Community misconduct during COVID-19 is the government’s fault

Published in El Pais, 9 June 2021.

If a virus that is killing more than 500 people per week in a country and we know that it is transmitted mainly through fiscal contact or within 1.5 meters of distance, why don’t people take it seriously? Creating a law that prohibits meetings is one, but controlling and enforcing is something else. The government is totally failing to control. However, it is easy to blame a government when something goes wrong, when part of the cause is the people themselves. All the time we complain that the government is corrupt and that it ruins the development of the country. We complain that people’s money disappears into the pockets of public officials without having increased the value in the quality of life of the inhabitants. Corruption is defined as abuse of power for private gain.

But is it that not respecting the rules against COVID-19 is something similar as corruption? People have power that can affect others and have private earnings. If a minister steals $ 10,000 and does not buy ventilators with this and 10 people die because of this, he is a murderer. But what is really the difference with a person going to a party disobeying the rules and infecting 30 people with COVID-19? What happens when a person dies, don’t you think something similar? Everyone complains, and with good reason, against this minister who stole, but what about our actions and social responsibilities?

Reading the newspaper I am not surprised that people do not respect the rules because the rulers themselves respect the rules. And the population follows suit. Unfortunately, there is a direct relationship between the level of compliance with the rules and the number of deaths from COVID-19. If the government really wants to save lives, now and in the future, it has to set a good example. The ministers, members of parliament are the first who have to set a good example. I think even the laws have to be stricter for them. If they catch them with alcohol, double fine. If at a party during COVID-19, 400 hours of community work, and stolen money from the town, jail. And in all cases 10 years out of government. Just some ideas.

Parents need to set a good example for their children. And for a government it is the same. It is time for us to assess whether governments are taking their role seriously.