This 'people's alliance' is not democratic

PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul said in an interview that he wanted the military to come under the monarch and not the government. This is a throwback to the days of absolute monarchy - and hardly like the rule of law which HM the King has wisely and repeatedly called for but so few of us heed.

BURIN KANTABUTRA

BANGKOK

The big fish get away with it again

A few months ago, we were told that the reason for the sharp increase in the price of oil was because of short supply and instability. Now we are told that the reason for the decline in the price of oil is because of limited demand. During this same period, the power brokers and their oil buddies, through the US Congress, managed to get permission to start exploration in previously restricted areas in Alaska.

A financial crisis of enormous proportions and consequences has been created by the greed of banks and other financial institutions and by lack of applied rules and regulations. Now a bailout needs to be approved.

When will we wake up and realise that we are being played? The players have been raking in not billions but trillions during this crisis by short selling (which now, all of a sudden, has been restricted).

Gullible taxpayers, the burden again is on you, while the big boys and their government buddies laugh all the way to their offshore banks. Those in the know are fully aware that this is not a conspiracy theory but the hard truth. This game will soon be played again when the bailout proves not to be sufficient. What a dirty world we live in.

NOPPADON

BANGKOK

Have banks learned their lesson? Probably not!

The US financial crisis is unsurprising and indeed had been predicted by sensible economists. But you don't have to be an economist to come to the same conclusion that nobody can live beyond his means forever. Individuals cannot, families cannot, businesses and banks cannot, and the state cannot. Eventually, the day of reckoning will come. And it came in the US.

The bad thing about the US financial turmoil is that it will have negative repercussions on the global economy. The good thing is that the Americans have so much on their hands that they will think twice before embarking on new military ventures. Wars are not free of charge. Wars cost money. Taxpayers' money. Billions!

MANFRED LIEBIG

GERMANY

All hell has broken loose but what's the big surprise?

If you live by the "mai pen rai" motto and don't like to face up to bad people yourself because you're worried that they might lose face - well, this is what you get! So perhaps Thais should stop acting surprised. Perhaps the Thai newspaper elites should get off their high horses with their ridiculous "too late" political commentary. You've got what you deserved. Please don't think I gloat over this - far from it. But I truly don't think any of you should be surprised or deserve any sympathy.

Thais will not face up to reality. You have now seen what this leads to on the political scale. Unfortunately, but inevitably, you will experience it again. The same reaction will, no doubt, happen again: total unpreparedness and total surprise. And the result will probably be an even worse disaster.

I have heard from Thai friends that they fear the world might now be laughing at them. Laughing? I doubt it. More like shaking their heads in disbelief that an entire nation can be so immature and ill-prepared for the results of its own negligence.

D WATERS

BANGKOK