OPINION

Protesters' major omission

I agree with Fireman Sam's "Cast votes with care" and Burin Kantabutra's outline of a better way for the students to deliver their goals message.

I also think the students should add one major goal to their list: Stop corruption.

Corruption is endemic at all levels of society, and at all levels of government. I do not know whether this is because of low salaries or is just an inbred tradition. Perhaps employees at lower levels are just copying their superiors. Anyone who has authority to delay, avoid or refuse expects a "gratuity" for doing their job. This applies in government but also in some non-government situations.

Defamation not a crime

While Thailand is seen as one of the world's most tourist-friendly places its laws against criminal defamation, improper online content, sedition, and contempt of court, which led to the imprisonment of an American tourist who made a critical review of a Thai resort in Koh Chang, have backfired on the resort in question. Trip Advisor has had the last word by posting a notice warning travellers that the hotel was behind the jailing of the guest for his harsh reviews. The warning comes with a penalty: a substantial drop in the hotel's ranking on the website. Is it time for Thailand to decriminalise defamation, making it a purely civil law matter?

Pride comes before a fall

A perfect example of the old expression "Don't make a mountain out of a molehill": the Sea View Resort is now world-famous but for all the wrong reasons. Ego usually gets the better of a person who cannot take criticism. The old business adage "the customer is always right" does not seem well understood.

Better to swallow one's pride rather than plaster it across the world's press. During this time of crisis, every tourist is sacred but Sea View went out of its way to alienate him. Tourists would be better off staying in an American or international chain hotel instead of a local hotel run by people who think their establishment is God's greatest gift to the human race.

Tesla Thailand: not too late

I previously suggested this but apparently nothing has been done. Now it is apparent that [electric car maker] Tesla is talking to folks in Indonesia about locating a [battery] factory there.

Come on! I would suggest that the appropriate agencies, including the prime minister, travel to California and make a presentation to Elon Musk, the head of Tesla, whose company has factories in the US and China, and is building new factories in the US, and Germany. Mr Musk expects another factory will be needed in South Asia. India is a strong contender but there are problems there, such as high tax rates that have seen Harley Davidson leaving.

Thailand has a good automobile manufacturing history, a good labour force and is a great location for distribution throughout South and Southeast Asia. Also, Thailand has a good education system to provide talented personnel and has friendly relations with all neighbouring countries. That is not necessarily so with India. Does 5,000 plus jobs seem worthy of the effort? Tesla Thailand would be a good match.

Let's debate issues

Thanathorn's opponents organise mobs to harass him as he supports provincial administration candidates. But such harassment is not only illegal -- it's counter-productive. People enjoy a fair contest and naturally support the underdog. By bullying Thanathorn, his opponents are creating voter sympathy for him and his candidates.

Rural voters may lack formal education but they aren't stupid. To counter Thanathorn, his opponents should prove the problems he's claiming to solve aren't important and that his solutions won't work.

For example, they should challenge him or his candidates to debates, giving each side an equal opportunity to present their case -- with strong, respected, impartial moderators, broadcast on a show like Khun Jomquan's (on Thai Rath, Ch 32) or Nation TV's Sud Soi (Ch 22), or at their regional university. For fun, invite a random live audience, take before- and after-debate votes as to which side the audience preferred, with the winner being decided by the swing vote. Thus, if I proposed that the world was flat, and the post-debate vote showed that I'd even one audience member to my side, I'd have won.

Voters will appreciate such fairness that respects their ability to decide for themselves who to choose -- which is what democracy's all about.