William Reynolds has his head in the clouds, or a somewhat darker place, if he thinks the North will not return a substantial majority of Thai Rak Thai politicians in next month's election. This area is Thaksin's political heartland, and generally speaking he has served it well.

Most village schools now have computers in every classroom, and public money is being spent on sporting and entertainment facilities. His health scheme benefits all lower-income earners. Even traditionally non-Thai Rak Thai voters in my area admit this and are generally indifferent to the prime minister's dodgy business dealings.

I personally wonder how much close scrutiny his political enemies could stand regarding their business transactions.

The use of political clout to benefit yourself and your allies is common practice these days, anyway. The gang of thugs holding power in Washington at present has no problem with this; Dick Cheney quite cheerfully and shamelessly hands out massive government contracts to his "former" company and laughs at the few critics.

Thai Rak Thai holds, and will continue to hold, power, because they present a united front to country voters, where the opposition parties, who are mainly city-based, are divided and lack policies.

Thailand's two major problems are high unemployment in the country and a shortage of low-budget housing in the city, but few countries in the world don't have these, although some do a remarkably good job of covering them up.

Australia's John Howard claims the lowest unemployment figures in more than 30 years and ignores the 1.2 million people, 6 per cent of the total population, on disability allowances and therefore not included in the unemployment figures.

Finally, I would like to say that the Thai people are fortunate in that they have an independent newspaper like The Nation. The world press these days is largely controlled by a few right-wing families who report the news exactly as they think it should be reported. The late Australian media magnate Kerry Packer claimed he never interfered in editorial policy. But then he didn't need to; his editors were very carefully selected.

Julian Donn

Chiang Rai

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Would the opposition really govern us any better?

I am surprised to read that all of a sudden, a man who has done so much to pull Thailand out of bankruptcy is now vilified by a minority. Everyone claims to subscribe to democracy and yet, when given the chance to get him out of office, prefers to use extra-legal and extra-constitutional means like boycotting the elections. Obviously, they know they are a minority, but like all empty vessels, they hope that by making the loudest noise, they can win the day. Thailand will be the poorer if it allows this minority to win the day.

No doubt there is still corruption in the country, but then, would it be better under this minority who claims to have the nation's interest at heart? I'm sure it would be more rampant, and worst of all, there would be no progress, and Thailand might join the ranks of countries like the Philippines, whose People Power and demonstrations have caused it to become worse than it has ever been. I hope that the Thai middle class will not be seduced by promises of self-seeking individuals.

They have now threatened a sovereign nation that has been Thailand's friend with retaliation if it proceeds with a business deal between its investment arm and Thaksin. What do these people hope to achieve? Takeover of the company by them, so they can benefit from the fruits of Thaksin's business acumen?

I hope the Thai people are smarter than this and will not succumb to promises and woolly ideas promoted by self-seeking individuals.

Ronald Lim

Bangkok

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Problem with Thaksin is you can't believe anything he says

I don't know how else to put it.  Some people just don't seem to understand - the problem with Thaksin is not his policy - he's great with that. I'll be the first to admit that many things got done because of his administration and we are grateful for that.

The problem is we have a leader who cannot tell the truth - and doesn't know the meaning of the word sincerity.  He is - by his very own word - a sell-out to our country.  It was he who uttered the sentence that any Thai with companies registered in the British Virgin Island should be considered to have sold out and unpatriotic - yet here we are.  It was he who said there are no sales of Shin Corp shares - yet a few days later, there we were.  It was he who said that never in his lifetime would there be a House dissolution - yet here we are.

Fact is - when Thaksin says "Don't worry about it.  It's nothing - believe me" - I just don't.  Given his track record, who would?  Honestly.

The Watcher

Bangkok

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Thai democracy entails much more than elections

Comments from readers that you have published, especially from foreigners, do not show an adequate appreciation of the Thai political situation. It is indeed the democratic ideal to effect change through the ballot box.

However, in addition to the fact that Thai elections are usually marred by fraud, ballot-stuffing, vote-buying and other shenanigans, it is not an accurate barometer of popular sentiment when three-quarters of MPs are re-elected, no matter to which party they belong. Patron-client bonds still have deep roots in Thai society, especially in the Northeast. Putting together a sufficient number of these die-hard politicos and their relatives is sufficient to create an electoral "mandate".

We certainly are not a mature democracy, although we must continue to try whenever possible to go down the path of elections. The democratic world has yet to come up with an answer of what to do when a tyrant comes to power through the ballot box, as in pre-war Germany. Every society has to find its own way. There are no textbook standards.

Prapa Tepchat

Bangkok

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We need new leaders at every level of government

Government is a representation of the people formed by the people. Currently the people of Thailand are in crisis. Every Thai subject is confused and uncertain of the future.

This is where I believe the basis of true democracy needs to be addressed. Are the people being heard? Better yet, are the people being represented? We hear so much from so many politicians but it is not clear if we are truly experiencing an opportunity to change and grow or just another opportunity for other power-hungry politicians to take advantage of this crisis.

Over the past five years we have experienced the most significant manipulation of the nation ever seen in Thai history. Our leaders failed us. The snap election in my view is not the solution. It is the same people playing the same games. This is an appropriate time for us to seek new representatives at all levels. It must be a total change on all levels. The change has to start from the smallest tambon and carry all the way to the two houses. The people have to be represented or else we will be back here again in a few years. Don't patch up this problem, let us confront it, address it, and resolve it with long-term solutions.

Change is not comfortable, nor does it promise a better future, the only thing change can offer is hope.

Danuj Kamolvathin

Bangkok

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Foreigners are not dominant force in trafficking of women

Re: "Comparison of Thaksin to Hitler seems to have struck a sensitive nerve", Letters, March 6.

Commenting on how Adolf Hitler was a product of his time and place, OG Pamp will have struck some sensitive nerves with his final throw-away comments. Farangs in Thailand, he says, are still the slave masters, indulging in the sexual slave market and lording it over some "Thai Girl". (Ouch!) Are we really so awful, and what are we going to do about it?

The trafficking of women into Thailand from poorer countries is a major problem, and the sex industry in Thailand is vast, though only a small proportion of it caters to farangs. While economic disparities remain, the market will flourish, though whether the buyers are worse than those who sell their daughters, I am not entirely sure.

The issues are so many and complex that brief assertions such as these about slavery shed little light on the matter. The sight of ugly sex tourists prowling the sois of Pattaya, Patpong and Patong is enough to put you off your beer, but equally I see many happy cross-cultural marriages. Strangely, they are not as one-sided as one might expect, as each may often give to the other exactly the same thing, a totally new life. And the best of luck to all of them in their search for happiness.

All of which seems to have taken us a very long way from comparisons of the prime minister and Hitler!

Andrew Hicks

Surin

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Illegal aliens are not eligible for Chiang Mai farang police

Re: "Keystone Kops may be a more accurate description", Letters, March 8.

I stand by my facts ("Chiang Mai's farang cops", Sunday Style, March 5) that the farang volunteer police here do indeed have to be of legal status to live in this country, in order to be able to join the "force". Letter-writer Amused says that the foreign volunteers need only to have lived here for a long time, which contradicts his statement, as in order to live here for any length of time, a residency or work permit must be obtained. And contrary to his claim of long-term residential recruits only, a newly arrived foreigner, with legal papers, may also join. However, Amused is correct - and echoes my comments - that the screening process is near to none, which could lead to numerous potential problems, many of which I outlined.

Pim Kemasingki

Chiang Mai