Most Americans think the federal government is making the coronavirus pandemic worse, according to the latest installment of the Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index.
That’s a pretty stunning graph. But Axios, which made a big deal out of the “partisan divide,” neglected to put this into it:
Most independents (68%) also say the government is making things worse.
That means something. Indies have, traditionally, broken down on partisan lines right along with Dems and GOPers. 68%? That’s big.
Also this:
When the Axios-Ipsos index launched in late March, more than half of Americans said they trusted the federal government to look out for their best interests. This week, it’s at just 32%, and has been stuck in the low 30s for months. Americans continue to trust Joe Biden more than Donald Trump to give them accurate information about the virus, though neither breaks 50%.
Despite that lack of faith in the federal government, most Americans are optimistic that this will all be in better shape relatively soon. 57% said they’re somewhat or very hopeful that the U.S. will get the pandemic under control within the next six months, while 43% were not too hopeful or not hopeful at all.
More educated respondents — those with at least some college — were somewhat less hopeful about a quick turnaround, as were Black and Hispanic respondents.
But partisanship was, yet again, the main dividing line: 82% of Republicans and 42% of Democrats were hopeful that things would be under control in six months.
I don’t know how anyone can be optimistic. Trump has thoroughly trashed the country and it’s going to be a long grind to get it even functional again.