In August 2011, the government first stepped onto its power and announced the exemption of money collected to the country's oil fund bringing down the fuel price about 6-7 baht a liter. After few months of implementation, the government ceased the plan and the oil price has started to increase. The rise of the fuel price does not only affect people who are using all kind of vehicles and the transportations, but also affect Thai people's lives in much wider range.
I understand the government's aim that was to lessen the living expense and to enhance the living condition of all Thai people in one way by launching such a plan. But the fact that the exemption has cause the fund many billions a month and the plan could not last forever has put people in even higher living expense. The fuel price today is almost 40 baht per liter and there has been no sign of stability. I do not think that the government has done thing right as it has also provided the first car campaign that seems to encourage people to buy more cars despite the rise of the fuel price that is quite unbearable.
I think the fuel price is the independent variable that affects Thai people's cost of living the most. Nowadays, the price of liquid propane gas, vegetable, foods and so on are a lot more increasing for example, lemon price was used to be 2 baht/each but now it's increasing to 8 baht/each.
ReplyDeleteI understand that Thai government keeps telling people that the fuel price has to keep with the world market, but the fact that I have known about the oil price many months ago was quite different. The biggest oil company controls the market and the actual price is half by half. While the CEOs get high profits every year, Thai people have to accept the higher expenses with the same low salary. Thus, Thai government should do something to help people like fixing the price of the consumer products as long as possible.
I agree with the concerns regarding the increasing of oil price and the cost of living. However, I do not think that we should blame the government for everything. The fuel price issues exist long before this government. We cannot expect the government to carry a burden of the National debts, while Thai citizens ignorantly living their lives.
ReplyDeleteI think at this point the government and the private sectors should cooperate in developing renewable energy sources. So that Thailand will not depend on the fossil energy alone. A better public transportation policy and public awareness campaigns about the fuel energy crisis should be put in serious action.
I agree with Manassavinee that the fuel price issues exist long before this government, but I still want to blame all Thai governments who control these issues. Mostly, energy issues are always involved with political issues. The Thai government always decreases or increases oil prices, in order to gain more voters or help big companies by not considering the impacts after reducing or rising oil prices. Finally, people who suffered from the fuel crisis are us. Everything is expensive – high cost of living. I’m now spending lot of money on gas. If the oil price is still so high, I would probably use a motorcycle instead of my car- to save money.
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