Cliff’s Take: Americans Adapt For Gloomy Winter Ahead

Over a month since the election. And only 47 days until the White House has a new occupant. We have two presidents right now, not for long.

But the virus still shapes our world.  We can’t escape it—a simple election didn’t change that.  Just yesterday 2,857 Americans died from COVID.  To date, over 14.2 million cases have been confirmed and 276,375 have died from COVID-19. Let’s be clear. More Americans have died from the virus than in all the wars since 1946.

Vaccines are on the horizon. Maybe not in time for the holidays. But some hope in a sea of gloom. Humans—that is to say, us—are extremely resilient, adaptive creatures. But such adaptations have their costs—mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical. The virus will leave its mark on our social genome.

Below are the most relevant polling data points of the week.

1. Rising angst. Reported cases of COVID are on the rise and so is America's angst about the world. The virus filters the way we see things—a darker view for now. 

    

2. COVID’s emotional toll. The virus has cost us dearly. Such long periods of uncertainty undermine our mental health. We are all feeling it—independent of our political stripes or other identifying characteristics. Look at the data. 

    

3. Calculated risks. With a vaccine on the horizon, our post-COVID future is not as distant as it once was. Many Americans are eager to get back to their pre-COVID lives. But not all. Sometimes adaptations are temporary; sometimes permanent. Let’s see how much our world can escape the virus even once it is gone. 

    

4. The COVID Grinch. Again, another data point—we are downsizing for our COVID holidays. Not traveling as much, fewer gifts, more time with family. We have adjusted. Not ideal, but functional. 

    

5. White Waterloo. Joe Biden is the president-elect; President Trump is outgoing. What happened? A few points from our preliminary post-election analyses help explain why. Trump won big with white voters in 2016. But his lead substantially eroded in 2020. Look at the data. Why? Coronavirus, coronavirus, coronavirus. This was Trump’s Waterloo. 

    

2020 is fast approaching its twilight.  Don’t we all need year-end closure—I certainly do. Whether this brings final closure I am unsure.  The effects of this year will linger long into the future. 2020 has undoubtedly left an indelible imprint on me; I assume on you as well.

As always, be safe and be sane.

For more information, please contact:

Clifford Young
President, U.S.
Public Affairs
+1 202 420-2016
[email protected]

For more information on COVID-19 please click here

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