The village reality
Re: “Thailand’s misleading growth story”, (Opinion, June 11).
Columnist/economist Chartchai Parasuk’s exhaustive piece on the country’s economic woes, “Thailand’s misleading growth story”, whilst trying to keep it understandable for the average Joe, still left me somewhat in the dark.
He cites “growth, inflation, cash handouts”, and “money printing” as integral parts to the wider economic picture confronting everyone’s striving for a better life here.
Of course, inflation affects everyone, as the folk in the rural village where I live know only too well but the usual suspects always come into play when trying to make a living, given the limited employment opportunities around, with no industrial set ups in sight, leaving few other options available except farming, which believe me isn’t easy by any means and of course the number one Thai favourite — opening a corner shop.
I still concur with Dickens’ old school perspective on this economic quandary, succinctly expressed by Mr Micawber in the David Copperfield novel, “Annual income 20 pounds, expenditure 19 and six, result happiness, annual income 20 pounds, expenditure 20 and six, result misery.”
Ian Dann
Protesting too much
Re: “Food poisoning suspected as 147 Yasothon schoolchildren fall ill”, (Online, June 11).
The report of suspected food poisoning in a Yasothon primary school states, “Municipal officials said the investigation would be conducted in a transparent and fair manner,” and that “action will be taken in strict accordance with relevant regulations and laws”.
Do we really need to be told this at the end of every verse? Do you wish to imply that, otherwise, officials would be given the information and then say, “Nah, let’s go down the pub for a swift half”?
Methinks someone doth protest too much, and that always makes me suspicious.
Warner