Cliff’s Take: New Ambivalence About American Greatness

Living At Opposing Extremes Brings Us To Indeterminate Middle

 
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Limbo. That is where we are. Too polarized to be right or left. Living as though the world has been turned upside down – or proceeding as normal. Believing that the coronavirus is deadly – or that it’s overhyped, little worse than the common cold.

This has been our COVID-19 world – gray, foggy, forgettable but unforgettable. In the end, living at opposing extremes brings our common reality to a vague, indeterminate middle.

Below I detail the most relevant data of the week.

  1. 2020 mushy middle. Americans give 2020 a 5 out of 10 on how it affected them personally. Again, when we are living at such extremes, it all levels out to a nondescript middling point. We individually are doing better than the nation as whole.  Me and mine versus you and yours.  Makes sense, right? 2020 ranked

     

  2. American greatness? American exceptionalism has taken a hit. Is this because of COVID or Trump? Whatever the answer, it all depends on whether you wear red or blue.  Look at the data! American exceptionalism

     

  3. The America that once was. The America of long ago was just better than the America today. Where does this nostalgia come from? Not sure. But either way, the verdict is in: Trump was unable to make America great again in this go around. Unless you ask some Republicans, of course. Americas greatest epoch

     

  4. Vaccine as panacea. The COVID pandemic dominates – did you forget that? I didn’t. As of the latest count the death toll surpassed 292,000 and there were more than 15.6 million confirmed cases.  There are glimmers of hope though – the vaccines will soon be here.  Look at the uptake in vaccine acceptance. Anticipation is in the air. Vaccine questions

     

  5. Pandemic noncompliers. Many Americans have already turned the page on 2020 – living life as pre-COVID normal. No fear in venturing out mask-less into our COVID-19 world.  The Wild West in 2020 – look at the data! COVID behaviors

     

Again, we are limbo, or maybe conflicted.  2020 will always be memorable but also a year we will want to push deep down into our subconscious.

For a recap of this week’s public opinion polling, please see my interview with Tim Farley.

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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