Free healthcare?
Re: "Adapt to new tax policy", (Editorial, Sept 9) and "Law to tax income from overseas", (Business, Sept 6).
If this desperate government is going to tax all income coming into Thailand by farangs who need these funds to pay for healthcare, support their Thai family and extended families, and make big purchases, i.e., cars and houses, which helps grow the Thai economy, will they, as taxpayers, have access to free healthcare as do Thais?
5 Venezuela facts
Re: "Viva Venezuela", (PostBag, Sept 7) and "Venezuelan opposition under siege", (World, Aug 2).
A few things Colin Roth might not know about Venezuela.
1. Venezuela now has a national debt of around US$4.2 trillion (142.7 trillion baht) -- and bear in mind the population is only 28 million -- because of massive corruption and economic mismanagement.
2. When Hugo Chávez nationalised the country's oil industry, many thousands of vastly experienced Venezuelan oil workers were sidelined, and most left for better jobs overseas. Key jobs were given to government-friendly military officers who simply looted the national oil company for their own gain. Most of Venezuela's oil is heavy crude, meaning that a lot of effort and infrastructure are required to turn it into an attractive product.
3. When food became scarce due to this woeful economic mismanagement, President Nicolás Maduro back then used food as a weapon to force people to vote for him: No vote, no food coupons.
4. Much of Venezuela's oil production goes to pay off "debts" accrued by Maduro to "allies" such as China.
5. The last Venezuelan election is widely regarded as being fraudulent. Even former Maduro allies Colombia, Mexico and Brazil have demanded proof that Maduro won, such is his suspected losing margin. Not only did he jail opposition members and make it near impossible for overseas voters to participate in the election (for obvious reasons), he also prevented most independent observers from monitoring it.
"Viva" Venezuela indeed, but for the sake of the Venezuelan people, I hope not "Viva" Maduro.
Cannabis chaos
Re: "Anutin sees bright future for cannabis", (BP, Sept 4).
The way Anutin Charvirakul -- interior minister and deputy PM -- portrays himself as a "champion of cannabis use for medical reasons" only raises eyebrows rather than appreciation. Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is banned by 35 countries and in some countries, possession or trafficking of it can even be punishable by death.
Tourists from all over the world travel to Thailand to have a good time there.
Thailand is the 8th country in the world where cannabis is allowed for medical use and, in practice, for recreational purposes. Khun Anutin surely knows Pablo Escobar and Guzman el Chapo started their lives with cannabis, and later, they went on to become kings of cocaine.
Now, cannabis shops have been mushrooming like 7-Elevens, and often, college students have been selling it openly on the streets not far from schools.
Let's take a walk on Khao San Road. There's a primary school over 100 years old, and cannabis shops are right there. Local police officers are patrolling at least 20 times in 24 hours. The police station is located right at the other end of Khao San Road. What about the idea of educating kids in schools on the consequences of smoking cannabis?
CONTACT: BANGKOK POST BUILDING 136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110 Fax: +02 6164000 email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th
All letter writers must provide full name address.
All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion.