A wake up call for decision makers

A reality this world is facing once again is economical hardships. Helsingin Sanomat writes articles daily about cutting expenses both in national as well as municipal levels. It is with out a doubt extremely difficult to tighten the belt where ever possible, and still keep the services running.

But are the services running? There are several articles weekly that state very clearly what the envitable consequences are, if funding is cut from one of the most fragile sectors of the society: children and families struggling with multiple problems, teenagers and school end up in equal agony, the elderly are left with out decent care even if they have contributed their entire lives to the community in form of taxes. Yet Finland is doing its ultimate best to cut the expenses exactly where it can do most harm.

Are decision makers then blind and deaf? It was only ten years ago when funding was last cut with dramatic consequences, and never returned back to "normal" even though the city was doing better financially. Now the cuttings are being cut from an already lowered level. Specialists repeat after repeating that it would be very important to lower the sizes of classes in schools and daycares, and what are the schools forces to do: enlarge the classes. Several types of social support systems that the community should offer to families under heavy stress are minimized.

Does this development not lead to permanently psychologically damaged (young) people, that could have been saved if proper care was available? More and continuous school schootings? Or another madnes: married senior citizens being placed in different homes?

An easy answer is of course to merely say "These are such difficult decisions. Who is more important than others? This new museum was budgeted a year ago already, so it cannot be changed."

Why not?!

One thing is for sure: The city of Espoo, where I live, has highly questionable priorities. Next to my house a new out doors path is being build. It looks fabulous: very wide with beautiful lamps, like a joggers freeway really. The old path runs right next to it. It's a bit more narrow. There was absolutely a need for a new out doors path.