U.S. President Donald Trump and the governor of the influential state of New York, Andrew Cuomo, have been arguing over the eventual re-opening of the American economy, even as the coronavirus pandemic continues wreaking havoc on the U.S. Empire.

According to the president, people should go back to work as soon as possible.  He appears to be setting his sights on May Day as the Big Day to lift the restrictions and send everyone back to their jobs.

The measure is risky because no one can be sure if the peak of the pandemic will be reached in time.  The 'all clear' could be premature, sending people not only to their jobs, but perhaps to their deaths.

In any event, Governor Cuomo drew his own red line and clearly stated that he will not obey Trump if he announces the opening of the Empire State sooner than he should.

New York bears the brunt of the pandemic in the United States, with more than 11,000 deaths and 190,000 infections.  

Despite the current crisis, the U.S. faces another crisis -- a political one.  Trump recently declared that he had, as president, the "absolute authority" to re-open the economy and that the state governors would take a back seat.  

Cuomo responded by recalling that the American Revolution was fought to free the 13 colonies from monarchical rule... and that the United States now has presidents and not kings.

Donald Trump, not willing to give in to Cuomo, claims he is the president and that he -- and only he -- can make major decisions regarding the country's future.

The sad thing is that the American people are hostage to a battle for the throne.  And it will be the poorest sectors of U.S. society, the most vulnerable, who will suffer the most.