Listen to Lao Tzu
Re: "Parnpree urges econ rejig", (BP, 6 July).
I fully agree with ex-DPM Parnpree Bahiddha-Nakara that we urgently need to restructure our economy to boost exports and investment while reducing public and household debt. But, we're plunging in the exact opposite direction.
We're underskilled, badly ageing, drowning in debt and undereducated. Almost two-thirds (64.7%) of Thai youth and adults can barely solve simple problems such as following medical instructions. Three-quarters (74.1%) of them cannot perform simple tasks, such as finding a product's correct price on an online shopping website.
The average Thai farmer is 58 years old and poor -- with household debt equal to an overwhelming 7.36 years' annual income.
To stimulate exports and investment, we must follow Lao Tzu: "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."
The last thing he needs is debt, which he must spend on consumption instead of kickstarting his sustainable output.
Use funds earmarked for PM Srettha's 10,000-baht per person handout to train and equip farmers to be more productive, tailoring programmes to the needs of major farmer groups.
Give rural work permits and an acclimatisation programme to Myanmar youth fleeing the draft to empower old Thai farmers with energetic workers who are receptive to the innovation needed and have a merit-based path to citizenship so they'll aid us for decades.
Tax racket
Re: "No doubles for expats", (PostBag, July 8).
This is another picayune, self-serving and illogical contribution from Songdej Praditsmanont, who, most unfortunately, does not possess the command of the English language to bring his points across clearly.
He states, "The task of record-keeping is innate and the duty of all good taxpayers." If the overworked editor of this column is a Thai, he might innately feel a duty to publish letters from other Thais, but we are not born to pay taxes.
This is especially true when the prime minister is hell-bent on spending taxpayers' money on projects that benefit his friends and intends to do so against the wishes of the Thai people.
There are other ways to describe this kind of policy manipulation, such as theft and racketeering. When you demand the pecuniary results of hard work by the Thai people and then spend it without any benefit to them -- what else do you call it?
Pension pickle
Re: "No doubles for expats", (PostBag, July 8).
Urgent clarification is required: Australia has two systems of support for old people. The first is the government pension for old people. The second is what they call 'superannuation'. This is a legally required, compulsory government system for "saving" money for old age through the person's working life. Payments into the superannuation are made by employers and are compulsory.
When Australians get old they can take some of this money for living expenses and they can decide to take a regular fortnightly or monthly pension from their superannuation.
But that is not classified as income! This is an old-age pension payment in a compulsory government system that's controlled by legislation.
If you take your old-age superannuation as a regular pension, it is tax-free by the Australian government.
Is the Thai tax office trying to say now that this is "income" and will be taxed in Thailand?
Please issue an official statement to clarify that the Australian Superannuation old age pension is also tax-free in Thailand. Otherwise, we can't stay here.