Noppadon's patriotic boasts hard on the stomach

However, your wake-up call missed the Cabinet ministers who should have voiced their objections to Noppadon's proposal of backing Cambodia's filing. They are all in the firing lines except for the five ministers who cleverly missed out on the meeting.

I almost wept for Noppadon's short stay. But I felt otherwise when I saw him giving that bombastic speech detailing his sacrifices for the nation and claiming his past deeds were faultless. Previously, he also gave me this nauseating feeling when, upon returning from Paris, he said that he deserved a rose for his "successful" negotiation with the Cambodians and witnessed by Unesco officials. He is simply being too clever by half.

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok

Tax those who benefit

most from public works

Re: "A window into where your tax money goes", Opinion, July 9.

Korn Chatikavanij presents interesting views on how tax money is spent. But spending is just a part of the budget. The other is tax revenue. In the article, he mentions that our tax base is narrow and the revenue collected is small compared with GDP. This is not a surprise. While we spend more, no real effort is made to increase revenue.

To enlarge the tax base, we can introduce other taxes commonly collected in other countries. Capital gains from the trading of shares on the SET should be considered. This will be fair to other taxpaying citizens. Another is property tax. If we own a house in a nice area, we will be close to good schools, hospitals and roads. Security of property and life is better. A mass-transit system funded with tax money is available. Those living in rural areas will never enjoy such privileges. So, it is fair if those living in a nice area pay property taxes for the benefits they enjoy.

Taxation is one of the most important issues in democracy. While spending tells who receive the services, taxation tells us who pays for them.

We should share the cost of government fairly so that those who have nothing will at least have something. And should it be the responsibility of the politicians or the Treasury or taxpayers to push for the introduction of such taxes?

Prichar

Bangkok

Congrats to OAG for filing suit against Thaksin

 Congratulations to the Office of the Attorney-General for formally filing a serious criminal lawsuit against ex-prime minister Thaksin.

In lieu of the current People Power Party control of the Thai government, it's a bold move. Though the suit comes 2.5 years after the news first made headlines, it's welcome nevertheless.

If Thaksin is found guilty, then perhaps the Thai people can look forward to eventual reimbursement for some of the Gordian Knot craftiness concocted by him and his cronies.

I had been cynically assuming the charges would never be formally filed.

It's a pleasant relief to be proven wrong.

Ken Albertsen

Chiang Rai

Expensive wine ruins

many a foreigner's dinner

Re: "Further cost-cutting measures for frugal diners", Letters, July 12.

It would appear that Sunida lives by the old adage: "If you have to ask how much it is, you can't afford it."

Normally, I would agree with her that John Shepherd was whining in his letter regarding the cost of wine in a restaurant here, however, in this case I have to agree with him. Not too long ago, in Pattaya, I paid Bt350 for some ribs and Bt200 baht for a glass of very average California red wine. Now when you consider that in the US, an entire bottle of that same wine can be bought for a little less then I paid for a glass of it here, it would indicate that something is amiss.

What John Shepherd, the plaintiff in this saga doesn't realise is that Thai customs taxes the heck out of foreign wines because Thailand is trying to promote its own wines.

I sincerely hope that Sunida will bear with us foreigners on this one and try to accept that as foreigners in this country, the majority of us are retired and living on a fixed income. We still enjoy dining out, but unfortunately resent being gouged on our drinks.

John Arnone

Bangkok

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