Central bank legacy
Re: "PM vs central bank", (PostBag, Sept 18) & "BoT urged to reduce interest rates", (Business, Sept 17).
The Bank of Thailand, the nation's central bank, is not privately owned but was set up under the Bank of Thailand Act 1942. Its function as an institution is to manage and oversee all central banking roles and provide a stable financial environment suitable for economic growth.
The high benchmark for this institution's independence was historically set up by Dr Puey Ungpakorn, who was then appointed by strongman Field Marshall Sarit Thanarat but who was able not to toe the line of that strongman for the sake of independence and survival.
Also, the governorship is for four years and is renewable by the government for another term. Rarely is there a renewal. The term of the current governor, Dr Setthaput Suthiwartnarueput, is due to expire by Sept 30, 2025. It is almost certain that the next governor of this institution will be none other than a person on the same wavelength as that of this government.
Floods and failures
Re: "Floods 'won't affect' Bangkok", (BP, Aug 23) & "Flash-flood warning for 48 provinces, including Bangkok", (BP, Sept 11).
Category 1 Typhoon Bebinca, with winds in excess of 150kph, just struck the 30 million inhabitants of Shanghai, with the worst impact seen in more than seven decades. This followed Super Typhoon Yagi with winds in excess of 230kph that devastated southern China last week.
The current monsoon season has seen record flooding, extensive infrastructure damage, massive crop destruction, evacuations of millions of Chinese combined with trillions of yuan in losses across all sectors of the economy and exposed the shoddy construction that plagues modern Chinese bridges, dams, and buildings. More than 95,000 dams in China mean that China's poor hydrological planning creates environmental havoc for its neighbours in the downstream Mekong region.
On Aug 23, the Thai government assured the floods in the North would not have an impact on Bangkok and other downstream provinces, yet just seven days ago, the government announced, "residents in 48 provinces, including Bangkok, have been warned of likely heavy rain and possible flash floods".
The latest news suggests this La Niña cycle is resulting in far more severe weather than predicted months ago, suggesting that the Thai Meteorological Department, an agency of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, is in urgent need of reform and a significant degree of political independence that would permit it to do its job effectively.
Love or hate?
Re: "An unexpected ally", (Life, Sept 17) & "Taylor Swift's Harris endorsement draws 9 million likes on Instagram", (World, Sept 13).
Donald Trump said "I hate Taylor Swift!" after she announced her endorsement of VP Kamala Harris. Mr Trump might be one of the few people in the world to say so, especially in all caps, but the majority love her, many of them voters.
Most honest people will say there are people they would not want to work or socialise with, but rarely anyone they truly hate. Hate is only negative.
The world of politics is complex, divisive, and dishonest, but it shouldn't be. Those who represent the people should represent all of the people, but that doesn't seem likely to be the path in the US.
Look for the positive, create the positive and support the positive.