I Am Going to Say Something Controversial
There is a lot of complaining about governments "not being prepared" for the pandemic (not just the US, but the UK, Italy, Spain, etc.). But frankly, were WE prepared for the pandemic? Did WE have tons of hand sanitizer, face masks and toilet paper at home "just in case" a random pandemic would show up...? The coronavirus thing started appearing in the news since January, so we all ALSO "should have seen it coming"? No?
My point is: with hindsight, it's easy to blame others, particularly "The Government", but in the end "The Government", generally speaking, is not that different from us (in the matter of preparedness... I'm trying hard not to be political here, for a change...).
Governments will prioritize whatever "seems" to be the most urgent thing... But really, if people knew 6 months ago, that the Government was spending billions of dollars in ventilators and masks and hand sanitizers, there would have been an outcry from ALL corners of society: why not spending that money to help the homeless instead? Why not use that money to forgive student debt instead? Why not spend all that money giving credits for small business instead? etc. etc. etc.
In the end, we all look after our own immediate needs and interests. Governments try to keep everyone happy, but it's definitely hard to try pleasing all the thousands of competing requests for money and help... Everything IS important (healthcare, businesses, education, homelessness, the economy, etc...), and urgent things only become urgent when it's too late to prepare for them...
It would be nice if governments had infinite amounts of money and resources, but that's not the case (if you wonder where governments get money, it's taxes... but the more taxes, the more money for the government and less money for everyone else... everyone hates taxes, unless it's someone else who's being taxed...)
We have unrealistic expectations that governments are like some God who has the obligation and ability to protect us from every hardship imaginable. Governments are made of people, and people are fallible and imperfect just like everyone else.
Bottom line, let's ease the blame game. There's no point at this time. It's a distraction. Let's focus on helping in whatever way we can. When all this is other, we can go back to hate and blame each other. Or not.
My point is: with hindsight, it's easy to blame others, particularly "The Government", but in the end "The Government", generally speaking, is not that different from us (in the matter of preparedness... I'm trying hard not to be political here, for a change...).
Governments will prioritize whatever "seems" to be the most urgent thing... But really, if people knew 6 months ago, that the Government was spending billions of dollars in ventilators and masks and hand sanitizers, there would have been an outcry from ALL corners of society: why not spending that money to help the homeless instead? Why not use that money to forgive student debt instead? Why not spend all that money giving credits for small business instead? etc. etc. etc.
In the end, we all look after our own immediate needs and interests. Governments try to keep everyone happy, but it's definitely hard to try pleasing all the thousands of competing requests for money and help... Everything IS important (healthcare, businesses, education, homelessness, the economy, etc...), and urgent things only become urgent when it's too late to prepare for them...
It would be nice if governments had infinite amounts of money and resources, but that's not the case (if you wonder where governments get money, it's taxes... but the more taxes, the more money for the government and less money for everyone else... everyone hates taxes, unless it's someone else who's being taxed...)
We have unrealistic expectations that governments are like some God who has the obligation and ability to protect us from every hardship imaginable. Governments are made of people, and people are fallible and imperfect just like everyone else.
Bottom line, let's ease the blame game. There's no point at this time. It's a distraction. Let's focus on helping in whatever way we can. When all this is other, we can go back to hate and blame each other. Or not.
