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Published on November 14, 2007

I read with interest the above item of news reporting on the Thailand Development Research Institute. I applaud the idea of "welfarism" with regard to the elderly, although the pitfalls of welfarism (namely funding) are well recognised in the West. This is now being demonstrated by one state after another either restricting its direct involvement, promoting individual provision, or never countenancing it in the first place. I find it confusing that as an emergent nation, thinkers in Thailand wish to promote the Western model, yet seem to have a rather myopic view with regards to the West's economic success. If the vast majority of the Western world had to pay prices that reflected the true cost of production within their own hemisphere, then most products would be beyond the reach of most of us.

No developing nation can expect to prosper to the same degree as the West by entering into the global marketplace. This is for one very inescapable reason: developing nations do not have anyone to exploit economically as the West has been able to do over the past century or so and provide themselves with cheaply produced imported goods. Although joining the global economy may bring certain (questionable) life enhancing benefits (do you really need a mobile phone and microwave?) to financially deprived nations, they can never be as great as if these nations looked more toward their own sufficiency and catered less towards the requirements of Western nations and ideological goals. Relying on trade with Western nations will only ensure wages in these less economically developed countries remain at a low level in order to sustain those economic ties. The myopic view to which I referred earlier is that the basis for success for emerging  nations is measured in financial terms alone and does not ever countenance quality of life outside of this criteria.

By Western benchmarks, my standard of living in a Thai village may be far lower and may even be regarded as poverty stricken by some. But by my own estimation, my quality of life and the quality of life of most of the village's inhabitants is far higher than that enjoyed by the more materialistic West. In the vast majority of Western societies there is no alternative way of sustaining life other than through acquiring and disposing some form of financial income. This entails having to spend the vast majority of one's life in the service of one commercial enterprise or another to achieve that end and leaves very little time to actually live one's life.

My wife's parents work extremely hard to produce the food they eat and the excess that is sold to provide income for the few items they consider essential and are otherwise unable to produce by their own wit or by hand for themselves. Yet for a great deal of time they are able to follow far less arduous and more pleasurable pursuits which can find no measurable comparison in the daily lives of most Westerners. Even with the hard manual work undertaken on the farm, it is not with the same intense industriousness expected of their Western counterparts and is often accompanied by the usual amount of sanuk. Yet this does not prevent a quality of life far in excess than what can be enjoyed enclosed behind factory gates for a third or more of one's waking hours for 40 or 50 years.

Uncommon farang

Sa Kaew

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Best hope is to prevent return of the old clique

I hope Democrat leader Abhisit wakes up and brews the coffee. I am sick, tired and disgusted to see Thai political recyclables and hope not to see any remnant of Thaksin or his cronies leading the country in any way.

Although tackling the Northeast is nearly impossible, given all the conniving dirty vote-buying tactics to trick the largest electoral sector of the country, it can be done. The best way of doing this is via television, exposing Thaksin's ugliness and lies, and the contradictory statements he always made, retracting what he said the day before.

Thais are good people and their hearts should not be able to be bought by self-indulgent power grabbers with only selfish money interests at the top of the agenda. Khun Abhisit, please use the right medium to send the right message. Good luck, we're counting on you.

Faith In Thais

Bangkok

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Samak gives lessons in how not to behave

Re: "Interviewing Samak requires fighting fire with fire", opinion, November 13.

The imagined interview really made my day. Of all the lessons that this seasoned politician has given to Thailand, including his cooking lessons, one thing I have learnt is how not to grow old like him, either physically or mentally.

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok

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Shut down nightclubs in residential areas

I am being disturbed all night, every night by the sound of loud music coming from a bar in Soi Sarasin, Lumpini. On Saturday, November 10 (well, early Sunday morning), after many weeks of sleepless nights, I dressed at 4:45am and went to discover the source.

The noise is coming from a bar occupying floors 3-4 at the Rajadamri end of the row of bars.

I went upstairs to take a look, but was told that it was closing in 10 minutes, so I had a chat with the manager. He proudly told me that he closes at 4am on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, but the rest of the week, he is open until 5am!

This bar is not in one of the three designated entertainment zones, so should be restricted to 1am closure. If nothing else, the facility should be adequately soundproofed so as not to disturb the nearby residents.

There were no foreigners in the bar at the time and I had to step aside several times to allow drunk and staggering young Thais to stumble down the staircase - exactly the problem the "curfew" was put in place to help prevent.

I was undecided when the government introduced 1am closing (2am for designated entertainment zones). However, in the middle of what is essentially a residential district, overlooking Lumpini Park, which, I am sure people have chosen for "location, location, location", I think it is entirely justified.

In absolute desperation, I am writing to The Nation, but would appreciate being pointed in a more effective direction if anybody can help.

JD

Bangkok

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Chinese must show responsibility in Burma

As is well known, in Burma, Chinese-owned corporations are rapidly raising their investment in the energy sector, particularly in hydropower development projects. These investments are not environmentally friendly or ecologically sustainable, and the benefits definitely flow into the military regime's pocket.

Moreover, where large dams are going to be built, there will be dramatic negative impacts to the environment, society and economy of the community.

The Chinese government should take the following action regarding their investments in Burma:

1. It must carry out comprehensive environmental and social impact assessments on such hydropower projects and make these publicly available, in order to adequately determine the feasibility before concluding any agreements.

2. It must keep all affected communities informed from the outset of all plans in regard to hydropower development projects, and it must involve local people and communities in decision-making linked to those projects.

This includes publicly releasing dam feasibility studies, investment and financial agreements, MOUs, MOAs, and clear information in regard to responsible parties.

Burma Rivers Network

Bangkok

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