OPINION

Waste of public money

With the approval of a 150-billion-baht budget, the junta government plans for massive handouts to villages nationwide before the next election.

 This budget spending will in all likelihood reach a similar fate as the funds earmarked for low-income earners and HIV/Aids patients that were exposed by whistleblower intern students.

It's easy to spend and burn away public money that is not yours, and no future government will sue the junta for any economic losses.

So we have a junta government that, on one hand, promises election in early 2019 after several failed promises. And, on the other hand, making an early start in canvassing votes while banning all activities by political competitors.

The good news is there will be an election.

The bad news is it could be delayed repeatedly until it suits them.

Crucially, what will Thais do if there is another election delay?

Will they say "Enough is enough!" -- and take to the streets, armed with pitchforks and guillotines a la French revolution?

Or will they stay home to watch Bupphaesannivas II?

Will today's youth meet friends at Starbucks to discuss political matters and laws governing this country? Or will they post more sushi photos on Instagram? One way or another politics will take a bite at you. So start learning about it.

The bottom line: The junta and their allies will do whatever they want, however they want, and whenever they want until the public takes an active interest in politics. The soap opera Bupphaesannivas is set in the Ayutthaya period in the 18th century, which in reality was sacked, looted, and burned to the ground by Burmese invading armies. Do not let Thailand be sacked while we are busily watching Bupphaesannivas.

The other evening I witnessed an elderly Chinese lady, obviously in distress, trying to negotiate the daunting stairs up to the skywalk in front of Amarin Plaza. She was gripping the rail hand-over-hand and pausing for breath at every step. With her was a young Chinese couple each man-handling a pram while holding on to their kids. It was a shameful sight especially since, on the opposite side of the passageway, there is an escalator which has been "closed for renovation" for at least three years now. Across Ploenchit Road in front of the InterContinental Hotel is another escalator, again closed for more than three years.

Can the BMA state that these escalators will never be opened again and, if so, why aren't the structures being demolished?

Re: "FBA upgrades under review", (BP, March 21).

Foreigners make easy targets; we just wrap ourselves in our flag, and if anybody questions our logic -- or lack thereof -- we shoot back: "Are you Thai"?

But I suggest that a crime by a Thai is as harmful as that done by a non-Thai, and that we should therefore fight harmful actions -- regardless of the nationality of the offender.

Thus, in lieu of the Foreign Business Act, which focuses on nationality, we should attack acts which would damage our national interests.

For example, why do we forbid non-Thais from majority ownership of listed companies?

If we want Thai Airways International to be available for emergency evacuation of Thais from overseas danger spots, then have shareholders put that article into THAI's articles of incorporation.

Then let all nationalities buy THAI shares, accepting the attendant risks of evacuation.

Arabian money controls Harrods of London; BMW owns Rolls-Royce, and three countries own Airbus: What's the big deal about foreign ownership and control?

Likewise, why do we forbid non-Thais from owning land?

Permitting foreign land ownership will also greatly increase the income of the Thai peasant sellers, bettering their livelihoods.

Isn't that what we want?

So, control acts, not nationality.

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