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Published on March 5, 2008

Of course, a gambling industry here could be viable and instrumental means of securing funds for a proper education for every Thai child, or at least to improve drainage on my soi during the rainy season. Unfortunately this will not happen.

Thailand is too proud to look at the Singapore model and will fully embrace the Cambodian model when it comes to cheesy casinos, restrictions and rules of operation. Rather than integrate casino gambling into a coherent tourism strategy, many ministries with their fingers in the pie will only be concerned with what they can get out of this cash cow.

Can we all visualise the same hours of operation that will match exactly with the hours of alcohol sales at 7-Eleven while hiding the playing chips behind a not-so-secret panel so the Thai people will not be tempted to gamble?

Casino gambling does have the potential to contribute positively to the Thai economy. However, three things are certain if this mega-project sees the light of day. The rich will get richer, the poor will get poorer and Thailand will be declared a "gambling hub".

David Barkdull

Bangkok

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There's no solid basis for democracy in Thailand

The senate elections last Sunday were, as usual, marred by rampant vote-buying. This plague corrupts all activities. I don't like to admit it, but Thaksin was right when he said corruption is part of the system. Indeed, it is ingrained.

The economic damage, the social damage, promoting money instead of competence, will be in the order of several hundreds of millions of baht a year.

I estimate that at least 200,000 votes were bought in my province. Isn't it peculiar that the police schooled in techniques and undercover operations to catch criminals are not able to get even one of the fraudulent cases?

The conditions for establishing a democracy are simply not there. Thailand doesn't have a big enough quality sub-stratum to carry a democracy. The exceptions are too much a minority to cause any change whatsoever in the disgusting state of Thai politics.

Thailand is politically rotten to the core and will stay so for a long period to come, and the authorities do not care.

Egon

Bangkok

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Football just another game for the ex-prime minister

Now that he has returned to Thailand, one wonders how long the ousted PM and owner of Manchester City football club will maintain his sudden and surprising interest in the "beautiful game". Oh for those freezing, rainy days in Manchester.

FL

Bangkok

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