Opinion – Michael França: Taking care of each other

There is widespread dissatisfaction and distrust in various corners of the world. Anxiety and anger grow along with the feeling of insecurity, expansion of polarization and realization of social injustices. This is reflected in politics, media and speeches.

Workers are concerned that they may not be able to guarantee minimum subsistence conditions for their families. The advance of automation leaves doubts about the future of work.

Many are disappointed. Inefficient and corrupt governments breed disbelief in the state’s ability to drive progress. Individual demands related to education, health and good jobs are greater than what many societies are offering.

The pandemic contributed to increasing discontent. Workers considered essential, however, often poorly paid, were exposed to greater risk. Thousands died. The debate on inequalities has gained strength.

As a result of obedience to the institutions, we expect better opportunities and that our efforts are reflected in greater returns. However, this tends to occur only for part of the population.

For the rest, prospects for advancing in life are limited. The awareness of this fact amplifies collective frustration. Many realize throughout their lives that they don’t have good alternatives to shape their own destiny. Blaming others and the lack of opportunities is one of the new trends.

In this way, one of the current marks is the resentment between the most varied groups. This creates a fertile environment for social unrest and institutional disruptions. In this context, pressure is increasing to rethink the functioning of societies and the care we have for people.

Even if unconscious, every day, we take care of each other. We pay taxes that will be used to help people we will never see. In return, there is the expectation of receiving the benefits of a life in society.

For much of history, women were responsible for taking care of children. With the new roles assumed by them in society, many are working double shifts. In addition, having children tends to punish the careers of those with higher education. In the absence of support, many are giving up on becoming mothers.

For low-income families, the scenario is different. Several do not have enough means to plan reproduction and end up having more children than they would like. Children born into these families suffer from a lack of care.

Demanding from governments more effective family planning programs, quality public education and policies that manage the productive inclusion of their families is one of the possible ways to help take care of these children.

Seniors will also need more support. As the population ages, there will be greater health expenditures and we will work longer. Many of our skills will become obsolete with the advance of technological progress and high investments in the retraining of the population will be necessary.

Caring for people extends into several other dimensions. Each country has developed alternative solutions to take care of each other. However, many answers were outdated. Considerable changes will have to be made to prevent the further destruction of one of the foundations of modern societies, that is, mutual trust.

This column was inspired by the book Caring for One Another: A New Social Contract, by Minouche Shafik, director of the London School of Economics and Political Science. I had the opportunity to interview her on the Roda Viva program. So, to maintain the tradition of ending the column paying homage to some music that, in a certain sense, dialogues with the text, I think it is natural to choose Roda Viva, composed by Chico Buarque, interpreted by Francisco, el Hombre.