Many people think that public celebrations (like national holidays, festivals, etc.) are a waste of money and that the government should spend these funds in a better way. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and examples from personal experience where appropriate.
Sample 1
National holidays cost countries and their governments a lot of money. Wages need to be paid to employees despite their absence from work, and a national loss in productivity is experienced. For these reasons, some people suggest governments do away with holidays and instead spend the money on worthy projects. While this might seem at first to be a practical suggestion, I disagree strongly for a number of reasons.
Firstly, it is axiomatic that a country’s production of goods declines when workers are not working; however, this is a tiny part of a much larger economic picture. Productivity is a function not only of hours worked but also of energy, drive, and morale. Thus, national holidays, which give workers a chance to relax and to celebrate aspects of their country and their lives, make for a happier and more productive workforce. In Australia, for example, the long weekend is a tradition that helps to unify society by making all feel rewarded and valued in a common enterprise and identity. It is for these reasons that labeling public celebrations ‘a waste of money’ cannot be supported.
Further, having the financial means to start new national projects is a good thing, but the question of apportioning funds in a manner that an entire society agrees is ‘a better way’ is simply unrealistic. A further consideration is the ramifications of pressure put on workers to work 52 straight weeks a year, a policy that could lead to stress-related illnesses and serious social problems. As this shows, the cancelling of public holidays and redirection of funds is an implausible suggestion.
In conclusion, I must affirm that while it is tempting to realize the short-term increase in productivity and savings that would result from abolishing public holidays, the overall cost greatly outweighs the gains.
Sample 2
One of the most controversial issues these days is whether governments of various countries should avoid spending on public celebrations. Since I believe such activities are vital for a country’s customs and traditions, I disagree with this notion.
To begin with, some people argue that public celebrations are a waste of government resources, especially in monetary terms. They believe such events have no gain and do not contribute to the development of a country; instead, they burden the national treasury. The proponents of this argument state, a country should focus more on its vulnerable areas and allocate funds to improve the dire conditions of its underdeveloped regions rather than spending lavishly on celebrations. But we see all nations celebrating their public events with great pomp and show with a sense of pride.
Meanwhile, the publicly celebrated events are unique to every country and are a strong indicator of their culture, tradition, and history. In addition, such celebrations have proved to boost the tourism industry. As people travel to other countries to experience different cultures, there is no better way than to plan a visit when public celebrations are in full swing in a host country. For example, 23rd March is publicly celebrated in my country. This day has great significance in the independence of Pakistan; therefore, a national parade is conducted every year with participants from all over Pakistan. People from nearby countries come to enjoy this parade, and it is a great learning experience for the future generations as well. Therefore, it is easy to see why public celebrations are necessary.
The only logical conclusion is that spending on public celebrations is important for a country. Since the expenses on public celebrations are a drop in the ocean compared to other projects, even if the government ceases to fund such events and shifts that money to solve other issues it would not move the needle.
