Regressive reality
Re: "Grasping the VAT nettle", (Editorial, Nov 24).
It is an obvious fact that VAT is a regressive tax; rich or poor, each pays the same tax on consuming a specific item.
The problem is that for the same basket of goods, the poor pay more tax relative to income than the rich.
However, the rich have, in theory, already paid income tax, but the poor have not.
If only four or so million Thai citizens are declaring and paying personal income tax (I used a quick and easy search, possibly/probably not accurate), then a more awkward solution presents itself -- reinvent the personal income tax system and leave VAT where it is.
It is bad enough to pay tax on income, as everyone will grumble about, but to then have to pay a purchase tax after being taxed on income is iniquitous.
Chris Allen
Footpath chaos
Re: "Riders cause havoc", (PostBag, Nov 22).
Richard Jones has made an excellent suggestion on how to regulate the use of footpaths by motorcyclists in Bangkok.
One often-ignored, rarely mentioned solution is the role of the delivery platform. It is about time to consider them part of the solution by imposing a financial fine on companies that employ obnoxious, errant delivery riders who ignore the law.
It would certainly be one step in the right direction. Still, it would not affect numerous others who likewise ignore the law and the safety of others.
Perhaps Bangkok governor Chadchart Suittipunt could instruct his tesakij -- term for the BMA police -- to spend less time harassing disabled lottery sellers and spend a bit more time on the footpaths?
They may not have the power of arrest, but they certainly can photograph and report.
For the rest of us, I encourage you to use the Traffy Fondu reporting page: https://tourist.traffy.in.th/report
It allows you to report transgressions. Not that it actually does much good. Invariably, the reports are marked as resolved, but nothing changes.
But if enough people complain, maybe just maybe, it might catch the attention of someone who cares.
At least it might make you feel better.
Save the Footpath
Credit done wrong
Re: "Home seizures spike on bad debt", (Business, Nov 25).
Thailand's household debt crisis isn't caused by a lack of credit -- it's caused by credit going to the wrong group.
Banks and lenders make it incredibly easy for households to take on personal loans and credit card debt at some of the highest interest rates in the region.
Apart from that, there are car loans with low down payments and promotions offered by collaborating with car sellers.
Meanwhile, the very sector that creates jobs and income -- our SMEs -- is starved of financing under strict, inflexible lending rules and regulations, sometimes demanding triple security, such as a title deed, personal guarantee, and forcing them to buy an insurance policy on top of that.
So instead of empowering people to earn more, the system encourages them to borrow more. That's the imbalance that needs to be fixed.
The Reformist Mind
