PressTV: Federal government incapable of properly responding to coronavirus crisis: Analyst
The US federal government lacks the “judgement” and “capacity” to assume leadership of the American nation in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic, says an author and essayist.
“We have no judgment. We have no imagination. We have no capacity to respond, let us say, for the greater good, right? We only have self-interest,” said American writer Patrick Lawrence.
Lawrence, who has taught at universities and lectures widely, told Press TV in an interview on Tuesday that the Trump administration’s “obsession with markets” makes him unqualified to assume a leadership role.
“How can you look to such a nation for leadership?” he asked rhetorically in the interview.
Lawrence said narrow-minded decisions and wishful thinking amid poor leadership will not serve the long-term interests and well-being of the nation.
He called for new ideas and strategies at this time of crisis.
“This is not adequate now. We need to reexamine our ideas about the role of the state. The state plainly has a greater role than we have assigned it according to our highly individual philosophic tradition,” he said.
He said profiteering during the coronavirus pandemic is not how a strong leader would act.
“We can’t lead. No one is looking to us and saying let’s learn from the Americans how we can profit to the maximum over Covid-19,” he said, adding that efforts by US President Donald Trump to use the pandemic as an opportunity to make a profit was “ridiculous”.
He said Trump’s stubborn animosity with China and Iran during this tragic pandemic makes him completely unqualified for the leadership role of the United States.
“How can you look to the United States for leadership when, in the case of China, even in these emergency circumstances, it continues the trade war with the tariffs and so on? In the case of Iran even more tragic, maintaining these sanctions, when it is clear they are doing a great damage to Iran’s ability to manage this crisis.”
