Deaths during the pandemic

It is strange – or normal – that there has been no continuing commentary on the number of deaths from the COVID-19 (or is it now COVID-21?) pandemic. It seems that our leaders are tired, once again, of talking about, consoling, giving hope and helping families who have lost a relative, a friend, someone close to them in the pandemic of the deadliest virus of this and the previous century.

Nor is there much talk about the victims of male violence, other fatal or serious assaults, those injured and killed in traffic accidents and those who leave us because of pollution.

Are these figures not worth mentioning because they are lower than those of the pandemic?

In any case, the more than 50,000 deaths are not remembered citizens either. They are only numbers in some files at the Ministry of Health.

Many of us are outraged by the ignorant attitude of the State and its institutions towards the lives of citizens.

It is incomprehensible that it costs so much – not only to prohibit – but to make impossible and dissolve mass gatherings of people who do not follow the norms of good conduct as citizens.

Is the abstract economy of companies and traders worth more than the lives of ordinary citizens? How is it that the state and the government have not approved “sufficient” lines of economic aid to those who are about to fall into the pit of poverty?

For years we have seen ministries find money to help sectors that manufacture and sell death. Aid to buy vehicles, which are part of the killing machine of capital, which reinforce this armament machine. There is no restriction of budgets for other weapons (the real ones) – nor is there any talk in Congress of changing the priorities of state finances.

The state budget for 2021 does not seriously delve into changing the priorities for preserving the health and lives of citizens. Wouldn’t it be worthwhile to buy a little less military weaponry and allocate a few billion to help citizens in need and with severe hardship?

It is pitiful that no strong unity was felt among the leaders to positively change the fate of many citizens. It seems that we are in a state of mental poverty in a country that wants to boast of being so humane and so democratic. Humanism has fallen into the well of economics.

The P(A)T Board wants to bring a drop of help to those who suffer from the lack of a humanism plan of the country.

 

Ole Thorson

P(A)T Past President