OPINION

No surprises

Re: "Accidents waiting to happen", (BP, May 12).

Regarding the BMA article on your front page, you consistently refer to serious incidents as mishaps or accidents, which they are not. Events like these simply should not occur if proper health & safety practices are applied. You can see countless construction sites around Bangkok with their "safety first" notices but with workers wearing no head protection and wearing flimsy footwear.

Regarding the Lat Phrao incident, I can honestly admit to avoiding any type of covering when I walk on any pavements here, even in my village, as they're usually in such a state of disrepair it's a risk not worth taking.

Until health & safety standards are vastly improved, these incidents will continue.

Re: "Old rice to be sent for lab tests", (BP, May 12).

Is everyone missing the point about the 10-year-old rice storage issue?

The controversy has not explained why the rice has been in storage for 10 years.

Re: "Politics of climate", (PostBag, May 11).

I'm glad Michael Setter took my last letter to PostBag in good spirit, as I was actually defending him! With regard to climate change (and the apparent myths lurking therein), when I read letters/articles belittling people for simply expressing a view, I feel the urge to speak out. I think it stems from being shunned for having the audacity to support Brexit.

In the UK, after the leave/remain referendum, those that lost the argument attempted to call the majority that voted to leave, stupid! So, too, Dr Archer's letter, written as it was as an attempt to persuade your readers that Mr Setter and his allies were somehow barking in challenging the received wisdom that climate change was the cause of all our environmental woes!

I suppose what I'm saying is, persuade me with rhetoric and verifiable facts, not with below-the-belt blows that only serve to belittle your own argument. One salient point for readers of this ramble is beware of attempts to create a union of Southeast Asian states. We tried it in the UK, and it only led to division.

Re: "Digital wallet handout gets new eligibility terms", (Business, May 9).

Almost everyone in Thailand already has mobile banking on his phone, so there is no need for another "digital wallet". So don't give handouts to people who don't need them and let them be wasted in buying toiletries and food from convenience stores.

Allow me to suggest how 500 billion baht could be spent wisely. It should be given as a loan or rather, an investment, to boost the economy, with the possibility of getting it back with interest, while creating jobs, new enterprises, and new startups. Imagine the difference it can make if it is put into a scheme that generates economic activities and tax revenues for the government as well.

- 1,000,000 micro-credit to small borrowers x 50,000 = 50 billion baht

- 1,000,000 self-employed individuals x 50,000 baht = 50 billion baht.

- 1,000,000 small shops/businesses x 100,000 Baht = 100 billion baht

- 600,000 SMEs and startups x 500,000 baht each 300 billion baht

The 500 billion baht will support/create 3.6 million entrepreneurs/businesses and create several hundred thousand jobs.

Don't allow this money to be used for paying off debts, credit cards, car loans, or personal loans; instead, provide them with a lump sum amount as capital to start real work and find/create a means to earn a living.