OPINION

Malls' days numbered

Why is Thailand not heeding the global economic trends where retail stores are closing at far greater numbers than opening? The "retail apocalypse" is the direct result of the technology transition connected to online shopping. The USA is slated to have 12,000 retail store closures this year due to the convenience of online shopping and the widening wealth gap. Both issues apply here.

Who has decided that tourism desires fancy shopping malls when most First World tourists are from cultures that are transitioning their shopping habits? Why would a tourist want to carry more stuff in their luggage and increase their worries about theft?

It might be prudent to put a halt on retail malls now instead of waiting for the inevitable collapse. Every soi and business area I pass through daily is already showing signs of this with the high amount of storefronts closed and boarded up.

If members of the ruling party spent half as much time trying to accomplish something constructive as they do trying to sideline Khun Thanathorn, they might actually accomplish something.

But I guess this is just another example of what your recent editorial implied -- that if you are not 60 or 65 years of age or more, you are not welcome in this government.

Re: "Brace yourself for the internet impeachment," (Opinion, Sept 28).

Kevin Roose's perceptive article reminds us that Trump's fate won't depend on the facts but on the vile internet games played by polarised keyboard warriors.

Who will win? Public opinion polls of course. If Trump's support amongst rank and file Republicans falls substantially, those senators in swing states will desert the president and vote for impeachment.

But if the public starts to yawn and the president succeeds in presenting himself as the victim of a deep state conspiracy, then expect another four years of Trump.

Ukraine may prove to be Trump's undoing. Just as likely it will ensure the re-election of a tinpot leader.

Banning seems to be the latest Thai craze every time there is a problem involving a product and consumers. Ban big bikes, they kill. Ban booze because people die of overdoses. Ban tobacco products because people smoke themselves into lung cancer.

Someone will always think of a ban, someone else will always think of a way around it. Where there's a will, there's a way. And if you feel biblical, seek and ye shall find. Banning is not a solution, not even a patch.

The key to everything is public education, which needs to begin at an early age. Some may choose to ignore health warnings completely, others may learn that some products such as booze and types of alcohol are okay to imbibe, but the key is, in moderation and not go overboard. Will these problems go away by themselves? No, certainly not. As long as there are substances to abuse, people will continue to abuse them, so I suggest the banners be banned instead. At least there will be some quiet, and abusers can rot away internally and die quietly in peace.