OPINION

Modernise the army

Re: "FFP bill seeks to end conscription," (BP, Nov 15).

I tend to agree with Future Forward Party deputy leader Lt Gen Pongsakorn Rodchomphu's proposal to replace military conscription with an all-volunteer force.

The military is our nation's fence, protecting us from external enemies. Warfare today demands highly sophisticated equipment and a small, highly trained body of men and women to operate it; the days of brute force winning the day are long over.

Thus, we must be able to offer the working conditions and career advancement opportunities that these professionals demand, or else they'll go elsewhere.

For example, a cybersecurity expert can write her own ticket with any financial institution, or any telecom company -- why would she choose the Royal Thai Army? Or, look at US Sen Tammy Duckworth, the Thai-American and ex-US Army helicopter pilot.

She's earned an MA from George Washington University and a PhD (Human Services) from Northern Illinois University/Capella University. She's the kind of person we want in our armed forces -- and we're not going to get her if all we offer is a two-year stint surrounded by draftees from low-income, low-education backgrounds trained to fight WWII again. Thai soldiers, come into the 21st century.

Re: "Thai resort prices starting to squeeze Europeans", (BP, Nov 16).

A holiday in a popular beach resort in Thailand now costs as much or more than one in Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Egypt which is making it harder to attract Europeans.

One factor is the strong baht. What are the other factors, and how do they affect, not tourists, but retirees from the UK on OA visas?

1) British pensions are frozen for anyone retiring to Thailand; 2) The pound has taken a nosedive with all the Brexit kerfuffle; 3) Thai immigration has tightened up the financial requirements for extending OA visas.

So we have a quadruple whammy. This is having a serious effect on people's lives, leading to much distress.

Re: "Thais need to change shameful driving attitudes", (Opinion, Nov 16).

To state the drivers are shameful and to blame for the abysmal adherence to driving standards and regulations is incorrect. Rules are only as relevant as the enforcement mechanism is efficient. If there is minimal or non-existent supervision, then they are regarded as suggestions and you get to claim the title for Dangerous Roads.

It is human nature to act selfishly. If you expect people to go against their inclinations then there must be incentives, either positive or negative to follow guidelines.

It is really time for the police to step up and do their job with regards to traffic enforcement and regulation.

When the police perform their usual roadside checks, they are only enforcing the administrative aspect of driving when seeking registration compliance.

This policing is needed, but it does not address actual driving behaviour like stopping for pedestrians in the crosswalks.

Time for the police to balance their efforts and do their job fully.

Start writing tickets across the board when it comes to driving rules. This is lack of performance is just as shameful.

I hope the people living in the Venice of the East are paying attention to the flooding going on in the Venice of the West because all indications are that this is the fate awaiting us sooner rather than later.