OPINION

Wilful blindness

Re: "New tactics to help migrant workers," (Opinion, July 28).

I agree with the highly respected Thailand Development Research Institute that "there is no clear policy and little assistance to support migrant workers during this pandemic. This has to change if we seriously want to curb this crisis". The Covid-19 virus attacks without discrimination, and non-Thais are highly intertwined and essential to our economy and society at all levels -- not only migrant workers, but spouses, retirees, and executives.

The non-Thai whom we -- in our wilful blindness -- protect less vigorously than ourselves is the one who will unknowingly infect Thais. The expat whom we don't protect is your maid, your spouse, your retired neighbour whom you chat with daily: who'll infect your family?

Our policies should be science-based, and this one assuredly isn't.

Re: "No 'one-size fits all' model suited for lockdowns, experts say," (BP, July 25).

As I understand it, a lockdown is a series of strict measures -- such as stay-at-home orders, curfews, and quarantines -- put up by the government to contain the pandemic by restricting people's movements as much as possible.

But what we are seeing here in Thailand is the government encouraging infected people to travel to their home provinces -- to look after themselves via home isolation. The government has even arranged a free train ride on all rail routes for this purpose this week. Hence, isn't it too late for the Prayut government to think seriously about a "lockdown"?

Re: "PM gauges virus review," (BP, July 28).

After reading this article why do the following words from The Second Coming by WB Yeats spring to mind? "Things fall apart and the centre cannot hold".

I've been following the debate about anti-Covid restrictions-- both in the Bangkok Post, to focus on the Thai perspective; and on CNN, for the American perspective.

Regarding restrictions, Thailand should pose no problem. Centuries of authoritarian rule have conditioned the Thai people (most of them) to follow orders. In some situations, this can be a bad thing. But in the current situation, with a pandemic ravaging the country, it's a good thing -- if the government gets it right. If the government tells businesses to shut down, they'll shut down. If it tells citizens to physically distance, or mask up, that's what most of them will do.

Not so in my beloved homeland, the USA -- the land of the free and the home of the brave, and also of some terminally stupid people. I've been living overseas for 52 years, and I am firmly convinced that in my absence somebody has been putting stupidity pills in the drinking water. Ever since we threw the British out in 1776, the guiding ethos for Americans has been freedom. "You can't take away our freedom!" roar the mobs in New York and LA. So when the federal government timidly suggests that citizens get vaccinated, or physically distance, or mask up, or close their businesses, a large percentage of the American population bellows, "No!"

Fine. Enjoy your freedom, fellow Americans. The Covid virus is vicious, implacable, and capable of mutating into fiercer forms that we can't even imagine. So it's time for a policy of maximum precaution for everybody. Get vaccinated, physically distance, mask up, and close your business if the authorities tell you to.