We need to care for each of our fellows
IN 2019, thousands of citizens voted in a General Election for a Conservative as their MP, believing they shared their values.
But one distinct section of the Tory Party, defines themselves as “libertarians”, and have widely demonstrated their basic beliefs and policies, during the social circumstances of a viral pandemic.
Libertarians do agree with basic medical knowledge, that coronavirus can be prevented from infecting fellow citizens, by the very small inconvenience of wearing a facemask to capture globules being breathed out, and keeping a minimum distance. But, knowing all these facts, they declare that they have no intention to be so inconvenienced.
The libertarian declares proudly, that he recognises no moral obligation for him to care for other members of the same national society. Why should he? What have they ever done for him? As Mrs Thatcher, that model of Conservatism, memorably said: “There is no such thing as society”.
There is some sick humour in it all. Voters who have no ethical principles themselves, voted for a
parliamentary representative to govern them wisely, and got what they deserved, a man who, quite literally, does not care if they get sick, because of him. They have always been short of compassion. It seems that they do not comprehend science.
The facts of a pandemic are a truth of this universe, that you should learn to care for the health of each of your fellows, as the Labour prime minister, Clement Attlee, hoped to teach in the NHS, since it is the only strategy by which to care for all, including yourself and those you love.
Never, in the many evils of the last 200 years, has Conservatism been more clearly displayed.
Neville Westerman, by email