EDITORIAL: AMERICAN EMPIRE & COVID-19
By Trevor K. McNeil
Divided We Stand
In most things the states stand united. Particularly in times of crisis. The current confusion and diverging policies between the states is more proof of the damage caused by the Trump administration. Donald Trump has made saving American lives a political issue. COVID-19 does not recognize state-lines and neither should we. The crass and opportunistic among us are trying to turn a public health emergency into the latest front in the culture war. Some states have taken serious action to combat COVID-19 while others apparently have decided it will just disappear. The result has become a mismatch of response tactics ranging from mandatory masks to COVID-19 parties. The bizarre approach has led to 147,000 U.S. citizens dying from the virus. And that number is growing everyday. Alarmed nations, including allies and trading partners such as Britain, Australia and France, have decided to ban U.S travelers.
The Spaces Between Us
While initially shocking, especially in light of the united front put up against other threats such as Swine Flu, SARS and Ebola, not to mention the many, many war efforts, the gaps in response when it comes to COVID-19 are easily explained. It all comes down to the Trump administration choosing division over unification. Trump has decided instead of drawing the states together to present a united government supported policy to defeat COVID-19 he would rather dump reaction and response to the individual state governors. His lack of leadership has created one of the most lame responses to a national emergency in the history of the country.
Using Federalism To Fail
The Founding Fathers drew up a Constitution that granted state’s and their officials dramatic powers of self governance. Governors have unprecedented powers within their own states. The caveat being that the states can be encouraged through both legal and appeals to nationalism to work together to follow the initiatives of the federal government. Trump is using federalism as his excuse for a pathetic national response to COVID-19. Trump due to his personality disorders and his weak character has intentionally abdicated leadership.
American Empire
The U.S. Constitution is a hybrid of ideas and ideals. The governmental structure of the United States was an evolution of many factors. Many of those influences are directly related to the institution of slavery, the impact of British law, and historical empires, on the thinking of the fathers of the constitution. Without a doubt British tradition was a primary influence. The U.S. judicial system certainly is a reflection of British Common Law. The idea of a constitutional republic where representatives are elected to represent a segment of the population as with the House of Commons is an example of British tradition.
The Powers Of Governors
An aspect of the American system that often goes unmentioned is the government structure. The United States of America in many ways has a political structure that resembles that of the Roman Empire. A decentralized union of district geopolitical entities held together by a central seat of power. In most instances there is a hands-off approach to regional governance. The term governor for a regional ruler dates back to the Romans.
National History
Hold on now. I know it sounds crazy. Empires are made up of nations after all. Except that the massive political and cultural differences between individual states makes the United States functionally similar to a continent of micro-nations as opposed to a single nation. Maybe a good analogy would be the European Union.
A Country, Or A State
The original 13 colonies were each unique and different with their own history and geopolitical characteristics. The country as it expanded purchased large land tracks from the French and the Russians and stole and annexed land from the indigenous peoples. Each of those regions as they were divided into states brought their histories and cultures to the map of the United States
Mixing It Up
There is a deep French influence in Louisiana. Including the Cajun population who originated from a group of Métis (a mix of white French-Canadians and Native North Americans) known as Acadians who were driven out of Canada’s East coast. The name Cajun being a contraction of “Canadian Injun.” Alaska was also purchased from a foreign power, namely Russia, and also stands distinct from the rest of the American persona. Not least because of its geographical distance, proximity to Northern Canada and strong Native American influence.
Nation States
There are also states that literally started out as nations. Texas comes immediately to mind. Originally a province of Mexico, Texas fought to break free of the chains of imperial Spain, becoming a sovereign republic, before eventually becoming a state of the Confederacy and finally a state of the Union. Keeping a strong sense of what could only be called national pride. Another nation that became a state is Hawaii, which was straight up invaded and annexed a clear example of imperialists expansionism. The same kind of manifest destiny that led to the seizing of much of the mid-West from the Natives and Puerto Rico. Some of these regions have become states others “possessions” or “territories.”
A Crisis of Trust
The reason the United States is in the top five in terms of global infection rate, comes down to a lack of leadership from the federal government. In fact, the current administration is pushing for a state’s go it alone policy. Rather than pulling the states together Trump is highlighting the differences between the interest and politics of each individual state. Individual liberty trumping (pun intended) self-preservation.