Final Word from Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Since the Babiš government declared a state of emergency and started imposing covid measures four years ago today, numerous national and global processes have accelerated. Government debt has ballooned, contributing to price inflation and currency devaluation; the number of people dependent on the state has risen, in part because many small and midsize businesses were ruined by lockdowns; multinationals taking their cue from the large asset managers who control them have grown in power, encouraging them to coordinate their crisis activities again with governments; schooling has deteriorated, crippling the youth we most wanted to save. Talking about these and other effects of the covid response has mostly become taboo, unless we accept the history of the covid victors. An international treaty that is waiting for approval would make it easier in a future covid-like crisis to take these and other processes to the next level. Czech lawmakers should do their homework before voting on it. [ Czech Republic coronavirus covid-19 Andrej pandemic declaration Pandemic prevention, preparedness and response accord World Health Organization WHO United Natios UN U.N. ]