THE goal of society is to provide a healthy and sustainable environment for all the members. This concept is called the attainment of the common good. It does not mean that financially well-off families are exempted from the provision of assistance. Assistance does not only come in financial aid but also of security, psychological balance, mental stability, and spiritual upliftment. The common good then is ensuring that every member of the society is given the necessary help in all situations.
The Covid-19 pandemic puts every society in a situation where the common good is difficult to attain. Yet it should always be the objective. The poorest of the poor are the primary target of the government as recipients of assistance since they are the most vulnerable sector in society in times of crisis, more so with the magnitude of this pandemic. The members of the 4Ps are categorized as the poorest of the poor. Their income is so scant that it cannot sustain the basic needs of humans such as food and clothing. When the government started distributing subsidies, the 4Ps were first on the lists. The people do not complain because they know they are the group of people who are most in need of aid. (Whether it is their fault that they are part of the poorest of the poor is another discussion). When the pandemic continued to batter the economy, the middle class began to feel its adverse effect.
This is not an ordinary crisis. The wheels of the economy stopped and eventually the middle class found themselves needing the same financial assistance from the government. Members of the middle class have jobs but these jobs are suspended right now because of the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). Only sectors considered providers of essential services such as banks, grocery stores and supermarkets are operating. Many business industries are totally shut down hence the workers no longer have a source of income. The principle of common good speaks that all members of the society should be given help.
The rich are also affected though it is not hard as the poor who do not really have anything in their pockets unless the government sends relief goods. But these business owners, the rich, are losing lots of thousands of money in this catastrophe. This money is not only for them but they usually use them to pay their employees. For instance, the fast food industry, the oil industry, transportation industry and similar industries lost the regular demands of their products. When the government fails to address the pandemic, employers will be forced to lay off workers because there was not enough money to pay the working middle class. This is the reason why Sy urged the government that business should be allowed to partially operate. Take note that SM malls are closed during the quarantine period and with its closure thousands of employees are not being paid.
Common good dictates that the government must find a way to help the poorest of the poor, the poor, the middle class, and the rich. The problem is when we cannot provide the needs of the other class because it puts the other at a disadvantaged situation. The government has added amelioration aid that would benefit the poor and a part of the middle class. The rich should not also be neglected. I am not rich and I am very far from it but we need them badly so that the economy will return to its progressive state.
Ethical consideration and justice tell us that the distribution of goods should not be equal. Between a poor and well-off individual, more supplies should be given to the poor. The rich may even refuse to accept it. But again, in this crisis, financial assistance and relief goods, though they are the primary necessity today, are not only the kind of help we can give others to attain the common good. We can give our appreciation to those who are donating millions for aid, we can stop bashing people receiving relief goods just because they have a house, and of course appreciating those in the frontlines of this battle.
How do we achieve the common good? Do what we can do to help the government. Speak the truth and practice justice at all times.