As the Covid inquiry publishes it first report, we highlight how inequalities rob a nation of its resilience and its capacity to cope with future shocks
The only objective of these enquiries seems to be to Identify the causes and apportion blame.
While all this investigative groundwork obviously has to be completed first, should it not then become secondary to a more desirable and positive main objective of setting out solutions, together with the timetable for achieving and completing them. And accelerating them in instances where some solutions are already under way, but progressing at glacial speed.
It looks like the Covid enquiry may be an example of that first sentence and the Post Office enquiry an example where the second may be applicable?
It is a feature of neoliberal capitalism that resilience is squeezed out in the same of ‘efficiency’, where efficiency means maximising short term financial returns. Resilience includes having spare capacity and duplication, both of which are seen as waste. One can see it in businesses, infrastructure, public services and in society itself ‘ - the resilience of individuals, families and communities. The cynicism of neoliberal capitalism is that expects the state to bail it out when the inevitable occurs, be it the financial crash or COVID. Profits privatised and costs socialised. The greatest impact falls on those least able to bear it.
And I should have mentioned the big one - climate change.
A key insight is thinking in terms of systems and complexity, recognising interdependencies, and the potential for exponentially damaging failures. Apologies if that sounds a bit technical! The financial, accounting and economics folk who dominate today’s financialised world think in reductionist terms with finance as the only meaningful measure. That is a a core problem. Having worked across business, public sector and NGOs, I’ve seen it in all sectors.
PS Really like your and the Foundations work. Must get along to an event some time.
The only objective of these enquiries seems to be to Identify the causes and apportion blame.
While all this investigative groundwork obviously has to be completed first, should it not then become secondary to a more desirable and positive main objective of setting out solutions, together with the timetable for achieving and completing them. And accelerating them in instances where some solutions are already under way, but progressing at glacial speed.
It looks like the Covid enquiry may be an example of that first sentence and the Post Office enquiry an example where the second may be applicable?
It is a feature of neoliberal capitalism that resilience is squeezed out in the same of ‘efficiency’, where efficiency means maximising short term financial returns. Resilience includes having spare capacity and duplication, both of which are seen as waste. One can see it in businesses, infrastructure, public services and in society itself ‘ - the resilience of individuals, families and communities. The cynicism of neoliberal capitalism is that expects the state to bail it out when the inevitable occurs, be it the financial crash or COVID. Profits privatised and costs socialised. The greatest impact falls on those least able to bear it.
Entirely agreed!
And I should have mentioned the big one - climate change.
A key insight is thinking in terms of systems and complexity, recognising interdependencies, and the potential for exponentially damaging failures. Apologies if that sounds a bit technical! The financial, accounting and economics folk who dominate today’s financialised world think in reductionist terms with finance as the only meaningful measure. That is a a core problem. Having worked across business, public sector and NGOs, I’ve seen it in all sectors.
PS Really like your and the Foundations work. Must get along to an event some time.