The USA had Donald Trump to lead them through the corona-crisis. It didn't work out well and Joe Biden can't make up for the over half a million dead Americans because his predecessor denied for there even was a pandemic.
In Brazil President Jaïr Bolsonaro is still in denial and that's why Brazil has one of the highest mortality rates in the world where it concerns the Covid-19 virus. In total numbers they are a close second after America, while being a lot smaller.
In Sweden the government of prime minister Stefan Löfven was responsible for thousands of deaths before they realised you can't give the people too much freedom. The freedom to take things into their own hands ment that people would not wear face masks, would still travel and would still spread the virus.
The goverment of Miloš Zeman has the 'honour' of having the highest covid-mortality rate in the world: over 2.000 Czech citizens died per 1 million inhabitants. Because the government refused to listen to experts and didn't mandate mask wearing. Because they opened all shops to the audience for Christmas, because of denying the existence of the third wave of the virus.
In the Netherlands prime minister Mark Rutte did not know what to do and so he and his government jumped from 'No, a lockdown is absolutely not neccessary' to 'We must enforce a strong and strict lockdown! But not all the time and not for everyone. With just an extensive list of exceptions. At least for now or until I bend to 'the will of the people' again. And again.'
In the meantime it seems 30 percent of the Duch people doesn't listen to the government anymore but turn to Facebook for guidance. Where they listen to public figures like a right wing extremist turned politician, an unemployed dance teacher (not joking) and a well-known pollster turned virologist who previously was fired by public TV for cheating with his figures.
In New Zealand they had four cases of Covid over the pas few months. That's right: 4. Not 40,000, not 4.000 and not even 400. Just 4. Why? Because their Prime Minister took immediate action from day one. No denial, no hesitation. Not 'let's wait a few months to see what the virus does.' Not 'Let's look at other countries', nor 'Let's have a meeting after our next summer reces and discus possible courses of action.'
Here's how Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern adressed the people (and kept them updated on a daily basis. By herself. From her home. Literally setting the right example), asking them to stay home as much as possible:
Here's her story:
Perhaps what I'm saying is: perhaps we should stop looking for strong men to lead us.
Perhaps the best man for the job is a woman.
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