OPINION

State help needed

Re: "Call time on call scams", (Editorial, March 3) and "56 rescued from call scammers" (BP, March 3).

It is terrible that people are being duped through online scammers, but the problem cannot be stopped by government intervention.

The real issue is the ignorance or laziness of people.

If someone claiming to represent an agency makes contact, you should go to that agency and check on the situation directly. This is common sense.

State agencies should enable easier access through digital platforms for the people, especially if the government wants to transition into the 21st Century.

Re: "Conquest these days is a losing proposition", (Opinion, March 3).

What is missing from Paul Krugman's analysis is the loss of assets, unnecessary deaths, and destruction by such conquests. In addition to World War II calamities, such conquests led to similar destruction in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Paul also forgets that in the old Soviet empire they spoke the same language, ate the same sausages, and went to the same orthodox churches.

Hence, the European Union and Nato are partly responsible for the current crisis.

The UK which fought so hard to leave the EU is now a champion of UKraine sovereignty. Mr Boris Johnson has nothing to say about the urgency of Ukraine joining the EU? It is all about Putin.

Sadly, the American brand of democracy and unfettered freedom does not exist anywhere on this planet, not even within its boundaries.

There are many fanatics like Trump, Putin, Kim Jong-un, and many others who thrive on exploiting ultra-nationalistic sentiments.

All of them have one thing in common: they all want to make their countries great. For them, conquest is the only way. So, I do agree with Paul that it is a losing proposition, no doubt.

Re: "Not all Russia's fault", (PostBag, Feb 28).

Granted the writer is correct that it is mainly the fault of Ukrainians and some Westerners that we have the current aggression from Russia.

However, no matter how bad were the faults, none of the accusations against Ukraine by Russia and Mr Putin could justify the style of aggression being carried out against the 30-year-old country.

Amid the bombing, a leader is born -- President Volodymyr Zelensky. He rejected the offer by America to airlift him to safety and was quoted by the Economist as saying that "the fight is here; I need anti-tank ammo, not a ride".

Mr Putin's hatred against him was obvious when Putin called him a "drug-taking Nazi".

Ironically, Zelensky was born of Jewish heritage in southeast Ukraine and won a landslide victory at the recent election. The Economist called Mr Zelensky "everything Mr Putin is not".

Re: "Veg distress", (PostBag, March 6) and "Bill of fare", (PostBag, March 4).

Based on How the World Really Works by Vaclav Smil, published 2022, if there was an Opec of food, Thailand would be a prominent member. BTW, it's estimated that in the US, it consumes 20% of total energy used there.

Re: "A Load of bull", (PostBag, Feb 26) and Re: "Mexico City, bastion of bullfighting, considers ban," (BP, Feb 22).

Eric Barht should watch Squid Games, a highly entertaining arena-based show giving him exactly what he asks for.

Or going back a few decades, the Japanese Battle Royale was hilarious; the scene where the boy pulls out a frying pan was absolutely priceless.