Banks playing a dangerous game with spread margins

With unemployment spreading, one wonders how long before the middle class will be affected? Once that happens, it's safe to say that non-performing loans/assets will shoot through the roof. This sector makes up the majority of home-owners in Thailand and if unemployment hits it, it will also hit the banks hard. What will the banks do then? Repossess homes and try to find new buyers in trying times?

 The government is trying to placate the banks by using a hands-off approach, but at the same time remains answerable to the man on the street.

HAM SUP CHAI

BANGKOK

Inheritance tax could be used to benefit society

Enacting a better structure for taxing land and inheritance is a positive step forward for Thailand. Currently, property taxes are either too low or non-existent, which enables absentee owners to allow otherwise productive land to lay idle.

In principle, well-administered taxes are good for society. It's particularly so if the revenue is spent wisely and benefits the disadvantaged. Infrastructure, schools, emergency preparedness, and parks are just some of the municipal responsibilities which could be improved. A fairly administered property tax would put a dent in the chasm that exists between the very rich and the impoverished, and enable fallow resources to be put to good use.

KEN ALBERTSEN

CHIANG RAI

Govt whips must |get govt MPs in line

The political events of the past week have not made the Democrat Party look good. If the downward trends are not arrested, we could face a new political situation altogether.

What was most troublesome was the failure to achieve a quorum at a House session last Thursday. If that lack of a quorum had occurred at a crucial moment when important bills were being considered, it could have sunk the government for good.

There must be a better explanation than the reasons being given that the MPs were heading back home to their provinces for the weekend. After all, there had been an agreement among government MPs that they must be present to constitute a quorum once Parliament is in session.

It is not clear why those MPs parachuted and the quorum sank. There were many theories. I have heard it through the grapevine that this was some kind of a reaction to the fact that the MPs were offended by the "real power" represented by secretaries and advisors to ministers. Perhaps they wanted to send a signal to the prime minister that it is time for him to do something about it, because those who do not represent the people are too powerful.

Maybe it's time for the prime minister to take a closer look at what is going on, and elevate the status of elected MPs assigned to the various ministries to the point where they may play a check and balance role against the undue authority of secretaries and advisers who may sometimes act as ministers themselves.

PRACHYADAVI TAVEDIKUL

BANGKOK