There are certainly responses politicians could have made to help with mental health, loss of income, hunger and homelessness before the pandemic and during it. The problems existed before the pandemic and required a solution, and the problems still exist during the pandemic and require a solution.

The issue is that the solution to either of those problems upset those who finance politicians. There are powerful people who would rather have others starve, die from exposure and go without treatment for their mental illnesses than give them the resources they need to live dignified lives.