Threat of WW3

Re: "US missiles 'a game changer' ", (World, Nov 20).

Mr Trump left America and democracy with a black eye following the Jan 6 incident. Joe Biden promised a peaceful turnover of power, then turned around and used his presidential authority to allow, nay encourage, Ukraine to launch long-range missiles into Russia.

Is this a sign of a demented old man, a final attempt to stick it to Trumpism, the last show of America's military might, or is America just losing it? Regardless, it's pushing us all towards a nuclear WW3. I fail to see how this will make America greater, enhance its economic competitiveness, or increase its national security.

ML Saksiri Kridakorn

Thais can leverage position

Re:"CP boss touts 'Switzerland of Asean' ", (BP, Nov 21).

The connection between Thailand and the idea of becoming the "Switzerland of Asean," as mentioned by the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, is a valid and challenging.

The suggested comparison reflects Thailand's potential to position itself as a hub for certain qualities associated with Switzerland, such as neutrality, high-quality services, and a strong economic and financial environment.

Thailand, it should be added, is also the host of important institutions from the field of multilateral diplomacy. ESCAP (the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) with its 62 members and associate members is the largest regional body on our planet.

Out of the 8 billion total world population, almost 60% live in the area covered by ESCAP. Like Switzerland in Europe, Thailand is able to leverage its diplomatic position to serve as an authentic bridge between nations for promoting peace and global cooperation.

Ioan Voicu

Can Trump beat the Fed?

Re: "Scrutinise the Fed", (BP, Nov 21).

Michael Setter's analysis of the FED is excellent and opportune.

Today's Fed is nothing more than the extension of the money changer that Jesus threw out of the temple, a system that is corrupt and parasitic, a credit card for usury interests.

President Trump will have the Fed audited, discovering malfeasance.

He will subsequently have it liquidated and transferred to the US Treasury, whch will become an issuer and lender of money controlled by the constitution, backed by gold, silver and bitcoin.

A new world opens up to the genuine creator of wealth, the American worker, as it must be; no more abusive interests and creating/managing booms and busts.

The Eternal Optimist

Labour up-skilling essential

Re: "Govt moves to ease debt burden", (BP, Nov 21).

By alleviating debt Issues with moratoriums, etc, PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra's merely putting Band-Aids on a festering sore.

The "sore" is that we lack the skills needed by better-paying markets: Almost two-thirds of Thais can barely understand short texts to solve simple problems, such as following medical instructions.

Three-quarters of them cannot perform simple tasks, such as finding product prices online.

Lacking the skills needed to earn a living, we borrow and are drowning in debt.

For instance, 40% of Thai farming households earn below our poverty line of 32,000 baht/household/year.

Over half the farm households have debt/income or debt/asset ratios above 100% -- implying they could well be unable to repay loans.

Our moratoriums and other palliative measures have usually evaded up-skilling.

Yet as the World Bank noted, a country's ability to improve its standard of living depends almost entirely on its ability to produce more goods and services for a given number of hours of work.

Upskill for high-productivity sectors, please.

Burin Kantabutra

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