Lust for votes v city's needs

COMMENTARY

Published: 25 Dec 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The oft-cited "give a man a fish" proverb can be applied to the government's first-car scheme.

The more-than 1 million cars to be purchased as a result of the scheme can be compared with that allegorical fish which feeds a man for a day and then leaves him reliant on hand-outs.

The saying - give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime - is often cited in the context of national development.

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petar
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Discussion 15 : 26 Dec 2012 at 02.2515
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What is the good of that?
Catching up votes for the next election.Getting back the ruler of PT i.e. the Phya Thaksin party.
Wasting more not only the economious environment but ,if possible, also furthermore the political one.
"Thinking of Thailand at the night,my sleep will be ruined deep and bright."
(free interpretation of Heinrich Heine).
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bennu
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Discussion 14 : 25 Dec 2012 at 22.0014
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As far as status, there are people who own a flashy car who do not have a home.
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dao
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Discussion 13 : 25 Dec 2012 at 21.1013
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Cars arent high class .They are slow expensive class .
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DONHUAN
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Discussion 12 : 25 Dec 2012 at 13.2712
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The bottom line is “electioneering”; which option(s) brings more votes / support for the PT government? Which actions / decisions made by the PT government so far were not geared towards this end? Power comes through the bundles of votes; it’s the only reason / aim for any politicians’ existence if future “Considerations” are to follow. The pros and cons pertaining to their policies that will impact on the economy, environment, social issues and the likes were factored in the calculations but for the moment, the party’s priority over-rides everything else. Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or to lose
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rogiman
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Discussion 11 : 25 Dec 2012 at 11.2811
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continuing my post'.. the Tax Rebate would have gone far to set up a Congestion charge for Down town Bangkok
Or see what's happening in China,where the fastest growing Car business is eHi Car Rental co with 100 outlets in the crowded cities serving over half a million.It's getting Chinese realising you don't need to own a car to be SOMEBODY,and so could help with changing attitudes,with consequent benefits to family finances and the environment
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rogiman
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Discussion 10 : 25 Dec 2012 at 11.2010
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It's unbelievable how PTP are so unaware of trends in other parts of the world re cars in cities et

Obviously the money could have been used to improve Public transport,so that Thailand/Bangkok could become a really modern developing nation (ie "A developing ,advancing nation is NOT one where the Poorer get more cars,but where the Richer prefer/choose Public Transport"

Public Transport became more popular in London with the Congestion Charge for the Inner City.Motorists screamed and howled at first,but now majority favour it.The Buses run smoothly and quickly,cycling has increased,and taxis are really good if you need to travel fast.
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jwatch
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Discussion 9 : 25 Dec 2012 at 10.259
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I don't see how comparing this scheme with what Democrats offered a few years ago is relevant.. they aren't even in power now.
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tamsin
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Discussion 8 : 25 Dec 2012 at 09.338
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I take it that the posters citing the Dems having provided a first time homeowner's rebate scheme, very much like the UK before, is on a par with the insane PTP's first time car buyer's scheme? If so, I agree with poster pjt's sensible comment on this one.

They SHOULD have spent any money left over from the trough on upgrading a reliable and efficient public transport system. Particularly here on Phuket which has NONE. If the local mafia groups would allow them, that is.
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pjt
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Discussion 7 : 25 Dec 2012 at 08.517
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D1@facts-only - you have made the authors point for him very well. A house is a lasting asset, provided you care for it, will likely appreciate in value over time, be an inflation hedge, and once the mortgage is paid off saves cost due to no rent etc. Thus the Democrat policy - whilst longer term - gives a sustained benefit. Compare to PT 1st car policy which puts people into a depreciating asset, which incurs rising costs and places a rising burden on the environment etc. We have yet to see the cost in terms of rising bad debts or indeed the impact on the auto industry when this subsidy is removed next year
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Renaissance
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Discussion 6 : 25 Dec 2012 at 06.566
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I think that the car scheme was born from the question, "What can I do to get people to vote for me so that I can get home, get my money back, and become PM again?" The money should have been spent more effectively, such as on a public transportation system, instead of cramming more cars onto city roads with all the negative consequences this brings. Though admittedly such a project would have been watered down because 30% - 60% of the cost would have disappeared into the pockets of officials and politicians.
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Lust for votes v city's needs | Bangkok Post: opinion