One said that "Practice makes perfect". My writing is absolutely far from perfect, but I think practicing really helps me to improve my skill little by little. This time, it takes me much less time than before to map out the ideas of my writing, and I just need to spend time on finding appropriately academic words.
Q: In many countries, governments spent a large amount of money on improving internet access. Why is it happening and do you think it is the most appropriate use of government money.
Should government money be spent on the internet or other vital public services such as education and healthcare for the poor?
A: As the internet is getting more ubiquitous and its benefits have been applied in every nook and cranny of life nowadays, many governments find it their duty to support the development of the internet with the public purse. While there may be several plausible reasons for it, I truly believe that this is not the best government expenditure.
To begin with, from social and economic perspectives, it is somewhat explicable why governments should invest in boosting internet access. First, as a gateway for people to access enormous virtual information and communicate conveniently regardless of physical distance, the improvement of internet connection probably upgrade the quality of citizens’ lives. Furthermore, expending state budget in internet infrastructures, such as free public Wi-Fi networks and free access for low-income people, will help the poor not to be left behind in the digital world. Second, the internet plays a vital part in day-to-day running of businesses. Many business functions have already moved into cyberspace, which leads to the fact that emails become the most used means of correspondence in business, and trades and transactions are usually made online. Therefore, the adequacy in the investment of governments for the internet will result directly in better bottom lines of businesses.
However, regardless of how plausible the above-mentioned reasons may appear, I think pouring money on the internet is not the best expenditure of the state budget. In fact, the internet is still a non-essential service and there are many other imperative public services, such as healthcare systems and education for the poor, which need to be funded by the government rather than the enhancement of the internet. Additionally, the internet does not need to be supported by public funds as the private sector would probably do it better. As this is a lucrative business, large corporations are willing to spend money in their own pocket to incessantly improve their services and introduce more superior offers to internet users in order to have a competitive position in the market. By leaving the development of internet access to the dynamic private sector and let it be subject to market rules, the government will have spare state funding to support other important priorities, which can be said as killing two birds with one stone.
In conclusion, despite the fact that the internet has tremendous benefits in people’s lives, I truly believe that pouring money in the improvement of internet access is not the most appropriate use of the state budget as it should be spent for other crucial public services.
Total word count: 420. lollllll