OPINION

No grasp on reality

Researcher Worawan Chandoevwit in Jan 13 article, "Happiness gap in the Land of Smiles," is spot on that "Confronting reality is the first step the government must make.

National well-being surveys are necessary because statistics don't lie." Unfortunately, reality was what the PM's coup in 2014 was designed to again avoid confronting. No one, save a few deluded fools with no grasp of reality, ever believed any of Prayut's incredible promises, so the good people, those who opposed the coup, never expected any happiness to return, any more than they expected corruption to disappear or social divisions to heal.

But if "confronting reality" is necessary to progress in happiness, the outlook remains grim.

Face the truth, USA

Re "Coup Klux Clan," (PostBag, Jan 13).

Yes, Khun Kuldeep, you are 100% right. America has over the years given way to what is happening now. Political correctness, terminology, caving in to every fringe who had a bone to pick and more. Americans adopted the Thai policy that: "If you do not see or talk about it, it does not exist."

I hope Americans are waking up to what is really going on around them, the basis of the problems they all helped create. Is it to late? Only time will tell. Either the US will put its foot down to stamp out Trumpism (related to fascism or Nazism) or become a third-world banana republic with a divided population, anarchy, the need for internal military intervention and more.

Their Trump card

Re "Lessons from the American insurrection," (Opinion, Jan 12).

In his article about the recent events in America, Kavi Chongkittavorn wrote that "In other countries, such leaders [as Trump] would be purged by whatever means available, including coups".

He could have added that mostly, however, such leaders do the purging rather than suffer it. At least Trump could be voted out.

In praise of Thailand

I read somewhere that people are nine times more likely to complain than give praise. A couple of years ago, I wrote to say that I went to Phuket Immigration to do my 90-day report and was in and out in just five minutes. Today I used the drive-in facility and it only took two minutes! So well done Phuket Immigration and let's hear positive things said about Thailand more often!

Priceless humour

Matt Davies is perpetuating the art of lampooning. Long may he and it reign. Obsessed with Donald Trump? Donald Trump is obsessed with Donald Trump.