Re: ''All politicians lie'' (PostBag, Nov 19).
King John said ''all men are liars'', but ''King John was a man'' is used to excuse all sorts of lies.
I trust Guy Baker does not include George Washington in his list of liars.
In politics there seems to be some latitude in the truth. Alan Clark, an outspoken minister in Margaret Thatcher's government, confessed to having been economical with the actuality. Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong confessed to telling ''white lies'' about the economy to make us feel better.
In a democracy there should be no need for lies. If your democracy is based on Animal Farm, where everybody is equal but some are more equal than others, then the rules do not apply at all.
RICHARD BOWLER
In the name of liberty
Where is the Pied Piper of Bangkok, Suthep Thaugsuban, seeking to lead us, by calling for a million people on Ratchadamnoen Avenue this Sunday? I've been listening to him for days, and haven't heard him say if he wants to: (a) merely kill the anti-amnesty bill; (b) impeach the 312 MPs who voted for the bill; (c) overthrow the Yingluck Shinawatra government, by democratic means or not; or (d) all of the above.
Once a person joins the mob, it's very easy to get swept up in the emotion of the moment _ and next to impossible to go counter to the mob. Mr Suthep speaks often that he doesn't fear death _ but is he leading us to ours?
Also, the Democrat Party organisers have been uncaring about the equal rights of those who live, work or study near or seek innocent passage through the rally vicinity. In their democracy, why do their rights trump ours? How does one differ from the idea of democracy as practised by the red or yellow shirts?
''Oh liberty, what crimes are committed in thy name!'' (Marie-Jeanne Roland).
BURIN KANTABUTRA
Rally critics misguided
It is quite obvious that all those criticising the anti-corruption protesters in Bangkok _ foreigners, those in government, those institutions which should be apolitical, the red shirts and the government itself _ do not understand democracy.
The red-shirted government supporters clearly display their lack of understanding of democracy by calling themselves the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship. They support a tyrant who is opposed to democracy, and try to impose their will with threats and violence. Graft has no place in a democracy and some major institutions are bought and paid for, observing the diktat of their fugitive master.
It seems that those opposed to the protesters at the Democracy Monument think that having the right to a ''democratic'' vote constitutes democracy. The vote cannot be democratic if it does not result in democratic governance. A democratic vote is an intrinsic part of democracy but only one part and cannot be divorced from total democracy.
So what we have is a large group of people, who do understand democracy, fighting to establish full accountable democracy, and those who are blatantly opposed to democracy, when at the same time Thailand declares itself a democracy.
If the country calls itself a democracy then those fighting for democracy must be the patriots fighting for the interests of their King and country. They must be right and the others wrong. If this is not the case then the country must be denied the status of being a democracy.
If those protesting against the amnesty bill and corruption do not achieve their objective, then Thailand will become a failed state, under a misnomer, and heading for collapse.
J C WILCOX
Pipe up against graft
I'd like to see more whistle-blowing _ on those ''influential people'' who are involved in corruption in, and outside, government.
ANDREW WHITECROSS
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