Do we really need to go down the Detroit road?

For years there have been media reports that Rayong and the eastern seaboard will be the Detroit of Southeast Asia. Is this a good idea? Detroit statistics, available on the Internet: Unemployment in August was 17 per cent; violent crimes 338 per cent over the national average; property crimes 158 per cent over the national average.

Both GM and Chrysler have been taken over by the government. It appears the unions, by going on strike and demanding more money, have made the US auto industry unprofitable. Now the unions are striking in Rayong, wanting more money and benefits. Rayong could become like Detroit. If it is unprofitable to manufacture in Thailand, projects could move to Cambodia or Vietnam. The textile industry is moving out of Thailand because it is too expensive to manufacture here. Let's look at the cause of the problem, before it is too late.