I will readily admit that I am a total Americanophile. I take a strong interest in American culture and history. I enjoy reading about American politics. However, the major flaws in the American system have never been more exposed. For all its wealth and power, I get the sense that this is a superpower that is on the slide.

I cannot understand how such a wealthy country does not have a national health care service. It should be a basic provision for its citizens of any civilised nation. People should not have to worry about money when thinking about health care. Without health insurance in the United States, you will be in receipt of a sub- standard service. How can this be? The American health care system is driven by insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry. In other words, it is a billion dollar business. These companies are all about profits and shareholders, not patient care. How can anyone support that? A family can literally go bankrupt paying for medical care.

The people of Cuba, a country that the United States has demonised for over 60 years, have probably got access to better health care than the average American. Here in Britain, we have a National Health Service that provides healthcare for all. It is creaking under the weight of its demands, we are damn lucky to have such a service. Americans who use the NHS in Britain are shocked when they are not presented with a bill!

Another weird, thing about the United States is that it spends billions of dollars on its military. It spends more than China, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France and the Britain combined!! That is madness! The Coronavirus outbreak has shown that nuclear submarines, ballistic missiles and fighter jets are useless against a deadly virus. Like the Martians in The War of the Worlds, biology can defeat any weaponry, no matter how advanced. Any country that spends that amount of money on its military should ask why. Is it needed? Should the money be better spent on roads, schools and bridges?

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina demonstrated the inadequacy of the American government. Thousands of people were stranded in New Orleans when the city was flooded. The response from the federal government was totally inadequate. The Presidency of George W Bush never recovered from the images of people on rooftops begging for help. While this was going on, the United States was fighting a war in Iraq against insurgents. What a total contradiction!

There are lots of things to admire about America. However, its system of capitalism is very brutal. Its winner -take -all, very individualistic and damn the next man. There is no collective desire to protect the poor or the less fortunate. Such a system works mainly for the comfortable and the wealthy. The poor will sink if they cannot swim. Yikes!