Of course there is individual responsibility. We bear personal responsibility when we do not wear masks in places where their use is required. We bear personal responsibility when we take out loans that we know we cannot repay. We bear personal responsibility when we break the law. We also bear personal responsibility when we vote…
Except that in structured societies, there is not only personal responsibility, but also collective responsibility, as it is expressed in each case. It simply seems that for many years now, there has been a concerted effort to shift the discussion toward personal responsibility precisely to conceal collective responsibility—and especially governmental responsibility. There is a concerted effort to ideologize each of our individual responsibilities in order to make us socially passive and politically conservative. The media point the finger at us, telling us, «It’s your fault»…
The first to teach us this was Theodoros Pangalos with his infamous «we all ate it up together.» Then they told us that we were to blame because we took out all kinds of loans that the banks «threw at our feet.» We’re also to blame because we accepted the pensions that governments enacted into law (here they tried to shift the blame onto the labor movement as well). Now, young people in particular are to blame because they participated in the anti-Nazi rally outside the Court of Appeals when the verdict in the Golden Dawn trial was announced. From there, the coronavirus spread to Serres, Ioannina, Kozani, and elsewhere…
Of course, there are certain «details» that escape the notice of the zealots of «individual responsibility.» As was evident in the U.S. with the Lehman Brothers case, it was the banks« greed that led to massive credit expansion and the granting of loans to everyone for home purchases, resulting in their collapse and a global economic crisis. Banks make most of their profits from lending, which is why they were lavishly pumping »easy money« into the real estate market. And what about the regulatory mechanisms, you might ask? Where was the Central Bank, which is responsible for monitoring banks» capital adequacy? We face the same questions here in Greece. When (many years ago…) banks were granting loans in our country, were the oversight mechanisms that ensure the smooth functioning of the banking system in place? If a loan was granted properly and the borrower simply lost part or all of their income due to the memoranda or the pandemic, shouldn’t they be protected? Since there is no personal responsibility for the austerity measures and the pandemic, why shouldn’t they be protected? They are not a strategic defaulter, they are not a fraudster, and they are not a political crony whose debt will be “settled.” In these cases, there is only the banks’ recklessness and the inadequacy of oversight mechanisms. It’s that simple.
As for the pandemic, of course we must follow the scientists’ guidelines. Of course, there is individual responsibility. Of course, we must wear masks. But it was we ourselves who were prudent and compliant this past spring. What has changed? Furthermore, it wasn’t us citizens who increased the occupancy of ferries; it wasn’t us who increased the number of students per classroom; and we are not to blame for the fact that thousands of people are crammed into public transportation every day to get to work. Why are they sweeping this collective responsibility under the rug?;
Then there’s the much-discussed social security system. It’s true that many people retired «early,» and it’s true that in many cases pensions were granted that the funds clearly couldn’t «afford.» It’s true that the pension system needed to be streamlined. But it’s a bit much to point the finger at us, simply because many people took advantage of provisions that certain governments proposed in Parliament and that certain members of Parliament voted for…
So yes to individual responsibility, but let’s not be fooled into thinking that we are to blame for everything, or even that we bear the main responsibility. Those in positions of power bear the primary responsibility and must assume it without ideological bias, without any «yes, but» excuses.
Finally, I believe that it is our primary personal responsibility to stay informed about all the important issues that affect our lives. And based on that, we should evaluate, reward, or punish accordingly!
Author of the article:
Journalist, member of ESIEA, member of the Board of Directors of R/S Athens 984
