America's covid-19 preexisting vulnerability: a government of men, not laws. (3rd May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maxeiner, James R.
• Is Part Of: Theory and practice of legislation. Volume 8:Number 1/2(2020)
• Page Start: 213
• Page End: 235
• Publication Date: 2020-05-03
• Subjects: Coronavirus -- covid-19 -- preexisting -- vulnerability -- government of laws -- rule of law -- Rechtsstaat -- legislation -- lawmaking -- Trump -- Cuomo -- ‌Fauci -- McConnell -- Pelosi‌ -- federalism; Legislation -- Periodicals; 340.1
• DOI: 10.1080/20508840.2020.1809173
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-8840

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The legislative response of the United States of America to the covid-19 pandemic is a calamity. Incompetent leaders have turned a natural disaster into a national catastrophe. The catastrophe unmasks a weak rule of law that is closer to a reign of men than it is to a government of laws. Lousy legal methods predating covid-19 allowed tragedy to happen. This article summarises the legislative-like responses to covid-19 and identifies systemic failures, i.e. covid-19 preexisting vulnerabilities.