TV or not TV

• Source: The Global Times
• [22:10 May 05 2009]
• Comments

Ministry of Commerce official Liu Haiquan told the Xinhua News Agency in February that “the central government will spend 20 billion yuan on subsidizing the campaign in 2009, which is expected to boost consumption by about 150 billion yuan.”

Whether or not the money is well spent is yet to be seen. The Shaanxi residents’ group has suggested it could be put to better use elsewhere.

“We’d rather see the money being spent on social welfare, healthcare and education schemes, which are far more important than encouraging people to buy home appliances,” the residents said.

NPC deputy Zheng Fenli agreed. In a recent press interview, he said, “The government should encourage farmers to invest their savings in education and their careers so they can achieve long-term prosperity. It shouldn’t be encouraging them to go shopping.”