The country is experiencing one of the most dangerous stages of a populist government. At the beginning, when changing the ways of governing, adopting a pounding populace communication, when there was a growing concentration of decisions, authoritarian actions, among other things, a large part of the citizenry was concerned and alarmed.
Later, as these practices are repeated and spread, citizens begin to “get used to”, to see them as something normal, and lose their sense of concern and alarm. That is happening today in Mexico, in practically all areas of national life.
It is no longer surprising that laws contrary to common sense and the national interest are approved at dawn in the chambers, with an opposition overwhelmed by Morena. It is no longer surprising that there is a group of Morena proselytizers who increasingly mediate the relationship between the government and the population.
It is no longer surprising that millions of children do not attend face-to-face classes, stay home with “remote” classes (at best), and become a heavy burden on their parents, now teachers, too. It is no longer surprising that uniformed soldiers are the ones who take the temperature of passengers at airports.
It is not surprising that the President of the Republic attacks the media and journalists on a daily basis. It is not surprising that the daily number of deaths from Covid does not decrease substantially. It is not surprising that massacres of citizen groups are reported on a daily basis, as in Tonalá.
It is not surprising that the deterioration of the energy sector worsens: Pemex lost 347 billion pesos in 2019, and 481 billion pesos in 2020, an increase of 38%. The blackouts or million-dollar losses in the Federal Electricity Commission are not surprising. It is not surprising that breaches of contracts by public bodies are multiplying, leading to courts. It is not surprising that the Supreme Court has become the body to resolve initiatives and policy mistakes.
It is no longer surprising that Mexico is increasingly disconnected from the world. It is not surprising that projects are canceled and investment does not pick up, nor that governments and businessmen look at each other with suspicion. It seems normal that government agencies lack sufficient resources for their performance, that there are no medicines or efficient vaccination, that they are condemned to annihilating austerity. Worse still, the degree of political confrontation among Mexicans, the rancor between groups, and the growing social polarization seem normal.
But it is not normal. Mexicans must warn each other that this state of affairs is not normal, and convince ourselves that a different daily life is possible, better for everyone, such as that prevailing in other corners of the globe. It is not normal and cannot be considered that way, as that would be false and could be interpreted as giving in to the current state of things, which is alarming and unstable. It is desirable to arrive at the next June election with that awareness and vision, so that what is not normal stops looking like it.
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