Rule over ruins?

Once the parade is over, what’s next for those who don’t blindly believe in the official discourse that presumes supposed achievements in all or almost all dimensions of the national future? If critical citizens marched in defense of the INE, now it is up to the opposition parties to reject the bill that seeks to return control of the elections (and our vote) to a centralist and authoritarian government. While we wait for the Legislative Branch -including the representatives of Morena- to remember their commitment to respond to the citizenry and comply with the Constitution and then, whatever the result, it is up to society to exercise its right to participate in public life beyond of the elections. It is also up to those who have decision-making power to exercise self-criticism.

Focusing on bashing the president or state rulers will not solve the problems. If anything, it will contribute to deepening the polarization promoted by the Executive. Divide and rule may benefit the regime – only up to a certain point – but it does not contribute to building a better country for all. There are issues that correspond to the State, in which this government has failed, from curbing criminal violence to supplying medicines and sufficient resources to hospitals and people; from protecting the environment to improving infrastructure. There are others in which society is co-responsible, even when government mismanagement hinders any improvement, from respecting the laws or traffic regulations to guaranteeing decent jobs, free of harassment and violence; from rejecting corruption to avoiding violence at home. In many areas that do not concern only the State, Mexican society, particularly those who have economic power or can influence the workplace, education, health or justice, have a lot left to owe.

Let’s just think of Mexico City. The government has opaquely exercised public resources, fallen into sub-exercise in areas as important as the Metro, has left traffic regulation adrift and weakened regulations on construction and urban development, has remained silent in the face of the burning of fuel oil that condemns recurring environmental contingencies that affect our health. How has the public responded? Those who suffer from public transport, with resignation. What about the dealerships that could improve the bus service? They take advantage of government negligence to continue mistreating the public with overcrowded units, in poor condition and drivers who do not respect speed limits. Those who circulate in the city by car, motorcycle or bicycle take advantage of the absence of traffic agents to double park, pass the stop, without considering pedestrians. Entrepreneurs who could contribute to a minimum social and ecological balance ignore regulations, knock down trees, appropriate streets, build monstrous buildings, without considering the needs of water, a limited basic good, of the environment. Let’s not talk about private hospitals with excessive prices, or elite schools that promote classism. Yes, the government should prevent excesses and abuses, but those who trample on the rules or the simple principles of respect for others, out of a desire for wealth and power, could well assume their responsibility.

In the workplace there are also pending accounts. There are official standards that should prevent workplace and sexual harassment, guarantee working conditions and decent wages. The government itself violates them, but the private sector also accumulates complaints of violence (which are not addressed) and the crisis has served to justify cuts in personnel and salaries. If companies at least assumed their co-responsibility, they could improve the lives of millions of people.

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The list of failures is long but it is not a question here of accumulating examples of vices or illegalities. The question is which country do we want? The rulers and their potential successors apparently don’t mind ruling over ruins. Do we, ordinary or privileged citizens, also want to live among ruins?