Ways to cut down on our tax money being wasted
Written by Writer on Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
COMMENTARY
Ways to cut down on our tax money being wasted
ALFRED THA HLA
Perhaps the imminent assault of a global recession, our local political brouhaha and melamine phobia contributed to a disc jockey stripping down to his birthday suit much to the chagrin of locals in Sattahip, Chon Buri.
Advertising boards compete for space along Ratchaphruk road, as they do elsewhere in many parts of Bangkok.
Regardless of how the scenario pans out for the yellow and red shirts; or the Chinese protein export contamination - it’s obvious that we will be tightening our belts.
Better lending practices and government oversight might have prevented the US financial charade, but it’s best for Thais to spend wisely.
For starters, let’s not waste any more of our tax money on recorded khob khun krub messages shoved in motorists’ faces after they pay the expressway toll.
Hello! There’s always someone manning the toll booth and unless that person has strep-throat, what’s stopping them from saying “thank-you”?
Obviously blurting out a thousand khob khun krubs in a single shift is not healthy, but if the vocal chords can’t hack it, then a simple wai would suffice.
Next, let’s not spend our tax money on intelligent traffic billboards propped up on gantries dreamt up by the Bangkok governor and his minions.
The green, red and yellow lights might be testing for colour blindness, temperature or traffic density of certain expressway routes for all I care; but for the love of God, what exactly is the ulterior motive behind this billboard besides spending our tax money?
And to think that the man’s in his second term already!
There’s already a surplus of outdoor boards erected on shophouses and steel supports all over the city.
Major accidents and fender-benders on the expressway/traffic intersections occur because some driver was looking at a strategic curve of the human body, or jotting down that telephone number for a new condominium project.
The advertised product on the billboard won’t be paying. The insurance industry foots the bill and passes it on to the motorist in the guise of pricey premiums.
Motorists should cut back on accessories such as high-powered headlamps that blind incoming traffic.
These lights cost 20,000-30,000 baht and have a light temperature or degrees Kelvin rating of over 15,000 degrees K when compared to the conventional type of 3,200-4,100 degrees K.
You could opt for cheaper versions from China that is a third of the cost, but then we all know now what you get from cheaper products. Melamine ring a bell?
These high-powered headlamps hurt your eyes and can damage the retina. Even if you look away, it won’t help much. Imagine what its high beam does to your eyesight.
As for drivers using these lights, what is wrong with you?
Whether it’s glaucoma or a lousy childhood, please use something less harmful.
We can also save on travel costs if motorcycle taxis would be more reasonable about their charges.
Their fees didn’t budge although crude dropped from US$147 per barrel to less than US$65; fuel prices decreased over 30 times during the past three months but the going rate from the Bangkok Post to the MRT station at Queen Sirikit Convention Centre is still 25 baht.
More tax money can be saved if we refrain from building bicycle lanes like the one on Sathon road.
The bicycle lane dividers embedded with shoddy reflectors and a coat of maroon paint on the tarmac - is being paid for with our tax money that’s now in the pockets of a contractor who probably greased his way into getting the job.
And motorcylists, not cyclists, use the bicycle lane.
On a separate note, there’s a personal pet peeve that deals with riders of the BTS/MRT electric train systems.
There’s always someone with a mobile stuck to the ear, leaning their sweaty backside against one of the 13 steel poles installed in the middle of each passenger car of the electric train.
Hey! Riders need to hold on to the steel pole, too. Not everyone finds the handles near the ceiling rail convenient.
And about that naked DJ… the guy had balls (metaphorically speaking), but if another stressed-out DJ decides to run around naked, let’s hope the sight lessens - not worsens - the economic woes this time around.
Alfred Tha Hla covers the auto industry for Motoring Section, Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
Wednesday November 12, 2008
