OPINION

Poor deserve the help

The government will help rubber farmers by buying rubber at an above-market price. I suggest that instead of helping everybody in the rubber sector, which would be a next-to-impossible job, the government focus on the poorest.

For example, I suggest 80% of funding go to the 20% of rubber farmers with the lowest income — those are the people at the margin who could use help the most.

I also propose that the help given be enough so farmers can stand on their own two feet after one year, which is when the assistance will end.

Help the neediest first.

Burin Kantabutra

Atiya Achakulwisut (Commentary, Jan 12) made an interesting point about class divisions in Thailand.

It brought to mind a perspective shared by my sister, visiting from the UK, at a recent sporting event, which brought together children from leading “brandname” international schools and pupils from an upcountry English programme school.

Food was served. The kids from the upcountry school behaved respectfully in every way, thanking the waiters for serving them during a busy lunch period. In contrast, many of the kids from the “brandname” schools more or less looked through the waiters, as if they were non-humans, destined to serve without thanks.

After 25 years in Thailand, it seemed normal to me. The foreign visitors at my table all remarked on the lack of manners, largely from students at the “brandname schools”.

I hope the manners of the upcountry kids rather than the hi-so kids represent the future of Thailand. It seems that noblesse oblige is an unknown concept in Thailand.

Bob

Standing in front of Indra Square waiting for a bus I was treated to taxi after taxi turning down fares from Thais and foreigners. Some just ignored the wave. Others stopped, listened to the destination, shook their heads and drove off.

Upon returning home I read an article regarding black US TV personality Al Roker and the legal results of him being turned down by a cabbie. What I found most interesting was the driver was fined US$500 (about 17,000 baht).

I understand the US and Thailand have different economic standings but, still, this is a significant amount of money.

Maybe the kingdom could think about increasing penalties across the board for taxis and private vehicles who disobey, or ignore, traffic regulations.

If you hit enough people in their wallets, and publicise it, maybe others will take notice.

Fred Prager

I lived in Thailand for 12 years now. But I was still amazed to see four children and three adults on a motorcycle — not one wearing a helmet.

Brian Sullivan

Politician Jatuporn Prompan advises Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha that there will be a big public protest if the PM does not submit the name of Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn (aka Somdet Chuang), as the nominee for the next supreme patriarch for His Majesty the King’s consideration.

In my opinion, despite being the most senior of the eight candidates for supreme patriarch, Somdet Chuang is also the most controversial of them all.

Somdet Chuang was the mentor of Phra Dhammachayo of Wat Dhammakaya sect when Dhammachayo first entered the monkhood. Somdet Chuang is also seen as a big supporter of Phra Dhammachayo in all his non-traditional and controversial acts — past and present.

Phra Dhammachayo is accused by some Thais of attempting to transform Thai Buddhism into a religion that respects materialistic values instead of that which teaches us to seek the “middle path” in pursuing a peaceful Buddhist way of life.

In short, Phra Dhammachayo is a materialistic monk, not a spiritual or intellectual one. And what he teaches is not real Buddhism that we Thais have been taught for centuries. If a religious disagreement leads to violent conflicts, it is not about religion, it’s about politics.

Vint Chavala

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