OPINION

Get over it

Re: "Do as King Rama IX", (PostBag, Feb 11).

The tenacity of political activists "Tawan" and "Bam" in maintaining their hunger strike is matched by Khun Burin's persistence in writing to PostBag calling on us to listen to the late Great King Bhumibol and repeal Sections 112 and 116 concerning lese majeste and sedition. While I agree with your sentiments, Khun Burin, you are whistling Dixie. Calls to have this law reformed had been left unforsaken even when King Rama IX was alive, and it remains so.

Re: "Food for thought," (Editorial, Feb 11).

Your editorial says the lese majeste laws have been part of the country's political culture and are needed to protect the revered institution. With King Rama IX ruling from 1946 to 2016 I would have thought it safe to suggest that his rule is just about all the culture anyone can remember. And it's surely worth remembering that he made disparaging remarks about Section 112.

But it is time the people are given more chance to express their opinion. I'm all for the public having their say.

Re: "Living off welfare" (PostBag, Feb 8).

There are more sides to the story about immigrants and refugees. In the Netherlands, for example, more than half the refugees still rely on social benefits rather than working even after they have lived in the country for years.

Part of the problem is the government does not allow them to work until they get residence status. Scores of economic refugees come from so-called safe countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and other African countries) and go from one country to another to shop for refugee status.

People will continue to flood First World countries for a long time to come as long as these Western countries start wars and act as the world's policeman.

As consumers we should stop buying cheap goods made by modern slavery in poor countries.

Instead, pay the workers decent wages so they will not consider leaving their country. Last but not least, terminate or update the Geneva Convention on Refugees 1951, to fit current refugee problems.

Re: "France struggles with wine surplus," (BP, Feb 8).

Eat grapes and raisins. Much healthier. When a person drinks an alcoholic drink, ADH metabolises the alcohol to acetaldehyde, a toxic substance and known carcinogen. Some of that acetaldehyde is further metabolised, in a person's gut, down to acetate which is an ingredient used in cosmetics, cleaning supplies, and textiles.

We can put alcohol drinkers to good use: they can metabolise chemicals for bathroom cleaning supplies, face cream, and t-shirts. Better than flushing all those useful chemicals down the toilet, isn't it? Now tell me the supposedly dire problems of a college student popping a speed pill and going out to dance at a disco. Is it as bad as drinking alcohol, which leads to vehicle crashes and wife beatings daily? One recreational drug is legal, while the other can land a person in prison for 15 to 30 years.

It's bothersome, that tens of thousands of Thais and hilltribers are in prison for having been caught with some pills which don't cause serious harm.