Cliff’s Take: Farewell to 2020

So long to 2020.  Good riddance, right? 

Yes and no. To paraphrase Charles Dickens, these were the best of times; these were the worst of times. 

Think about it. 2020 brought with it a global pandemic, an economic recession, a revived focus on racial inequality and other social ills, the true nature of our politicized times, and a presidential election that many saw as a battle “for the soul of the nation.” 

It was a year that will change us collectively and individually forever – a dividing line, if not a Rubicon.

And what will 2021 bring?  We really don’t know.  But what 2020 taught us is that we can adapt, endure and survive. 

Below are the most relevant data points of the week, if not year.

1. Hope with caveats. America – and the world – believe 2021 will be an improvement over 2020. Glimmers of hope indeed.  But as hardened realists we understand how COVID's wreckage will take time to resolve.  We are resigned for the long haul.  The data is clear. 

    

2. Heightened vigilance. The pandemic has changed us in both small and big ways. For one, most Americans have acquiesced and wear masks. Definite partisan differences – but supermajority adoption across the board. Will this permanently condition our behavior? Not sure. We will see. 

    

3. Our two Americas. We live in a highly divided nation. This was true before the pandemic, which only exposed the rift in new ways. The lens through which we see the world is colored red or blue. Look at the data below! Is racism a reality in this country? Was sending federal law enforcement into cities to quell the protests and counter-protests this summer justifiable? How you answer these questions depends on your frame. 

    

4. Vaccine mania. Anticipation is in the air! More and more Americans want a vaccine as soon as it is ready.  Will expectations be frustrated?  Will demand outstrip supply?  This will be one of Biden's key challenges in 2021. 

    

5. Biden’s tepid arrival. There is a lot to do in 2021. Is Biden up to the challenge? He has already lost a bit of his shine even as president-elect.  Some of America is still suspicious about the election outcome itself.  This is our divided America and Biden’s burden. 

    

So here is to a better 2021. 2020’s sun might be setting, but its imprint will be felt long into the future.

For a summary of the above please listen to my most recent interview with Tim Farley.  We should all wish Tim well.  Today is his last day as he retires.

For another take on how 2020 shaped public opinion, scroll through our 2020 in review charts.  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]

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