MT08-10 Where Should the Budget Be Spent?

10 Where Should the Budget Be Spent?

/10 Where Should the Budget Be Spent?

*Elena was a 13-year-old girl at the town’s junior high school.

/*Elena was a 13-year-old girl at the town’s junior high school.

Recently, she had learned about “taxes” and “politics” in social studies class and had started to take a little interest.

/Recently, she had learned about “taxes” and “politics” in social studies class and had started to take a little interest.

One day, *Elena went to visit her grandfather’s farm.

/One day, *Elena went to visit her grandfather’s farm.

Her grandfather had been farming for many years and was very skilled at growing vegetables.

/Her grandfather had been farming for many years and was very skilled at growing vegetables.

“*Elena, look. This year, there hasn’t been much rain, so the crops aren’t growing well.”

/“*Elena, look. This year, there hasn’t been much rain, so the crops aren’t growing well.”

“Oh no, then what will you do?”

/“Oh no, then what will you do?”

“Even watering is hard because the equipment is old. If we had new irrigation systems, we could grow crops more efficiently…”

/“Even watering is hard because the equipment is old. If we had new irrigation systems, we could grow crops more efficiently…”

*Elena suddenly wondered:

/*Elena suddenly wondered:

“In times like this, could politics be helpful?”

/“In times like this, could politics be helpful?”

That weekend, she joined a town event called “Children’s Parliament Experience.”

/That weekend, she joined a town event called “Children’s Parliament Experience.”

The theme was “Let’s think about how to use taxes.” *Elena joined the “Agriculture Support Team.”

/The theme was “Let’s think about how to use taxes.” *Elena joined the “Agriculture Support Team.”

In the parliament, many opinions were shared.

/In the parliament, many opinions were shared.

“Let’s build a new amusement park!”

/“Let’s build a new amusement park!”

“Let’s widen the roads!”

/“Let’s widen the roads!”

“Let’s get the latest computers for school!”

/“Let’s get the latest computers for school!”

*Elena raised her hand and said:

/*Elena raised her hand and said:

“I want the budget to support agriculture. There are many farmers like my grandfather who are struggling. Supporting those who grow our food helps everyone’s life.”

/“I want the budget to support agriculture. There are many farmers like my grandfather who are struggling. Supporting those who grow our food helps everyone’s life.”

The teacher acting as chairperson asked:

/The teacher acting as chairperson asked:

“But if we spend on agriculture, the budget for amusement parks and roads might decrease. Is that okay?”

/“But if we spend on agriculture, the budget for amusement parks and roads might decrease. Is that okay?”

*Elena thought for a moment and answered:

/*Elena thought for a moment and answered:

“Since the money is limited, we can’t spend it on everything. But I think politics should use it where help is most needed.”

/“Since the money is limited, we can’t spend it on everything. But I think politics should use it where help is most needed.”

The room fell silent at her words.

/The room fell silent at her words.

After the parliament, the teacher spoke.

/After the parliament, the teacher spoke.

“Taxes are money that everyone contributes. That’s why how we use it carries responsibility.”

/“Taxes are money that everyone contributes. That’s why how we use it carries responsibility.”

“It’s important to use it where it’s needed, and we must not waste it.”

/“It’s important to use it where it’s needed, and we must not waste it.”

“What does ‘wasteful spending’ mean?”

/“What does ‘wasteful spending’ mean?”

“For example, building facilities that no one uses, or buying the same things over and over. Spending money on things that don’t help anyone is a waste of taxes.”

/“For example, building facilities that no one uses, or buying the same things over and over. Spending money on things that don’t help anyone is a waste of taxes.”

*Elena nodded.

/*Elena nodded.

“So politics is about thinking and choosing for everyone.”

/“So politics is about thinking and choosing for everyone.”

The teacher smiled and said:

/The teacher smiled and said:

“Exactly. And politics isn’t just for adults. Thinking like *Elena does helps improve the politics of the future.”

/“Exactly. And politics isn’t just for adults. Thinking like *Elena does helps improve the politics of the future.”

From that day on, whenever *Elena watched the news, she began to ask herself, “Who is this budget for?”

/From that day on, whenever *Elena watched the news, she began to ask herself, “Who is this budget for?”

And at the school presentation, she said:

/And at the school presentation, she said:

“Taxes are important money that supports everyone’s life. That’s why politics must carefully think about where to spend the budget. We also need to have the power to think.”

/“Taxes are important money that supports everyone’s life. That’s why politics must carefully think about where to spend the budget. We also need to have the power to think.”

The teacher nodded and said:

/The teacher nodded and said:

“That’s the first step to being a global citizen.”

/“That’s the first step to being a global citizen.”

*Elena thought to herself:

/*Elena thought to herself:

“I want to be someone who helps create better politics.”

/“I want to be someone who helps create better politics.”

Review Questions (Multiple Choice)

/Review Questions (Multiple Choice)

① What budget use did *Elena propose during the parliament experience?

/① What budget use did *Elena propose during the parliament experience?