OPINION

Political shenanigans

Re: "Policy issues behind Move Forward's failure to form govt: poll", (BP, July 30).

The latest Nida poll (July 30) reports that 42.98% of respondents believe the Move Forward Party (MFP) was prevented from forming a popular government with Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister because the party "refused to drop some of its policies in exchange for more support". That figure is perfectly credible. If the poll was conducted on a randomly chosen sample of it, then that percentage also accurately represents the opinion of the Thai people. Equally credible is that "30.46% did not think the MFP had made any mistakes", and that a further "27.56% said the MFP was defeated in a political game in parliament".

What is not credible, or perhaps all too credible, is that Nida would deem it a "mistake" to stand by decent principles. Did Nida really word their questionnaire that way? What is "mistaken" about having sound, popular policies that won massive voter support and then standing by those flagship policies? Is the correct and commendable course of action supposed to be what the Democrats did in 2019 and before, and what Pheu Thai now appears to be doing; namely, to promptly ditch any and every principle for the sake of winning power?

A far more useful poll would have been to ask what the electorate now thinks of each of the MFP's popular flagship policies. That is something that really is worth knowing to a percentage point. Has support for those policies, and the MFP's principled stand, so alien to Thai political custom, fallen or perhaps risen yet higher since May 14?

Thanks to Mr Pita's masterful leading of the conservatives against progress into publicly exposing themselves for what they are, my guess (only a guess until substantiated or rebutted by the necessary polls) is that both the MFP and every one of its major reform policies are even more popular today than they were two and a half months ago. What is known from the last Nida poll (July 16) is that 63% wanted Mr Pita re-nominated for the position of prime minister to serve the nation, which is suggestive. My guess might, of course, be totally wrong: run the polls and find out.

Poached MPs

Re: "Pheu Thai suffers PM vote delay", (BP, Aug 4) & "Pheu Thai solicits coalition support", (BP, July 23).

The recent stalemate in creating a new government has once more brought forward the situation of political parties being tempted to lure elected MPs from other parties to join the coalition. Whether this is possible anywhere else around the world, I don't know, but surely it's unethical, undemocratic and immoral. More than a few voters elect a person solely because they belong to a particular party, so it's safe to say the electorate is being cheated when a member switches parties. This awful corruption can be easily removed by just ensuring that if an MP leaves a party, a new election must take place in that constituency. The electorate is at least then ensured to have a member of the house that actually represents their ideals and outlook.

Poisoning the planet

Re: "July set to be hottest month on record", (BP, July 29).

Lately, we keep hearing from media commentators, political leaders and UN officials that the world is now extremely dangerously hot. Yet, as always, I rarely hear them mention that eating meat causes more global warming than all forms of transportation combined. The situation is now so dangerous that parents need to ask themselves: "Am I willing to sacrifice the survival of my children for the sake of my hamburger?"

For those who think becoming a vegan would be too difficult, I recommend the book OMD by Suzy Cameron. Although a vegan herself, she shows how even moderate changes in our diet can greatly reduce global warming, as well as save tremendous amounts of water and plant food which can be fed to starving children instead of being wasted on livestock.

We can't afford to wait for our worthless leaders, who are bought off lock, stock and barrel by the meat and dairy industries, to save us. We're going to have to save ourselves, or this planet is finished.

Birdspotting

Re: "X, the former Twitter, lets users hide once vaunted blue check", (BP, Aug 3).

Looking at the blue bird logo beside the new X, it appears the new X logo of Elon Musk is a combination of a cutting blade and a slash-forward sign. So unfortunate that the poor bird has been slashed and is now dead.

What a coincidence.

Voted in, outfoxed

Re: "Pheu Thai suffers PM vote delay", (BP, Aug 4).

It's been almost two months since the general election. Still, political uncertainty prevails.

It cannot be right that the person with the most votes cannot be nominated for prime minister, mainly because he stuck by his manifesto for the people.

Now it looks likely Pheu Thai will provide the next prime minister!

Democracy ignored

Only the facts

Re: "Why won't Putin go to South Africa?", (Opinion, July 27) & "Shine light on illegal pork", (Editorial, July 29).

Reading the Opinion section in BP is always interesting, but it becomes a source of learning, too, when opinions are based on fundamental facts.

The article about climate change was humorous and full of facts until it read, "The obvious problem is that the more air conditioning we install, the harder it becomes to stop global warming". While not stating the popular rhetoric of man-made global warming, it clearly implied it. The earth's climate is controlled by the sun. It has been changing since the planet was formed, even before mankind existed and well before air conditioning.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has no need to go to South Africa for the international Brics meeting. He has a competent foreign secretary, Sergei Lavrov, who will be attending. I would suggest the writer researches the facts that caused Russia to enter Ukraine. It's rather different from America's story. The US completely abused the power of Nato by turning it from a defensive to an aggressive force to destroy and pillage Russia. It has failed.

The porcine species (pig) is an extremely sentient mammal, socially responsible and very caring of its young. These characteristics and virtues are much the same as those that we human beings consider to make us superior creatures. As less sentient beings, we use pigs to find the gourmet-loving truffle. Pigs can smell the blood of their slaughtered fellows from a great distance. Humans are less sentient, yet they subjugate these fellow sentient beings to a life trapped between bars with their babies, laying on concrete and then transporting them like sacks of potatoes. As with all food, people should learn how it is produced before consuming it. I would suggest pork is not just illegal: it is highly immoral.

Staying Zen

Re: "Wonky visa rules", (PostBag, Aug 2).

While applying for a visa, I play the game as I advise my fellow farang to do. I concede I am fortunate to have sufficient income to satisfy requirements. All docs as described. And approach authorities with a smile and respect. After all, I am a guest in this wonderful country. My fabulous family, from my wife of 11 years to her parents and her extended family, are normal people. Simply put: Adapt, accept the rest, else scarper back to place of origin. Cheers.

Happily ever after

Re: "Woke is nonsense'', (PostBag, July 31) & "On sex and gender", (PostBag, July 29).

The late Sinead O'Connor put it better: "I do not want what I haven't got." My wife and I learned after our beachfront home got trashed in the 2004 tsunami. that what we lost was not important. Now that we are in our late 70s, I see that we are living in the New World Order -- happy and owning nothing except the necessities. Khun Jeff Wilcox would do well to cast off his prejudices as his first step in the right direction to living happily ever after.