Viruses and Mutants

The political elites who have ruled - and still rule - Bosnia and Herzegovina for the past almost thirty years have produced an uncountable number of viruses that have so ruthlessly and relentlessly eroded and finally consumed the social fabric of this country, causing damage that showed its first consequences with the emergence of the first major threat to general security. The general impression that anyone knows what they are doing is not helped by the hustle and bustle on one hand and the complete indifference and almost disinterest on the other. The measures taken so far, however comprehensive, do not inspire confidence.

For example, no matter how good or bad the announcement of a 10% salary reduction for the public sector sounds, we can only expect the real consequences when the pandemic subsides and the consequences begin to be remedied. But what is most frightening is that so far, and even now, we haven't heard anyone say: "Folks... I don't know this. Is there anyone out there who knows this better than me?" Nothing scares me more than a "general practitioner genius."

We have seen such and this much active and effective incompetence, under-capacity, and lack of competence several times before. In the most pronounced form in 2014, during the major floods and landslides, when only the self-organization and self-activation of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina separated the situation from a catastrophe... During that time, the national hopes, pillars, and guardians of local but vital national interests were preparing to - when the trouble passed - react properly and mysteriously lost tens of millions of marks, specifically around 195 million; not to mention tractors and other things (https://zurnal.info/novost/19659/-kako-su-potrosena-sredstva-za-sanaciju-poplava-niko-ne-zna-gdje-i-kako-je-podijeljeno-90-miliona-maraka). Admittedly, compared to the estimated damage of 1.5 to 2 billion marks, this almost two hundred million might be considered a statistical error. But we also remember the equipping of the Federal Civil Protection Administration with Quad engines, jet skis, and hovercraft, poor quality bulletproof vests, and forced entry kits / sledgehammers (https://zurnal.info/novost/20334/macola-od-pet-hiljada-maraka-deminiranje-sa-djecom-turisticko-ronjenje)... Similar information - only with different specifications - appeared alongside the pandemic. It is unlikely that we will benefit from diving equipment and drones in the fight against this virus...

The fact that our lives depend on the ability of a man who doesn't know what's left and what's right, and who commanded Civil Protection then and now, makes one's hair stand on end. Even more frightening is the fact that his boss is the eternal Minister of Finance who - God forbid - has since realized how dangerous "this" truly is (perhaps that's why she no longer appears anywhere). Or maybe she continued to deal with the economy (what economy?) as before the pandemic... Or maybe she is in self-isolation, which would be the least of the damage.

All the staffing blunders made in recent decades will now come due. Appointments made solely for compensation or honoraria, appointments with only one or two criteria - political and/or familial, awarding public institutions as rewards for party contributions, and so on, you know it all. Uniforms, fancy titles, commanders, and crisis headquarters do not help a more serious understanding of the responsible people and the situation; on the contrary. This is because we know these same people from situations where they were the same, and we have seen absolutely no benefit from them.

For example, does anyone know what the federal Minister of Health looks like, where he is, and if he receives a salary, whose intervention prevented a thematic session of the federal parliament on the state of affairs at and within the KCUS? Will anyone - if so, who and to whom - be held accountable for organizing a mass celebration while a ban on gatherings was in effect; at least the one who signed the decision and attended the celebration properly, even receiving some award?! I know that picking teeth with a fingernail at a press conference is not a criminal offense, not even a misdemeanor, but will anyone in the Community that appointed him, the prosecutor's office that has not charged him with anything, or anywhere else at least blush because of the behavior of that... national figure.

Furthermore, what kind of information is available regarding the number of available tests for COVID-19, the number of ventilators, the condition and capacity of isolation facilities, the capacity for accommodating and treating patients or those showing symptoms of the virus, as well as the conditions for conducting tests, the availability of protective equipment and other medical supplies for healthcare workers, and so on... the publication of which would cause panic in the Federation and its cantons? Whose incompetence, idleness, or ignorance is hidden behind "preventing the spread of panic" among the population. For general information, that population is more scared, not to say panicked, knowing who decides not about our health, about our lives, but rather because they don't know if and how many infected people there are, for example, in the Canton of Sarajevo.

Be that as it may, all of them will strive to prove that they are not stupid, and we will show them that they are so stupid that they don't even see that they are, let alone how much. Therefore, I am sure it will be futile to ask and try to explain to them how little titles and money are worth. Thirty years of completely privatized control over everything, everyone, and everything has naturally left its mark on everything, everyone, and everything. However, even that "privatization" - apart from the help in the form of 10% of public administration salaries - did not go far. I haven't heard - I'm not saying it hasn't happened, but I haven't heard - that any party has activated its youth wings from which they recruit their successors, to help their voters. Nor have I heard of any initiative in this regard from the youth wings of the parties. Just as I haven't heard that any help is coming to us from our Muslim brothers from around the world, as it has arrived or is arriving in Croatia and Serbia.

Experts say that viruses mutate; survivors in each subsequent generation eliminate the shortcomings of the previous one, progress, improve, and return more refined and resistant to drugs, medications, and preparations that were previously deadly to them. We have not yet dealt with the first generation resistant to everything they have tried to eradicate it with so far, and therefore, I dare not even think about what the next one might be like. This first generation has shown exceptional resistance to any kind of suggestion, advice, instructions, and proposals, and resistance to criticism, and - perhaps even more intensely - an exceptionally strong immunity to ethics, any kind of morality, and even to a shred of decency. When he wrote: "It's not about pessimism, as it's not about optimism... it's about the fact that ninety-nine percent of people have no brains." A. P. Chekhov certainly didn't know about Bosnia and Herzegovina, but he - just as certainly - knew that he was right and that only ignorance and self-confidence are needed for success in life.