From questioning the presence of a financial rescue plan to honoring human rights and fulfilling promises made during campaigns are among ‘would be’ questions for our world leaders. This is what Epoch Times reporters from Pakistan to Slovakia discovered when they asked locals: “If you could ask the leader of your country one question what would it be?”
Tarik Zia, 41, Journalist/Editor
Mr. Gillani [Pakistan prime minister], do you have a financial rescue and development plan for Pakistan? I ask this because I see the country is facing a financial meltdown. Industry has slowed production due to power shortages. Inflation is rampant and the government has taken away the subsidy for petroleum and electricity. The government is recklessly borrowing from the central bank and the rupee is being printed like there is no tomorrow, causing the value of the Pakistani rupee to have less value than Afghani currency. There is no crisis control mechanism in place.
Joyce Soka, 30, Laboratory Technician
If I get a chance to ask our leader, our president, I would ask: There are many people like orphans, people living without hope; so, how are you going to help them?
Milan Kapusta, 25, Cook
I would ask them if they can fulfill the promises they gave to their voters during the election campaign.
K.K. Luthria, 64, Retired Central Bank Official
‘Impossible is nothing,’ says the Adidas [slogan], and rightly so. Given the fact that human rights and human dignity is not universally available to each and every human being, should not the world leaders strive to make this unique human requirement available to all human beings on this planet Earth?
[Note: A few years ago Adidas ran an ad campaign featuring the quote ‘Impossible is nothing.’ It highlighted people who faced enormous challenges in their rise to prominence.]
Bill Wade, 51, Animal League Associate
Is my Social Security going to be there when it’s time to collect it? That’s an important question.
Raquel Esteve Pérez, 32, Secretary
Why must Spanish citizens delay their retirement and have their salaries frozen, while the members of Parliament get to keep all their working conditions and their rights?
Abbey Bennett, 19, Sales and University Student
I would probably ask about the arts funding at school. About why there’s so many cuts because that’s what I like to do. And I think that was a bad decision, on his behalf. It would be very interesting to talk to him. I think that in our culture, people who have artistic outlets should be nurtured instead of being told to not do art. They should be inspired and I think that by cutting budgets in schools for programs like music and art, I think it’s going in the wrong direction.
Aidan Stronach, 24, Finance Industry
Does he [John Key] think it’s going to get better or worse in the next decade? I guess that’s my big concern, being young. The next 10 years will be important for this country, and I’m wondering if he actually, honestly, believes it’s going to get better, or if it’s going to get worse. Mainly the economy, I would also like to know if the housing market is going to get cheaper, if that’s ever going to turn around. Mainly just the jobs and the economy are the big concern to me at the moment.
Merlin Cecilia Campo Villalba, 36, Business Administrator
Why being in our own country, are we not given the treatment, respect, and the importance that we deserve as Colombians in the different foreign embassies and consulates that are represented in our national territory.
Laurentiu Melinte, 43, Math Teacher
Which are the strong points and the weak points of the Romanian economy today?
Lindbergh Olortegui, 47, Trader
Why there is so much poverty in Peru, as only a few are [economically] benefiting? And also why are food prices rising so much, and have you accomplished your government plan?
Mimmi Aronsson-Vogt, 49, Unemployed
How would the government deal with the new health insurance policies? Some people are now trapped as they are forced to seek employment even though they have serious diseases. Försäkringskassan [the state health-insurance] is even going against the advice of doctors as it is now.
Geoff Bragg, 24, Sales Rep
How can you raise taxes on people for crises [fund] for Queensland, when they’ve already lost everything; they’ve got nothing and you’re trying to charge them more? How is that fair? All these families, who have lost everything in floods, cyclones, and everything. They’ve got no money; they’ve got no life; and you’re still trying to charge them more tax. They can’t afford it.
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: “Do you think morality governs people’s hearts today?”
