OPINION

Trump's 'open secret'

Re: "Riot hearings 'a mockery of justice': Trump," (BP, June 15).

In the news, former US president Donald Trump said the congressional probe into the Jan 6 Capitol riot was a "mockery of justice".

No, it isn't. It is a sensible effort to get to the bottom of what and who were responsible for this fascist attack on American democracy and hold them to account so as to prevent such an attack from happening again.

That is critically important for the protection and integrity of democracy.

What really is a mockery is Trump's perverse attempt to whitewash this pugnacious attack and failed coup attempt. What he is doing is understandable. Trump would prefer that there was no probe at all! He is the man behind the failed coup attempt. That's an open secret!

Re: "Chadchart aims to help the vulnerable," (BP, June 13).

Governor Chadchart is seeking to help Bangkok's homeless and disabled. He has met NGOs, focusing on how to promote their rights and interests.

I much like Chadchart's consulting "users" -- in this case, the homeless and disabled -- to find their needs and priorities. This is a most welcome change from the traditional Thai government top-down approach of take it or leave it.

This user-orientation will help us to better accept that all of our expectations cannot be met, prioritise our goals, and achieve those which mean the most to us.

PM Prayut Chan-o-cha should use this user orientation. For example, Prayut wants to attract wealthy foreigners to stay here. He should meet such people and pick their brains -- like Minor chairman William Heineke, who's resided here for decades, and the chambers of commerce.

Re: "Anutin defends pot decriminalisation," (BP, June 15).

The claim that a Thai man died from an overdose of marijuana is bogus. I doubt there is any medical journal in the world that has documented a single case of someone who died from a marijuana overdose.

On the other hand, when I note that in America a male meat-eater is over 10 times more likely to die of a heart attack than a male vegan (Diet for a New America, by Pulitzer prize nominee John Robbins) I'm accused of imposing my diet on the public.

The point I keep making in my letters is that the media whips up hysteria about problems that pose low health risks while virtually ignoring the very real health threats that endanger the lives of the majority of people on earth.

The medical establishment is not interested in preventing illness, only in exploiting it.

Re: "Bill lets records be scrubbed," (BP, June 16).

Does Chawalit Wichayasut understand why certain jobs have criminal background checks?

How would he feel about a convicted paedophile being able to get a job at his child's school because no one knows about the conviction?

I'm all for Thailand becoming a more liberal society, but people really need to think through the consequences of some of these decisions.

Re: "How far should interest rate hikes go?," (Opinion, June 16).

A 40-year high. Reaganomics ended high inflation 40 years ago.

Tax cuts!

It's not rocket science.