OPINION

Confusion reigns

Re: "Permission to fly", (BP, July 1).

Confusion has been sown by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand announcement that non-Thai nationals may return here if they hold a valid certificate of residence or permission to take up residence in the kingdom.

Presumably this refers to "permanent residents" who hold a red police book and do not have an end date in their permission to stay.

The translation from Thai gives the false impression that a "resident" can be someone with an Elite visa or a one-year extension of stay or even someone who owns a condominium here.

What is freedom?

The recent situation in the US where some people have been refusing to wear masks because it infringes on their liberty has got me thinking.

We all have free will but does that mean we have real "freedom", and what is freedom anyway?

I am free to go out and kill someone tomorrow but the consequences for the victim would be horrific and for me as well since it is against the law.

We are, as individuals, restricted by many laws.

We are also restricted by social norms.

For example, I can queue-jump at a store but it would not be considered polite and in some countries would lead to physical confrontation.

So really there is no such thing as absolute freedom.

We are all limited by legal and social constraints. Freedom without responsibility is just selfishness.

Clear the shame

Re: "'Boss' arrest a must", (PostBag, June 30).

If the government wants to clear this shame, let the justice minister issue the order overruling all existing laws. That is, stop all Red Bull's business activities, until the "Boss" is arrested or surrenders.

Money rules

The PostBag contributor who wrote "A tale of 2 cases", (June 30), says, "There is something that permeates almost all Thai institutions from the top down."

Dear writer, I can say the word without worrying about retribution. The word is corruption that permeates a good deal of society, most of the judicial system, most of the present government, the entire police force, most if not all of the Royal Thai Army, and many other institutions. Thai society is run by those who have money. They simply buy the systems to maintain their interest and control over their families and in many cases, their ill-gotten wealth.

A matter of trust

Is it just me or does the slogan, "Beyond Healthcare, Trust Thailand" sound like it means trust Thailand in everything but healthcare?

Actually healthcare is one of the few things I do trust Thailand with.

I don't much like the word "trust" which makes me think of banks, so perhaps something simple like "Come to Thailand to Get Well" might be more impactful and also less confusing.