People want change
Re: "Most Thais want parliament dissolved immediately, charter change: poll", (BP, Sept 7).
It is encouraging to see the recent Nida poll report of those surveyed that "59.24% said parliament should be dissolved as soon as possible". This clear majority also constitutes a timely reminder to Bhumjaithai that any delay will erode their popularity before an election that must come.
Good ethics, sorely lacking in Pheu Thai, as recent Constitutional Court rulings concur, demand an election sooner rather than later. Although it might be reasonable to delay it until any necessary referendum on a full charter revision can be arranged to coincide with the election, again, sooner is better than later.
Regarding constitutional change, it's also encouraging to see "24.71% preferred a complete rewrite".
That is the best way to obtain a clean charter, one that genuinely respects justice and democratic principles in every section. That "74.39% favoured amendments section by section" is less encouraging in my opinion, nevertheless.
While it is good to see such a solid majority in favour of at least some revision, I believe such a piecemeal approach is not likely to prove so effective as a full overhaul.
Nor is the bit-by-bit approach warranted: any section whose genuine worth as currently written can be substantiated in open, public dialogue can be kept without change once its worth has been established.
Felix Qui
Danger in denial
Re: "Vaccine success story undone by quackery", (Opinion, Sept 6) & "Cancer claim checks", (PostBag, Sept 1).
I suppose it was only a matter of time before the PostBag's serial vaccine sceptic, Michael "Turbo cancer" Setter, tried telling us he knows vaccines are bad because "RFK Jr told us".
RFK also told us: Vaccines cause autism. Covid "targeted caucasians and blacks".
He doesn't know how many Americans died of Covid (We do, approx. 1.2 million). However, it's Mr Setter's claim that the Hepatitis B vaccine: "requires seven million doses be administered to prevent one death" that really needs closer examination.
As the American Academy of Paediatrics stated: "Newborns infected with hepatitis B at birth and infants infected in the first year of life have a 90% chance of developing chronic hepatitis B, and 25% of those who develop chronic hepatitis B will die from the disease." The vaccine has virtually eliminated infant Hep B in children in the US and around the world.
Sadly, RFK Jr has also fired the CDC's entire team of vaccine experts so that he can spew his ridiculous rubbish about vaccines unchecked. Vaccines continue to be the best protection we have against a multitude of diseases that kill. To try and convince people otherwise is dangerous.
Tarquin Chufflebottom
The bully bloc
Re: "Beijing 'centre' of new world order", (World, Sept 5).
The current meeting of global leaders, well, at least three major ones and a few minor leaders, is a great show, but what will it lead to? The three main actors, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, and Xi Jinping, are bullies. They have been involved in wars and have nuclear weapons.
They are likely to release a joint statement about cooperation and world peace, but the reality is that they are consolidating an "Eastern" alliance to challenge the Western version led by the US. Be prepared for some challenges to the world order.
I must admit, however, that they do know how to stage a military parade with precision and grandeur.
Dennis Fitzgerald
