Dear Mrs. Brown,
It is encouraging to know that the school’s fundraising event for China’s development has been a resounding success. Students and parents have donated a large sum of money and they are excited at seeing how it can be used wisely to help the people living in the mainland. So far two initiatives have been proposed, namely ‘further space exploration’ and ‘basic healthcare and education in rural areas’ respectively. Personally, I am in favour of the latter initiative and I would like to discuss the reasons for choosing to help improve rural people’s lives in different perspectives.
As to decide which initiative to receive the money, I believe that the rule of thumb is to maximize the outcome despite the limited budget. The money should be used to benefit as many people as possible and to support China’s development to the greatest extent. In this regard, providing basic healthcare and education in rural areas will be a more preferable initiative. This can be explained in terms of necessity, possible outcome and cost-effectiveness.
Both space exploration and provision of living necessities in rural areas can foster the much-needed development in China. However, spaces shuttles are far less necessary than hospitals and schools in most Chinese’s point of view. We will be amazed when we see the Chinese astronaut waving his hand in the space, but we shall never justify it if the budget can be used to build hundreds of basic facilities in undeveloped areas to ameliorate the living conditions of thousands of lives instead. Medical services and education are the basic needs and basic rights for everyone living in a modern society. Rudimentary facilities are of utmost importance when it comes to the development of a country. By providing ethnics and schools, the low standard of life in rural areas will certainly be enhanced. While breakthroughs in aeronautics might be thrilling for certain scientist and politicians, they merely have anything to do with the daily lives of the populace.
It is true that uncountable benefits and eternal glory will be granted if China happens to find an outer planet suitable for human colonization, but we always consider effects in tandem with cost-effectiveness. Once in a blue moon do we achieve technologies advancement in space exploration. Undeniably, science is based on repeated failure and repeated trials. However, we cannot afford such a high risk with the limited amount of money donated wholeheartedly by our students and parents. It is worrying that our investment in space exploration would not pay off. Instead, investing in fundamental infrastructures in rural areas will carry fewer risks and be more likely to succeed. With hospitals and doctors, the health of the locals will be considerably improved and their productivity will rise as a result. With schools and teachers, children will be able to receive elementary education and many young minds will be inspired. Knowledge will eventually turn into opportunities to change their lives. With a more educated and healthy population, China’s development will have a brighter and better future.
I hope the above account of the two initiatives provides you with the wisdom and vigilance to decide on the use of the donation. It is never too late to explore the borderless space but China’s development will be hindered if the people living in rural areas are left behind in the course of modernization of the whole country. I believe you would make the best use of the money to spread our blessings to the mainland people.
Yours sincerely,
Chris Wong
Chris Wong