discussion B2

<statement of the topic>
Our town got budget of 10 million from the government. We have to think about how to use the budget in our town. Also, our town is underpopulated and children are much fewer than old people.

<introduction of panel members and their initial position>
Reiko: She is 20 amd a local university student. She lives with her family.
Asuka: She is 80 years old. She lives with her husband and pension.
Hikari: She is 28 and a office worker. She is a single person.
Kyoka: She is 30 and a housewife. She has children and lives with them in an apartment.
Mizuho: He is 42 years old. He works at a town hall.

<important points of the discussion as I see it>
Mizuho thought he wanted to activate our town by making a shopping mall and selling local products. Besides, improving transportation system and making kindergartens more need to argue with citizens than making a shopping mall. Kyoka wanted to make kindergartens because there were just one kindergarten in our town. And, she planed to use the budget for child allowance. Reiko had a n opinion that we needed to improve transportation system by increasing bus service. Hikari wants to use 3 million of the budget for helding a live concert, fashion show, or marathon. Its aim is to activate our town. Asuka had an idea that we needed to make a nursing home and decrease the number of old people who dyed solitary death. Also, she wanted to held a tea party.

<what the outcome was>
We would use the budget to increase bus service and buy some wheel chairs and busses.

<my personal opinion>
I didn't think the panel members estimated cost of each plan deeply. When Mr.Jeff asked whether 10 million is enough to achieve each plan,  some of panelars changed their pinions. In addition, there was often silence, so I thought the panel members were also confused about broad plans. Moreover, I wanted to know each smaller plan, like how much does it cost to get famous musicians to perform live. 

<how effective the discussion was>
There were some good plans, so I could get into the discussion deeply. The focal point of this discussion wasn't out of alignment, so I thought the discussion was good.

<how it could have been better>
I think if an operator speaks background of the topic more slowly and loudly, the discussion would be better. And, they needed to consider what is the best way to get much benefit as possible.

discussion A2

<statement of the topic>
Which person should we elect as a mayor, Mariko or Atsushi?
Mariko thinks we have to improve peace and order for citizens.
Atsushi thinks we have to improve economy for citizens.

< introduction of panel members and their initial position>
Mariko: She is 42 years old and has been a housewife for 20 years. Her hobby is sewing. She is a candidate of a mayor.
Yosaku: He is 42 years old and has two children. He is a elementary school teater. His hobby is fishing. He supports Mariko.
Atsushi: He is 46 years old and a former mayor. His hobby is playing golf. He is a candidate of a mayor.
Chihiro: She is 44 years old and s secretary of Atsushi. Her hobby is going shopping. She supports Atsushi.

<important points of the discussion as I see it>
Mariko thinks recently a suspicious person is appearing in the city, so she wants to save citizens from him. She has four policies to solve this problem. First, volunteers patrol the comminity, especially the place where people seldom pass and second is to set up out door lamps to the place where people seldom pass and parks which children often use. Then third is to increase safe houses which put the person in  who is on dangerous. Finally, she will introduce "safe classes" to elementary schools. Students will make a city map in the class.
Atsushi thinks recentry economic situation is not good, so he wants to improve bad economic situation by three policies. First is raising tax of brand goods and second is to held a food event at community center to attract many customers. Third is cleaning the city to attract visitors.

<what the outcome was>
Mariko was elected as a our mayor. However, some of the citizens didn't agree with the dicision.

<my personal opinion>
I thought even not a mayor but also a general person could carry out their plans. And, their plans were tiny a little for citizens. Mariko said she had a daughter and wanted to protect her daughter from a suspicious person, so she decided to protect citizens from him. I thought it was lame point for citizens. In addition, some of Mariko's policies meant that police don't work well. Moreover, I thought there were few people who believe in Atsushi, because bad economic situation was caused by his ineffective schemes, or making golf field and parking area. He said that he would raise tax of bland goods and made profit by getting rich people to buy. I thought it was not for all citizens. And, cleaning town would not be so effective to improve bad economic situation. Even if poeple cleaned their town, very few visitors would come to the town.         
 
<how effective the discussion was>
They thought about policies for their slogans in detail. I think it was good.
They spoke slowly, so I could understand well.

<how it could have been better>
If they think about election of a mayor fundamentally, they could come up with better ideas. I think they need to consider some ideas, which they thought once, from a viewpoint of citizens.