Not Making America Great Again

The trials of the UK government to provide any consistent leadership as we grapple with coronavirus have been evident ever since the delayed initial response by government. It is following rather than leading the actions taken by other countries. This includes the devolved governments of the UK, local Councils who are more aware of the consequences and have closed schools, facilities and parks. Many companies and businesses already have run down, refocused or closed their operations.

At last, we appear to be in lockdown although there are still too many confusing messages from government. The slow progress on obtaining personal protection equipment for frontline care and NHS staff, ordering ventilators and vaccines is not absolved by the PM and ministers constantly praising "our wonderful doctors and nurses." The care sector has been largely ignored despite the fact that it is responsible for the largest cohort of people who will contract the virus and die. And where is the concern for the delivery drivers, transport and utility workers, the supermarket and shop assistants and the food producers who are essential to maintaining a country in lockdown. However, there are finally signs that the hard measures adopted by China, South Korea and already being deployed by the more progressive European countries are now being adopted in the UK. The public is being given messages that restrict their freedoms for the greater good of the vulnerable as well as giving the NHS time to catch up on its preparation for such a pandemic.

This looks comparatively positive compared to the absence of planning to cope with the virus in the USA. The President first denied the likelihood of the China virus taking hold in the States and called it a "hoax" perpetrated by the Democrats. He is now exclaiming that "I would love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter"..." a beautiful timeline". He will see all his hunches come a cropper at once.

The wealthy are reported as paying as much as $30,000 for a coronavirus test, meanwhile, there are no tests available for the vast majority of the population. Even the cautious World Health Organisation have called out the USA for failing to prepare. The US leading expert in infectious disease control is being eased out of some briefings because he is not delivering the message the President wants. The individual States are now taking control and 17 have introduced lockdowns. They are visceral in their critique of the federal government and its failure to tackle the crisis. As well as the private healthcare infrastructure not having the capacity to cope, the majority of people do not have sufficient or, in many cases, any health insurance to cover the cost of treatment.

The great American dream was founded on opportunity, not collective responsibility. The President has pushed this to the limits with his tax concessions for the rich and corporations. Vital institutions that were established to research and prepare for pandemics have been closed down. Refusing entry to Europeans was a reflex action by the President, but most European countries will be relieved to have this in place because looking at things now, the last country anyone would wish to visit is the United States. The only event that seems to have ignited any sense of responsibility from the President is stock markets dropping to a level below that when he took office. This has prompted a massive stimulus package of $2.1tn but it is largely focused on the economy with limited protection for workers.

The President is in danger of moral self-isolation. He has already broken the bond of mutual support with Europe. The GDP of the Asian Tiger economies are rapidly overhauling the United States. China is now the largest provider and the go-to nation for aid and investment in developing countries. Many global institutions from the UN to WHO are expressing their disdain for the way the USA conducts itself. If you then add the collapse of air travel and the impact on the Boeing Corporation, the fall of oil prices and its impact on the big oil companies, it is difficult to see how America is going to cope with the closedown of its economy. It is far more dependent upon private corporations and there is less capacity in the public sector to provide the universal services that are needed in the time of coronavirus. This is the economic and social competitive advantage that the more social-democratic countries enjoy where state control of public services is more balanced.

South Korea and China are already in recovery and firing up their economies. By the time the USA is in recovery it may be too late to make it great again by this President. But Trump will deflect the blame on any country, institution, expert opinion or political opponent he can fire at. And experience tells us that the intransigent supporters of 'Making America Great Again' are not for changing their belief but hopefully, wiser counsels will prevail when the Trump years are put to the electorate.

Leaving aside the USA, which the world is increasingly doing, the eventual outcome of the coronavirus pandemic should be a world that collaborates more, tackles climate change, rejects populism and reverts to localism as the driving force for community well-being.