The pandemic exposed the sorest spots and revealed the weakest links. Russia did not escape this, which made us acutely aware of the problem of social inequality, which will now increase many times as the ranks of the poor and lowly get replenished by millions of people who have lost their jobs. For many, hopes for the opportunity to live normally will collapse. The gap between the rich and the poor has been very wide before. And now the poor have become even poorer.Let me remind you that part 1 of Article 7 of the Constitution of Russia reads as follows: “The Russian Federation shall be a social state whose policy is aimed at creating conditions ensuring a worthy life and a free development of Man.”
But is Russia today a social state? Everyone can answer for himself this important question. But what will happen tomorrow when millions fall below the poverty line? If today the state cannot provide a decent standard of living for citizens, then tomorrow it can become an insoluble problem.
So what? Shall we amend the basic law of the country again? Shall we exclude part 1 of article 7 from the Constitution, since the state is not able to fulfil this constitutional provision?
And again, the first classic Russian question arises before us with all acuteness: “who is to blame?”. Well, let's say the answer is known: the economic crisis provoked by the coronavirus pandemic. Because of the crisis, a dire, catastrophic situation has occurred in small and medium-sized businesses. This means that the ranks of the poor and socially unprotected groups of the population will replenish in the near future. The middle class will disappear and join the ranks of the poor, and the poor, in turn, will become poor, so what?
Well, well, we answered the first classic Russian question. Now it’s time for the second, which is: "what to do?" There is only one answer: to remain a social state, as it is written in the Constitution of the country. We must help those who cannot provide for themselves. And those who can need to create the conditions for the realization of creative energy, which will allow them to provide for their life.
We must strongly support measures related to the exemption of small and medium-sized businesses from exorbitant taxes, fees, and countless inspections by various bodies. It is necessary to more resolutely approach the issue of progressive taxation. Life itself dictates such a necessity. Rich people must understand: it's time to share. And the government should understand that the time has ended when it was possible to declare one thing, and to do something completely different. A welfare state is not a declaration or a good wish, but the only way for a country to survive in a global crisis.
It will be a big mistake if the people who make cardinal decisions that determine the fate of the country will not catch the main trend of the current moment - a request for social justice and a prosperous future. And the fact that justice begins where it is understood that the security of the country, which is based on the well-being of millions of citizens, is more important than the transcendental luxury of a handful of “those chosen by the people”.
