Cliff’s Take: Cautiously Impatient
Nearly 80 million Americans are now fully vaccinated. Things are looking up in the US.
Less so in other parts of the world. Brazil is experiencing 3,000 deaths a day. India has seen a massive spike in cases. Other countries are suffering, too.
We have a lot to be thankful for here in the US. But like everything with COVID there is trepidation and uncertainty. We’re seeing a bump in cases and new hotspots.
Perhaps it is best to say that we are "cautiously impatient" for a resumption of normalcy, despite the risks. In other words, Americans are open to reopening. Our data shows that we’ve relaxed our guard enough on COVID to start worrying about other problems, like immigration.
We want to go back. We soon will get what we want—that is good, right?
Below I detail the most relevant data points of the week.
- Bipolar world. Coronavirus, coronavirus, coronavirus. That is what most Americans expect Biden to prioritize. Republicans, however? No. For them, it is all about immigration, the economy, and jobs. Same world, different universe.
- Biden’s bailiwick. President Biden is hitting it out of the ballpark on the pandemic. Even one in three Republicans give him kudos here. Impressive, for our hyperpolarized world.
- Slow but steady. Here is where our cautious impatience is most evident. The COVID winter has been cold and arduous. But America wants to open the economic door. It has been a slow and steady march to this point. The power of vaccines is at play.
- Local heroes. Vaccine passports are one way to get normal life back up and running. But, as they say, all politics is local. That goes with vaccine imprimaturs as well. Look at the data. America is saying, “I am good with the idea if my local hospital is, too.” Trust, openness—it’s all about proximity.
- What matters. The virus has impacted us in countless ways—many negative and some positive. First and foremost, Americans say that the crisis has crystallized the importance of family. I would say that is a positive thing.
Here, I’ve often cautioned that our new post-COVID “normal” won’t look like the passports. Vaccine passports would be one of these wrinkles. Will they succeed? Not sure. Remember that Americans always prefer to keep things local. Some will do it; others won't.
Be safe, be sane.
For more information, please contact:
Clifford Young
President, U.S.
Public Affairs
+1 202 420-2016
[email protected]
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