MPs need a dose of reality when they go after one another

The fake camera allegations, first raised on the www.pantip.com web board, have developed into a full blown political conflict between the Pheu Thai-led government and the opposition Democrat Party. Both the incumbent Bangkok governor and his predecessor are Democrats.

Kudos should go to the netizen who spotted the alleged irregularity. If all of our netizens could contribute, just think how much hell the country's people could give to our elected leaders who are supposed to be accountable to the people who elected them. But judging from the manner they go after one another, seems to have other priority other then their constituency.

The issue of dummy cameras also permits newcomers into the ruling party's inner circle to display their guts. But political courage should not be measure by how much humiliation one can inflict on members of opposing political parties. Essentially, it should be about public interest.

Too often, it seems like we elected these so-called lawmakers just to raise their hands and make remarks to discredit the other side - or intervene when the boss is being attack.

With regard to the controversy over the fake cameras, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has acknowledging that it did install 500 dummy security cameras around Bangkok.

To be fair to them, the use of fake cameras among real units is widely practice and acceptable.

Nevertheless, the current and previous Bangkok governors needs to answer some serious questions, such as how much did they paid for these dummy cameras because, normally, people revert to fake cameras because of budget constraints. After all, a real one is always better than a fake.

In fact, there were many fake units in the deep South for security reasons when Thaksin power. Would the Pheu Thai Party MPs wind the clock back that far or is there certain statue of limitation? Or is it because they do not want to put Thaksin in an unwanted spotlight?

Or perhaps there is no real case to begin with - just an opportunity to beat their drum and sound off to impress the party boss.

Instead of going after dummy cameras, how about going after dummy MPs? We are certain that there are many of them out there who are just going through the motion, waiting for their moment of stardom.

But let's give the MPs who are shouting about alleged corruption behind the dummy cameras the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they are really, really concern about public safety and therefore, felt obliged to speak out so courageously about this alleged irregularities.

Perhaps they can divert their positive energy elsewhere in the country. All they have to do is just look around.

There is the security details guarding the entrance of some of our airports? They are armed with M16 automatic rifles. But none of their M16 has magazine in it.

Will they be equating these bullet-less security details to the dummy cameras. What about some of the intersection in Bangkok, such as the Rama 4 and Silom Road, for example. People actually risk their lives just to get across the streets.

Also, many of the buildings have no proper fire escape, while public bus conductors often behave as if they are bats from hell. Rabies-infested soi dogs are always a pain.

Before these MPs go after one another like there is no tomorrow, they should ask themselves if they have their constituency at the bottom of their heart, or are they after a quick promotion in the party lineups.

And if they need a quick dose of reality, how about jumping on one of the public busses during a rush hour. While in there, take a deep breath and smell the arm pit of the guys standing next to them. That is the kind of reality they need to take with them when go back to the Parliament chamber.