Trump’s rush to open the economy is totally out of sync with public opinion. Here are several findings in that regard.
1. The clear priority for the large majority of Americans right now is slowing and stopping the spread of the virus.
1. The clear priority for the large majority of Americans right now is slowing and stopping the spread of the virus.
2. Americans obviously are very concerned about the short-term and long-term financial toll of the pandemic on them and their families, but they are even more concerned about the possibility that they or someone in their family will become infected by the virus.
3. There is overwhelming support for the measures governors have put in place to keep people at home and keep non-essential businesses closed, and Americans do not want these measures lifted prematurely.
4. Most people believe under the best of circumstances we can start getting back to normal later in June or July — only about a third think we will be ready to start resuming business as usual by the end of May (very few think the end of April is realistic).
5. The credible voices for Americans right now are the doctors and nurses who are treating patients in their states, along with medical researchers and public health experts. Americans are not looking to corporate CEOs for guidance on what to do next.
6. While the work of bringing the virus under control goes on, voters say the main priorities for the federal government should be strengthening the health care system, expanding testing, protecting medical workers, and accelerating the development of a vaccine.
7. Taking steps to hold China responsible for its role in the spread of the virus and taking steps to help large corporations that have been hurt by the outbreak are at the bottom of voters’ priorities for the federal government.
8. Trump brings significant vulnerabilities to this debate. There is a consensus that he did not take the threat of coronavirus seriously until it already was a crisis and that he has failed to do the things that could have lessened the impact of the pandemic.
8. He also is seen as looking out for corporations and the wealthy rather than average Americans, and I think it is likely that his rush to reopen the economy will be viewed in that light.
9. The bottom line is that Americans want the country to get back to work SAFELY and AT THE RIGHT TIME. I doubt most Americans have real faith in Trump’s judgment about when and how to do that.
