Postbag
I agree with your editorial that a lack of ''goodwill'', and may I add, ''good faith'', particularly by those in power, will impede national development and reconciliation.
However, I take issue with your criticism of the Democrats when you wrote that, ''The Democrat Party has largely abandoned its duty to hold the government accountable in parliament and before the people. Every major government policy and many minor ones have been put to the courts or agencies to litigate. This is not democratic procedure.''
What does it mean to hold the government ''accountable'' in parliament?
Does it mean we should raise questions regarding policies for government ministers, and indeed the prime minister to answer?
Does it mean we should probe and challenge flawed policies in no-confidence debates? Does it include us working through a shadow cabinet to ensure that each ministry is scrutinised effectively?
There is ample and clear evidence that we have performed all the above duties, and, indeed, have been hampered only by the brazen disregard for parliamentary affairs by the prime minister in particular. That, and the fact that we do not have enough votes to block flawed government policies.
Secondly, I would argue that it is our duty to use all legal (and thus democratic) means to challenge decisions and policies that we consider to be in contravention of the law or the constitution. Imagine what the Bangkok Post and its readers would say if we merely ''talked'' in parliament and did not follow up with legal and democratic means available to us to fight our case.
The Bangkok Post is right to conclude that the government ''has no mandate to push through expensive policy changes without the public _ or the opposition _ getting a chance to participate''. We should all be urging that the government, starting with the prime minister, work more with parliament and not use it as a mere tool.
Furthermore, the government and the ruling party should be urged to ensure that they do not interfere with or intimidate the workings of independent agencies and the courts.
I believe that if we can ensure the proper functioning of the legislature and judiciary, it would matter a lot less who wins or loses elections. That, for me, is the real measure of a true democracy.
KORN CHATIKAVANIJ
Deputy leader of the Democrat Party
Lunacy in US Congress
The BBC World Service reports that the US Congress has banned the word ''lunatic'' in federal legislation. This is yet another example of how the US overreacts to words being politically correct. In my opinion, these guys in Congress are really a bunch of lunatics.
JACK GILEAD
Kids have hairstyle rights
As a retired US medical professional who is also ethnically a Native American Indian, I am appalled at the indifference that Thai schools have to a student's right to a hair ''style'' _ and to my complaints that my son is subjected to head shavings as a form of socially acceptable militant nationalism.
As much as my son, an American citizen, objects, he is forced to cut his hair without regard for his rights and hair's function.
Worse, his estranged Thai mother insists that she will have the police force him to comply, against his objections or mine as his father (which she has actually done).
The school is also destroying his English language skills which previously were excellent.
As I wear my own hair long, in a traditional American Indian manner, my son has to endure classmates' taunts of: ''Is your father a katoey?'' Thailand's corruption starts in the home and is perpetuated by the schools.
DR K CONOR
Hole lot of trouble
Who is responsibly for digging holes in the roads? And who is responsible for putting the road back the way it was? Because it seems that no one, when they dig a hole/ditch, put a pipe in, or whatever, ever comes back to fix the damage.
There must be someone sitting in a nice air-conditioned office, making these decisions. Surly there is a job start and completion plan, and a document that has to go back to finance department, to pay for it, or am I being naive?
MATT JOMTIEN
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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2012/12/11/democrats-are-doing-duty/
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