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Editor's note: Fiona Sim is a London-based freelance political commentator and public sector worker. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.
Over 2 million have been killed as a result of COVID-19, perhaps the greatest tragedy of the 21st century. Protecting the sanctity of human life should be every country's number one priority in a global pandemic, so what has gone so wrong?
COVID-19 cases continue to soar across the world, with the free-market oriented liberal democracies of the world leading in death tolls and death rates. The UK and United States of America have made it clear that there will not be any mass efforts made to eradicate the virus entirely.
From the start, scientists have stated that the only way to save lives is to freeze human movement in order to starve the virus of its hosts and eventually eradicate it from the population. Countries such as China, Vietnam, Cuba and New Zealand have successfully curbed the spread of the virus, keeping both new cases and related deaths at an all-time low. This was done through rigorous testing and state-wide restriction measures.
According to data confirmed by John Hopkins University, the official COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. hit a grim milestone of 500,000 on February 23. The U.S. and European countries are among the top 10 spots for highest death rates (per million). This is almost a year since the virus first arrived on either continent's shores. In comparison, China's current COVID-19 death toll remains under 5,000 and its neighbor Vietnam's is under 50.
In a press conference led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, plans were discussed for lockdown restrictions to ease over the next few months, with nightclubs anticipated to re-open on June 21. It was stated that the UK public should "expect the disease to become a manageable problem comparable to winter flu." The government will reportedly work toward deciding an "acceptable" number of deaths to justify the complete re-opening of the economy.
In no civilized, morally upstanding society should the mandate of "acceptable" deaths be uttered by the state when these deaths are entirely preventable.The UK government has made an active choice to allow its most vulnerable populations to die.
In the words of Karl Marx, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs;" every member of society is as valuable as the next and should have access to an equal quality of life, whether disabled or not. In a truly democratic, people-centered society, the state should mobilize all of its resources and productive forces to ensure that these vulnerable populations receive the highest priority of care and attention. However, latest figures show that the UK has failed to do so.
Sixty percent of people in the UK who have died from COVID-19 were disabled, and people with learning or developmental disabilities are 3.7 times more likely to die from COVID-19.
The 265th Infectious Control Georgia Army National Guard enters Canterbury Court, a senior living facility to disinfect the building during the coronavirus outbreak, Atlanta, U.S., April 10, 2020. /AP
Reports show that numerous trusts have issued involuntary "do not resuscitate" orders to people with learning disabilities, including COVID-19 patients. Surely, these horrifying reports are signs of modern day human eugenics taking place. In prioritizing the re-opening of the economy over health and well-being, the UK has made it clear that its system of governance ranks lives based on a person's ability to produce and make profit. These are the victims of capitalism.
In the U.S., President Joe Biden has led a day of mourning for the 500,000 lives lost, but this is far too little too late. These are 500,000 lives that were cut short by the capitalist ideological machine that prioritizes corporations' longevity over human life expectancy.
Their friends and families need justice for their loved ones and assurances of a coronavirus-free future – not empty promises. In Biden's first month in office, promises of stimulus checks and worker protections have faded into the dust, while deportations, overseas drone strikes and workplace-contracted COVID-19 cases have all risen.
The upcoming 100-day mask mandate is a welcome initiative, but not enough to stop the spread of COVID-19. Even with the rollout of vaccinations, this is a reactive measure as opposed to preventative. The majority of the population must be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity in order to protect the masses and this is in jeopardy, too. The failure in public health education and lack of trust in these governments have triggered a growing trend of anti-vaccine, anti-mask campaigns.
The United Kingdom and the U.S., two of the most developed countries in the world – their affluence gained from centuries of colonial pillaging, enslavement and territorial occupation – have failed to use their wealth to protect the lives of the millions they govern.
More scandalously still, they have been slow to support poorer nations' fight against the virus and criticized for hoarding resources in some cases. These examples alone highlight the crisis of the ideological systems of governance that prioritize profits before people.
Despite this, these countries have had the audacity to continue pointing fingers at China and accusing the Communist Party of China of inciting a genocide of the Uygur ethnic group. It is an accusation that carries no weight against the backdrop of Xinjiang's increasing population.
Perhaps it is the slow genocide of these countries' poor, disenfranchised, disabled working classes that they should concern themselves with.
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