Global Q&A: ‘If you had to dramatically cut the budget of one government ministry, which would it be?’

Exuvery J.K. Simukula, Mbeya, Tanzania (The Epoch Times)

Peace is important so cutting the ministry of defense budget was a prominent choice when Epoch Times reporters from Rochester, USA, to Mbeya, Tanzania, found when they asked locals:

Mbeya, Tanzania Exuvery J.K. Simukula, 47, Librarian I would cut the budget of the ministry of defense. We are a peaceful country. There is peace, and that’s why we don’t need to use much money to arm ourselves. Maybe I would transfer that money to education and health care.

Sofia, Bulgaria Nelis Rashidova, 24, Student If I were able to, I would cut drastically the budget of the Finance Ministry. In this way, the agencies under the ministry will have to be self-sustaining. Their bonuses will be based on the results from their work, which will enhance their effectiveness, and result in more strict compliance with the law.

Bucharest, Romania Rares Pop Tudor, 31, Copywriter [I would cut the budget of] the Ministry of the Interior. The problem is that we live in a state with strong police-state accents. Their funds are more than enough, so they should be redirected to another field that needs development, like education, culture, and so on.

Rochester, New York, USA Zack Ventrella, 26, Botanist For sure, it would be the Defense Department. I think it’s loaded, and they spend money in places they shouldn’t. And they’ve gotten too involved in things in the last two years, and it’s just not right. For example, both wars, war contracts that aren’t accounted for, personnel that aren’t accounted for, and just the new technological things they’re spending money on, which could just be cut out. Development of weapons, new weapons, laser guided missiles, and all that, where we could spend that on education and green technology, and it’s just not happening.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates Aarti Jethwani, 28, Head of Domestic Business Development I would like to say, the UAE public sector, and specifically to the information reported to The National [newspaper] some time ago, that some federal authorities allocate up to 92 percent of their budget to salaries. Although this figure does appear unnecessarily high, the important consideration for the national good is the relative value for money that is acquired for those salaries.

Sunshine Coast, Australia Aaron Ford, 21, Chef I couldn’t actually choose one because in my opinion both the opposition and the government in power aren’t doing their jobs properly. And I can’t choose one ministry because none of them have done what they said they would do. Not one of them has actually put into place all the things they said they would when they came into power. I would say they need to just be removed and have a whole new government put in place that has a focus on the Australian people. … None of the government ministries have any power anymore; most of the Australian people don’t believe them.

Lima, Peru Pedro Villanueva, 58, Economist The costs should be reduced in the war office. Resources should be transferred to the education sector, because much work is needed to raise awareness on values, then all family problems would be solved, as well as problems of humanity. In the public sector, there is excessive bureaucracy, corruption, and dishonesty, and also in public contracts there is a lack of transparency and dishonesty is increasing.

Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “Whose shoes would you want to walk around in for a day?”