OPINION

Misplaced priorities

Re: "Govt cash cow", (PostBag, April 21).

I fully agree with Khun Samanea Saman that the Government Lottery Office is a cash cow, and the priorities of this government -- like those of its predecessors -- are grossly misplaced. A clean government would not place running a lottery over fighting corruption; quite the contrary. Not only that, the government should get out of running games of chance which the lottery surely is. Gambling is not a vital public service but a cash cow that the private sector is drooling to get into, as shown by the burgeoning underground lottery. Legalise gambling, turn it over to the private sector, and control and tax it heavily, like with the alcoholic beverage industry.

Re: "Chiang Mai tourism hit by smog", (BP, April 24).

I can only assume that no one at the Post, or in the government for that matter, reads the vast number of social media and other online outlets where tourism to Thailand is discussed. This year has seen thousands of posts from disillusioned tourists vowing never to visit again after experiencing some of the worst toxic pollution in living memory and from those who cancelled their trips.

Add to this the 2,000,000 hospitalised victims of this odious, man-made smoke.

Yet still, the hapless government refuses to pass the Clean Air Bill and actually do something about it. You have to wonder whose interests they are protecting.

Re: "Panda woe Number One", (PostBag, April 23), "A cruel proposal", (PostBag, April 22).

I've noticed that lately, there have been numerous letters by different people promoting animal rights. I used to feel like a lone wolf promoting this cause, and I'm glad to see more people addressing this issue.

Sometimes I think it's ironic that a thin-skinned guy like me ever got involved in such a controversial cause that has led to so much insult and ridicule. But when I think of all the people who have been jailed, tortured or/and killed for fighting for justice, I know I have no excuse not to continue to speak up for the billions of innocent and defenceless animals who can't speak for themselves.

So thank you, PostBag editor, for giving the animals (or at least their supporters) a voice.

Re: "Charm of MBAs eroding", (PostBag, April 23).

Kuldeep Nagi, you took it upon yourself to paint nothing but a smear with a broad stroke by saying: "MBAs started as a fad replacing the hardcore curriculum of accounting, computer sciences, and related fields." Sir, MBAs didn't replace those fields; they are the very fields that so many work in and previously worked so hard to study to attain their MBA degree in a particular field. Try telling them that all their studying and learning was just a "fad". True, you do not need an MBA to change a toilet seat.

But, it would help the plumber if he had an accountant to determine his profit or loss and to prepare the many financial forms that governments require. If the plumber is not a mom-and-pop business but a member of a nationwide plumbing firm, more expertise would be needed, and an MBA might be preferable to someone with a BS degree in Accounting or a bookkeeping diploma.