not necessarily wealthier."

If elected, the Chart Thai Party, would draft a master blueprint for monetary and fiscal policy aimed at not just spurring growth for large businesses, but to support the policy objectives for social growth, labour, rural development and community entrepreneurship, Mr Weerasak said.

Health care and education policies needed to be integrated into the master plan together with issues such as international trade.

Tax policies and fiscal spending would be fine-tuned to help develop entrepreneurs and increase the economic opportunities of the people, while at the same time maintaining social responsibilities.

Mr Weerasak said the lack of social responsibility had led to numerous problems in the past, as businesses sought profits at all cost to the detriment of the overall community.

Under Chart Thai, a "ratings policy" would be adopted to provide the private sector with clear guidelines in producing products and offering services in line with social development goals.

Mr Weerasak said this would include ratings for mass advertising, zoning plans for entertainment venues and hotels and environmental restrictions on industry.

Existing tax rates contributed to social imbalances, he said, noting that both hotels and schools currently faced the same housing tax obligations.

Under Chart Thai, companies producing, say, junk food for children or those producing alcohol would face higher tax burdens than companies producing healthy food, Mr Weerasak said.

Such a concept would be extended to cover a wide range of products and services.

"Overconsumption and the lack of behavioural balance, so to speak, has created a huge public health problem and a burden for taxpayers," Mr Weerasak said.

"We want to change policy to take a more preventive, pro-active approach to discourage such behaviour."

Mr Weerasak said his party supported the development of a "gross national happiness" index to help in formulating policy with a focus on society's well-being, a concept that has become increasingly popular around the world in drafting development strategies.

He said state funds needed to be set aside to not only provide for trade promotion, competitiveness initiatives and consumer protection, but to assist the poor and elderly, education programmes and non-governmental organisations.

"More research and development and assistance to help raise the value of Thai community wisdom is also needed, particularly in bringing technology to the agricultural sector, one of the country's strongest areas," Mr Weerasak said.

He said Chart Thai was in strong favour of "people participation", a central tenet of the 1997 constitution.

Community involvement was needed to help draft _ and manage _ local development initiatives, Mr Weerasak said, adding that warning systems were also needed to help signal policymakers about the need to address potential economic and social problems.