Catherine McGrath

This pandemic and failed action from our leaders has brought our country to its knees. Whether it be the closing of universities, helping homeschool siblings, or the fear of getting sick we’ve all had to adapt to this new normal of staying home and waiting this out. 

While the risk to individual families may be the most devastating, day-to-day life is not the only thing that has changed since this crisis has begun. In the political world, the two biggest issues at the moment are the economy and the election. Both of these institutions have been crippled and threaten the day-to-day lives of families across the nation for years to come. 

The Economy

The Bureau of Economic Analysis informed the public on July 30th that last quarter the US economy had declined at a rate that led to the worst drop ever recorded. The data released by the bureau proves that the pandemic has brought an “end to the longest economic expansion in US history” and wiped “out five years of economic gains in just a few months,” according to CNN. As the President tried to reopen the economy from the end of May until now we’ve seen a gradual decline in the unemployment rate although, it still sits at a startling 10.2 percent for the month of July. 

While in the past a recession has traditionally been defined as two consecutive quarters of economic decline, the staggering hit our GDP has taken may make for a new definition of the term. Either way, while Americans fear the outside world, spending is not a priority. This lack of spending on a prolonged scale can lead to a recession and a deep one. 

The Election

While the economy is in free-fall, the 2020 election is in full swing. Less than 100 days out sits one of the most important elections in the history of our nation. In the midst of a pandemic, both candidates have had to take a step back from the type of campaigning we would normally see just weeks before a presidential election. 

At this point in the race the incumbent, Donald J. Trump has fallen double-digits behind his adversary, former Vice President Joe Biden. In a Quinnipiac poll released July 15th, the data shows registered voters back Biden over Trump 52 to 37 percent. 

It is proving hard for either candidate to do any influential campaigning at all. Rallies hosted by both campaigns would normally be held in various cities around the country in compact stadiums with supporters cheering and waving signs. The coronavirus has made that concept and many others dangerous to carry-out. Door-to-door canvassing has come to a halt although a candidate for County Commissioner in Miami-Dade county has made use of fliers hung on door handles. Clever! Most presidential campaigning must be held over zoom or through the mail. Both may eventually prove to be ineffective and impersonal. 

The most politically energizing events of an election year, the National Conventions, are expected to begin this month however, it is unclear how they are going to proceed in the midst of a pandemic. The President expects to accept the Republican National Convention’s nomination in Charlotte, North Carolina although many local leaders are confused as to how the rest of the convention is to go on. Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee, has decided not to accept his nomination in Milwaukee where the convention is being held and instead will attend the event virtually. 

These conventions include the official nomination of the parties’ presidential candidate as well as the selection of the nominees’ running-mate. While these procedures can be easily done over the computer it is the in-person speeches given by various party leaders that will be the greatest loss. In 2004, then-senator Barack Obama gave the keynote address which gave him the momentum and universal praise needed to win over the White House just four years later.

President Trump floated the idea of postponing November’s election citing fraudulent Mail-in voting ballots as cause to delay in a tweet from July 30th. This is unconstitutional and GOP leaders have already rejected this idea. However, Trump’s suggestion begs the question, how much longer can we go on like this? Our economy is bleeding out, the November election is under attack, and thousands are dying each day. It feels like our country is keeled over, limping on broken limbs to the finish line of this year. But, does the end of this year mark the end of our agony?