Life or freedom (Politics of coronavirus outbreak)

The coronavirus outbreak has led us to the dilemma of choosing life or freedom. That’s what we’re going to see right here, right now.

Today, I want to speak to you about the situation that the coronavirus outbreak has led us. I don’t refer to the causes or the economic consequences either. But to the political dilemma that has arisen due to the critical scenario it has created.

So, what follows is a series of reflections that I drew from the events that we’re witnessing right now in most countries. In some way, the lockdown has contributed to thinking about this issue, and I want to put out my preliminary conclusions from a political scientist’s point of view.

COVID-19 has spread fear. It’s highly contagious, and it may be lethal for older people and those who are ill. These factors are strong reasons to have great concern. However, the cure governments are applying might end up having devastating consequences at all levels, but especially in political terms.

The situation is extreme insofar as it has gone off the rails. That has been favorable to create a special atmosphere to put forward unprecedented political measures that may have irreversible consequences.

To stop the pandemic authorities say we need to adopt special measures that include confinement. Now they are hinting further and harsher measures because the previous ones are not enough. The panic atmosphere they created is breaking society’s will, and they are pressing to keep the lockdown beyond 30 days. At least, that’s the case in Spain, the country that has implemented the most severe measures to stop the virus in the west.

In this part of the world, authorities are looking at China to imitate its totalitarian regime under the excuse of this epidemic. That involves the adoption of drastic measures by resorting to more coercion against the population. But also an expanded social control that some commentators compare to a new Leviathan. It’s something that goes against our liberties and way of life.

It’s not enough to have the military patrolling the streets, or thousands of police officers controlling roads, infrastructures, and overseeing population with drones. They want more. The government has strengthened its power as never before. And they are looking for a way to speed up this dynamic. They are resorting to propaganda, manipulation, disinformation, and other dirty means to justify all of this. The reason is clear: public health. And that leads us to the dilemma they are posing now. I refer to all governments in the world, not just in Spain. The dilemma is between life and freedom.

In the seventeenth century emerged different theories to justify the existence of the State as an institution in charge of regulating society. The justification was the protection of life and property. Freedom wasn’t a primary reason, and only in England played an important role in Locke’s political theory.

We enjoy more freedom in the West compared to China or other similar notorious regimes. However, western elites are suggesting that we have to surrender our liberties if we want to stay alive and overcome this health crisis. Otherwise, they won’t be able to assure life.

They’re taking advantage of this situation to infringe public liberties, but also to get rid of unproductive people such as older people, or those who have chronic illnesses. They are considered a burden for the State’s finances in countries with large debt and difficulties to afford public spending. Indeed, we are witnessing how older people are bearing the brunt of this crisis.

In Spain, authorities prioritize medical attention to those individuals who are more likely to overcome the virus. That means they are leaving older people in the lurch. Indeed, around 60% of infected people are over 60 years old, and most of the deceases concentrate in this group.

The Health Department ordered to stop nursing sick people at old people’s homes. Here you have the evidence, with a Spanish doctor discussing new protocols during a briefing with staff.

 

 

This situation is going on here in Spain. And it’s going to be the same in other countries if it isn’t yet.

Inside the government, some factions oppose furthering measures, but others are pushing to implement a more aggressive policy similar to China.

The World Health Organization is pointing in that direction, and they recommend sending officials to every home to check people, or even to confine them. They believe this is the way to eradicate the pandemic by searching unnoticed cases of infected people. That may include locking up people at their homes.

It seems that anything is all right to the stated purpose of stopping the propagation of the virus. We have to surrender our liberties for our wellbeing. The State, with its officials, is going to look after us and protect the public health. All these measures are for our wellbeing. But that’s false, and it’s also the typical argument of any dictatorship.

The State can’t grant its citizens health and life. Indeed, its health system is overwhelmed, and it became the main propagator of the pandemic. Hospitals and other infrastructures are the focus of virus expansion. The health system is, nowadays, death machinery. Besides, officials of all kinds are spreading the virus due to their contact with infected people. I refer not only to doctors and nurses, but also police officers, soldiers, bureaucrats, politicians, members of the government, and so on. They have the mobility that other citizens don’t have and more contact with many people. For this reason, they are scattering this infection across the country. And that’s valid for all nations.

What is worse is the way authorities are treating the population, as we were livestock, or children, by threatening us with hefty punishments. We have to distrust our peers, but we have to trust the government and their officials when they are contributing to the expansion of the virus with their intervention. And they leave people without medical attention because they are considered unproductive or a financial burden. No matter their reckless behavior and the lies they are selling to the public opinion about the real situation we’re experiencing.

The authorities’ message is clear in this respect. We have to choose between life and liberty. But if we want to stay alive, we have to take a heavy toll by surrendering our freedom because, in that way, the State will be able to assure our health. That’s the misleading dilemma they are posing. It’s a dilemma that hides the fact that life without liberty is slavery, and it isn’t worth living.

You may ask what we do in this situation. People are dying for this virus. It’s spreading all around the world. Well, my answer is to take personal responsibility. Take care of yourself and look after those who love you. Be cautious and use common sense. In brief, be your own doctor to keep yourself healthy and prevent unnecessary risks. By this, I mean tighter personal cleanliness measures. Also, avoid hospitals, pharmacies, and drugstores as much as possible. And stay away from officials and other government institutions. That’s what I’m doing.

Above all, don’t panic. Mass media and authorities are spreading fear in the population to get our obedience. Keep calm and be patient. That’s the best for your health. Trust in yourself.

I don’t want to finish without addressing those Americans who may be reading this. As we’ve seen in most countries, governments started to take measures to stop the pandemic very late. Indeed, these measures have proved to be useless in the best cases and harmful in most times. What is clear is if we take personal responsibility, and protect ourselves and our loved ones, we have the power to stop this pandemic. And the way to achieve that is by preserving individual freedom. The government won’t do anything for you but leaving you behind in the same way as other governments have done elsewhere with their populations. Trust in yourself because that will save you.

 

Question of the day

 

Question of the day! Has this crisis posed you any other dilemma? Tell it in the comments section below, and I’ll check it out.

I know many people are angry with this situation we all are experiencing. But it’s not wise to blame the Chinese people. I think, in this case, the Chinese government has much more responsibility because they hid what was going on, and they are still lying on this. I believe the rest of the world should punish the Chinese government for its reckless and irresponsible behavior that has led to this situation. That bloody totalitarian regime deserves a good lesson. Any idea? Post it in the comments section.

“For it is not death or pain that is to be feared, but the fear of pain or death.” Epictetus