Moral collapse and lack of merit: Reflections on Kartalkaya and other disasters we have experienced

The fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu, Kartalkaya, has left deep wounds in our hearts. The loss of lives of children, families, and hotel staff who were on holiday with the excitement of the semester break is not just a fire, but a reflection of our societal shortcomings and systematic problems. I wish mercy to those who lost their lives in this tragic event, condolences and patience to their relatives, and a speedy recovery to the injured.

Immoral behavior and failure to comply with ethical rules increase both the probability of risks occurring and their impact—the resulting damages. The disasters we have experienced recently have left deep marks in all of our memories: earthquakes, train accidents, mining disasters, and other major accidents. Feeling the pain of such events deeply is not enough; analyzing them and drawing lessons is of critical importance to ensure they do not happen again.

The fire in Kartalkaya is, unfortunately, the latest link in the chain of "preventable disasters" that we frequently see in our country. Such tragedies cannot be attributed solely to physical causes; there are much deeper social and administrative problems in the background. Our hearts are burning, but we are losing more lives every day because of a system that cannot fulfill its responsibilities, pursues only personal gain, and ignores all kinds of ethical values. Losing our human capital so easily should be a great shame for us. Because we are all responsible for the disasters that occur due to reasons such as negligence, lack of supervision, lack of merit, cronyism, corruption, and the impunity of criminals. Unfortunately, the disasters that occur are forgotten after a while. It is the victims and their relatives who suffer. Every time, the fire burns where it falls...

WHEN DISASTERS BECOME INEVITABLE: SYSTEMATIC PROBLEMS

The processes that follow disasters in our country usually follow the same cycle: accusations, rumors of resignation, superficial regulations, and eventually oblivion. However, reducing these events solely to the responsibility of individuals and not questioning the general functioning of the system and the weaknesses in control processes causes us to miss the real problem. The fact that alarm systems did not work during the Kartalkaya fire, that fire escapes were not usable, and that automatic extinguishing systems did not activate are indicators of a systematic collapse regarding the lack of necessary checks on many preventable risks.

The late intervention of fire departments and insufficient equipment also played a role in the growth of the disaster. However, the basis of all these problems lies in the inadequacy of inspection mechanisms and the failure of authorities to fulfill their responsibilities. The lack of supervision in both the public and private sectors prevents the prevention of such tragedies.

In this context, the question that must be asked is: Why do the negligences that turn even natural events into disasters repeat constantly? Because in our country, disasters stem not only from physical conditions but also from moral, economic, and social problems. In a system where human life is devalued and material interests are prioritized over human life, such tragedies become inevitable.

THE PROBLEM OF MERIT, MORAL AND ECONOMIC COLLAPSE

Merit is one of the cornerstones of success and trust in every field. However, unfortunately, we see that a system based on loyalty rather than merit is gaining strength in our country. Ignoring the principle of merit causes not only individuals but also institutions and the state to collapse. In the fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel, Mr. Nedim Türkmen, a columnist for the Sözcü newspaper whose writings I follow closely, lost his life along with his wife and two children. In his article titled “Merit is indispensable for the presidential system,” written on June 4, 2020, Türkmen had explained the importance of ‘merit.’ He emphasized that the basic elements that ensure merit include education, experience, knowledge, skills, performance, adaptation to institutional culture, and communication.

Appointing unqualified people to managerial positions leads to a decline in the quality of decisions made and disruptions in processes. While qualified individuals are pushed out of the system, people who are close to the government but lack competence are brought into critical roles. This situation leads to work being carried out inefficiently and poorly in both the public and private sectors. The understanding that “not giving the job to the one who deserves it is an injustice to the deserving; giving it to the one who does not deserve it is an injustice to everyone” has unfortunately not taken root in our society.

What is important is to be able to make decisions that provide social benefit in a rational, fair, moral, and conscientious manner without worsening anyone's situation. In a society where the moral, knowledgeable, and experienced are WITHOUT AUTHORITY, and those who ARE AUTHORIZED are the opposite, problems continue in a vicious cycle. In a society where moral values are lost and merit is ignored, the environment of trust weakens and individuals' commitment to the state is shaken. This situation paves the way not only for individual problems but also for social unrest.

More important than economic collapse is fighting moral collapse. Political polarization, corruption, and degeneration, which also affect the country's legal, political, and socio-economic system, lead to institutional moral collapse. The basis of the structuralization of problems in state administration, which starts with corruption and results in degeneration, as institutional moral collapse lies in the fact that neither politicians nor public officials are selected based on merit.

UNREGULATED MARKETIZATION, ECONOMIC DISTORTION, AND IMMORAL GROWTH

The economy is a structure that should be shaped not only by production and consumption but also by ethical values. At the center of the economic, social, political, and societal problems that Turkey is experiencing today lies the phenomenon of marketization, which has been accelerated especially since the 1980s. In our country, instead of industrialization, planned urbanization, and production-oriented work as in developed Western countries, getting rich through easy money, interest, and rent-seeking activities has become the norm. This process has been supported by neoliberal economic policies such as privatization, financialization, and deregulation in public policies. Such a change in mentality has brought with it cronyism, a culture of plunder, and an effort to obtain money and position not based on rules and responsibility in individual, societal, and state relations that are not built on division of labor and vocational training.

