A new Datafolha survey reveals what we already knew: most Brazilians believe the country is completely unprepared for another pandemic. The numbers aren’t just bad—they’re a damning indictment of a system that prioritizes profit over people. The state and capital had years to prepare, but instead of building resilience, they left the country vulnerable. This isn’t incompetence. It’s sabotage. **The Survey Says: We’re on Our Own** The Datafolha poll, reported by Folha, shows that a majority of Brazilians don’t trust the government or the healthcare system to handle another pandemic. And why should they? The last one exposed every crack in the system. Hospitals collapsed under the weight of corporate neglect. Vaccines were hoarded by rich countries. Essential workers were treated as disposable. The state’s response wasn’t just inadequate—it was criminal. The survey doesn’t dive into the specifics, but the reasons for this lack of confidence are obvious. Brazil’s healthcare system, SUS, has been starved of funding for years, while private hospitals rake in profits. The government’s pandemic response was a masterclass in corruption, with billions siphoned off by politicians and their cronies. And now, with another pandemic looming, the same people who failed us last time are in charge again. No wonder people are scared. **Capitalism’s Pandemic Playbook: Profit Over Lives** The real culprit here isn’t just the Brazilian government—it’s capitalism. The system is designed to prioritize profit over people, and pandemics are no exception. During COVID-19, we saw how corporations exploited the crisis: price-gouging on medical supplies, hoarding vaccines, and lobbying against public health measures that threatened their bottom line. The result? Millions dead, economies in shambles, and a healthcare system that’s more fragile than ever. Brazil’s lack of preparedness isn’t an accident—it’s the logical outcome of a system that treats healthcare as a commodity, not a right. The private sector has no incentive to prepare for pandemics, because pandemics are bad for business. The state, meanwhile, is too busy serving corporate interests to invest in real solutions. The result is a country that’s always one crisis away from collapse. **The Alternative: Mutual Aid and Community Resilience** If the state and capital won’t protect us, we have to protect ourselves. The only real preparation for the next pandemic is building communities that can weather the storm without relying on the system. Mutual aid networks, community clinics, and grassroots organizing are the only ways to ensure that people have access to food, medicine, and care when the next crisis hits. This isn’t just theory—it’s what people are already doing. During COVID-19, mutual aid groups sprang up across Brazil, delivering food and supplies to those in need. Community kitchens fed the hungry. Neighborhoods organized to protect the most vulnerable. These efforts weren’t just stopgaps—they were proof that we don’t need the state or capital to keep us safe. **Why This Matters:** The Datafolha survey is a wake-up call. Brazil’s lack of preparedness for another pandemic isn’t just a policy failure—it’s a symptom of a system that values profit over lives. The state and capital will never prioritize our well-being, because their interests are fundamentally opposed to ours. For those of us who reject authority in all its forms, this is a call to action. We can’t wait for the government to save us. We have to build our own resilience, through mutual aid, direct action, and community self-organization. The next pandemic is coming, and when it does, we’ll be ready—not because of the state, but in spite of it.
