OPINION

End the rhetoric

Re: "PM sets bold course for nation", (BP, Dec 20).

PM Paetongtarn's pledge of "Prosperity for all the people" really reminds us of then DPM Prawit Wongsawon's vow "to lift millions from poverty" (BP, Feb 11, 2023), and then Deputy Minister Somkid Jatusripitak's declaration that "there would be no more poor people in Thailand in 2018".

It is time for Thailand to overhaul the political, educational, and economic landscape instead of using catchphrases of hubs here, there, and everywhere.

Finally, do something serious about a few monopolies and politicians controlling large swathes of the economy, exports of (un)skilled workers as a commodity, graft, corruption, and household debts (of more than 90% of GDP), instead of throwing subsidies and other short-term helicopter money at people.

Population puzzle

Re: "Thais can leverage position", (PostBag, Dec 24).

Ioan Voicu said in this letter that: "Out of the 8 billion world population, almost 60% live in the area covered by Escap." There are strong indications this is an overestimation by at least 600 million people due to decades of strategic data manipulation by China.

The People's Liberation Army and China's political leadership believe that a population of 1.4+ billion people makes them appear too formidable for any country to attack.

In late 1978, with a population of less than 1 billion, China began its cruel one-child-per-family policy.

During this time, abortion was encouraged and sometimes forced, the ratio of male children to female soared, and second pregnancies were harshly punished. It lasted 37 years until 2016, resulting in a drastic reduction in the number of people in their childbearing years from the late 20th century until now.

For this reason alone, China's population cannot possibly have grown to 1.4 billion.

In 2023, China reported 9 million new births, the lowest since the PRC was established and significantly lower than during the "great (leap forward) famine" years when the population was only 660 million and approximately 40 million people perished.

Crossing the line

Re: "Thankful for what we've got", (PostBag, Dec 22).

Being a long-time reader since 1967, I also share Michael Setter's sentiments of offering positive comments to this publication. It has put me right on many fake disseminations and confused information from other media.

As it happens, I also share his dislike of putting limitations on PostBag contributors. However, there is a law on criminal defamation when freedom of expression is used with the intention of character assassination.

Sometimes, it is up to the police and a public prosecutor to judge.

Thailand is not unique in having this law. It still exists in most leading European countries and some states in America.

When tempers ignite

Re: "Insurance madness", (PostBag, Dec 24).

Perhaps insurance companies refusing to cough up on what the insured considers a legitimate claim leads to exasperation and the madness of taking it out on those considered to be responsible for the alleged crookery.

Uncontrolled frustration leads to uncontrolled acts such as we read about every day; especially with the increased prevalence of firearms.