POSTBAG
Your correspondent J Hodson (Postbag, Sept 6) complains the views of ''ordinary'' Thais are under-reported in the Bangkok Post. He should try reading the foreign press.
On the same day his letter appeared, The Jakarta Post had a story from Reuters headed ''Rural Thais say protests hit incomes''.
The reporter questioned three people from Baan Bangsai; all were firmly against the PAD actions which they said were ''destroying their livelihoods''. A fish supplier, her income down by two thirds since the protests started, complained ''I don't know what their definition of democracy is''. A glass blower complained that it was easy for well-off people to protest ''but they don't realise that the demonstration is hurting everyone else in the country''. And a one-legged ex-soldier was in no doubt about the solution: ''I'm very eager to see them arrested,'' he said.
The final word in the story went to the glass blower, ''Our living conditions improved significantly under the Thaksin government. We don't know if he was corrupt, but we know he made our lives better''.
My bet is that the glass blower speaks for well over half the voters in the country, though not the majority of readers of the Bangkok Post of course.
DOM DUNN
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We have to accept the spirit of democracy
In a democracy we elect our favorite candidates/parties. The party with the maximum elected MPs is entitled to form a government either by itself or together with other parties (a coalition government).
Our elected parties can be part of the government or opposition. If part of the government it is by the people.
On the other hand if the government formed is not the party elected by us we have to maintain the spirit of democracy and accept the mandate of the people. It still is a government by the people. We may despise the ruling parties but we have to let the government continue its term.
Even though our elected party lost the election, by accepting the tenure of the government we let our country win and that is the spirit of democracy.
We cannot form or subscribe to a hate group to protest, lawfully or unlawfully, for the winning party to resign and we surely cannot set up rules and conditions in our favour. The rules of the game must be followed and protected from exploitation.
OM P TIWARI
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Price rise has an environmental cost
Every industry is struggling with high operating costs and there are two ways to counter this problem.
One is to review and restructure their work to maintain existing sales prices, even with the cutting of their work forces. Another is to raise the price of their products with a little cosmetic change and/or additional value to defend themselves from the customer's claims. Our dear Bangkok Post has taken the latter choice.
Even with previous editions, there would be very few who read every phrase and word in even one edition. Since we are so occupied with all other kind of businesses nowadays, even on a Sunday, many readers must skip some page which they want to read if time allows.
New editions after putting up prices have more articles on additional pages, but I wonder if all readers appreciate it and can spare the time to read it all. You told us the price rise was because of the high cost of newsprint. Is it environmentally friendly consuming more paper by collecting more money?
RH SUGA
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No rest for the wicked or saintly
Re your smart (and expensive) new Sunday edition.
May I be the first to commiserate with Old Crutch for failing, apparently at the last hurdle, to attain the inactive post he so obviously covets and less richly deserves.
CHRIS JEFFERY
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The 'Asian Tiger'is a sick 'soi cat'
I would like to congratulate Voranai Vanijaka on his piece entitled ''The mirror has 60 million faces'' (Bangkok Post, Sept 7).
Until now precious little of any real value has been printed concerning the current debacle that is Thai politics. I think I can speak for most farang who live here in Thailand when I say that a copy of this article should be given to every school and university student in Thailand, and placed on every village notice board.
Those of you who say the current developments in Thailand are merely the normal signs of democracy in action are sadly deluded. The path being taken is one that will take you ever further backwards, until Thailand is more sickly soi cat than ''Asian tiger''.
Every Thai must wake up and be accountable for where you want your country to go, and how you want it to be seen by others. Yes, corruption is truly a cancer that is eating your country, but anarchy is no better.
RAY SUNSHINE
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Vexed answer needed to a taxing question
If, as we have been told, Thaksin made a substantial profit from the sale of Manchester City Football Club, will he be obliged to pay tax, and will that tax be paid to the British or Thailand taxation authorities?
PODGYJACK
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Little chance of a meeting of the minds
Your Sunday list of 11 failed coups since 1932 is educational and has a message to the current players.
If one fails to achieve the goal, one is a rebel. With the rebel charge hanging over the heads of PAD leaders, they have no alternative but to succeed, while those in power have to succeed to protect and improve the rights of their vested interests and perpetuate their power to govern.
With the two poles apart, a meeting of the minds is hardly likely unless there is a wake-up call of ''enough is enough''.
I just hope the stalemate is not resolved through bloodshed or further damage to our reputation as the world's best city to visit
SONGDEJ PRADITSMANONT
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