This distortion damages both societal and individual morality. The tragedy in Kartalkaya is the result of a system where economic priorities are placed ahead of human life. Land rents, treasury-guaranteed projects, irregularities, and corruption prevent the fair distribution of resources and deepen social inequality. This system encourages individuals to put their own interests ahead of social benefit and legitimizes unethical behavior. In such an environment, the value given to human life decreases, while the general well-being of society is ignored.

As immorality becomes a part of the cultural, social, and economic structure and is first internalized and then legitimized in both business and daily life, alongside the pressure of external factors, the erosion of mutual interest relationships, and the unsustainability of the negativities created by the system, we are inevitably faced with an IMMORALLY GROWING economy that is likely to collapse.

Everyone thinks that in an unpredictable conjuncture that creates distrust, they will be deceived and subjected to unfair competition. Individuals, even if they do not do it themselves, normalize immoral and unethical behavior by thinking that others will engage in rule-breaking or unethical activities, transactions, and behaviors that will prevent them from getting what they deserve. However, in our country, moral boundaries have become increasingly blurred, and individual interests have taken precedence over social benefit.

CRISIS MANAGEMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE LACK OF PREVENTIVE MEASURES

There is a mentality that tries to intervene only after a crisis or when risks materialize, rather than preparing for crises and seeing risks in advance. This approach turns disasters from isolated events into a regular and systematic occurrence. It is necessary to establish independent audit mechanisms, fight corruption, and establish a culture of accountability.

There are also serious problems in our country regarding crisis management. Measures that should be taken for disasters such as fires, floods, and earthquakes are generally neglected, which causes these events to turn into disasters. As in the Kartalkaya fire, when preventive measures are not taken, interventions made during the crisis are also insufficient.

To prevent such tragedies, it is essential for central and local governments to work together. However, in an environment where authorities and responsibilities are not clearly defined and inspection mechanisms do not function, a lack of coordination becomes inevitable. Superficial regulations made after a crisis instead of crisis management serve no purpose other than shaking public trust. In this sense, the independent judiciary, the public, the press, and public opinion asking for accountability impartially, and those in authority honestly accounting for their actions as in developed countries, and seeing resignation as a virtue when necessary, will contribute to the prevention of such disasters.

SOCIAL AWARENESS AND EDUCATION

We even describe natural events as disasters. In fact, it is our negligence that turns them into disasters. It has unfortunately been revealed in a very painful way that the disasters resulting from these and similar events were preventable, that there were some gaps in the legislation, that the powers and responsibilities between public institutions and organizations were not clearly defined, and that an effective, transparent, and accountable monitoring and inspection mechanism had not been established. If we had learned lessons from the previous ones, would the next one have happened? Or if the necessary legal and technical control mechanisms to minimize or eliminate risks had been established, would these have occurred, or would their effects have been this great?

Preventing disasters like fires is not just the responsibility of the state. Society also needs to be conscious about this issue. Educating the public on disaster awareness, crisis management, and social solidarity can reduce the impact of such events.

For this reason, these topics should be added to school curricula to develop disaster awareness, and children should be instilled with crisis management, ethical values, and a sense of responsibility at an early age. Because the internalization of moral values by individuals directly affects the general structure of society.

CONCLUSION: A FUTURE CENTERED ON MERIT, MORALITY, AND JUSTICE

The Kartalkaya fire has been etched into our memories as a result of a chain of negligence and systematic collapse. This tragedy is not just an accident; it is also a reflection of our country's moral, administrative, and economic problems. For some reason, we are constantly experiencing pain without any break. Our pains grow, and before those pains fade, we experience another great pain. Instead of discussing the gaps and risks in the processes, the punishment of the guilty and the resignation of those responsible are demanded every time, which leads to focusing only on the results instead of getting to the root of the problem. Instead of seeing the event in general, we settle for analyzing it on a case-by-case basis. Yet, we ignore the fact every time that there is a systematic problem in such pains coming one after another, and that we need to question the processes that will show the source of the problems instead of focusing only on the results.

To prevent such disasters, the system must first be radically changed, and moral values and the understanding of merit must be brought back to the center. The state has a duty to ensure justice, establish the rule of law, and prioritize human life above all else. Only in this way can we build a fair, peaceful, and safe society.

Although central and local governments have different periodic priorities, aiming to increase the welfare level and quality of life of their citizens should be at the top of their priorities. In fact, adopting the idea that central and local governments are not opposites, rivals, or alternatives to each other, but rather complementary, will minimize risks and ensure that processes are carried out more effectively.

It is also important for individuals to internally uphold moral values and apply these values in their daily lives. Morality is the fundamental consciousness of being human and remaining human. With this understanding, tragic events can be prevented, and a fairer, more peaceful society can be built. It is important to increase inspections, take measures, and assume responsibility after events; however, the real issue is for a person to lead a righteous and virtuous life at their core. It is for individuals to create their own moral values, internalize them, and place them at the center of life.

Learning from this event and taking action is the responsibility of every individual, not just the administrators. We are unfortunately all witnessing together what kind of tragedies choosing loyalty over merit and violating moral and ethical values lead to. If we do not learn lessons from these tragedies as a society, it will be inevitable that similar disasters will occur in the future. It should not be forgotten that where there is no merit, morality, and justice, there is no peace or trust. As a society, we must shoulder the responsibility of building a fairer and safer future.