Plenty to be optimistic, pessimistic on
No one could have guessed how 2020 would play out, nor can anyone really anticipate every major trend for the new year. But there are broad areas that our editorial board is optimistic — and pessimistic — about at the state and national level. Things we’re optimistic about: The beginning of the end of the pandemic is here.
It is a testament to the value of scientific investments and the power of the private sector that we have not one but two anti- COVID-19 vaccines developed, evaluated and distributed within one year. With more potential vaccines developed in the United States and around the world, and the scaling up of production under way, the long and destructive pandemic we have all been grappling with may soon come under control.
Telecommuting is more viable than ever and will only continue.
According to Gallup, as many as a third of American workers were always working remotely as of September and another quarter at least sometimes working remotely. With expanded use of telecommuting, entrepreneurs, companies and workers alike have more flexibility in how and where they live and operate. Freedom of choice is always a win.
Californians may check the worst of Sacramento’s excesses.
California’s political establishment has repeatedly made the mistake of thinking Californians will just go along with anything Sacramento wants. With their rejection of affirmative action and split roll this November, as well as their approval of Proposition 22, however, Californians have at least slowed the state’s leftward lurch.
Criminal justice reform will march on.
Californians rejected an effort by police unions to roll back criminal justice reforms this November. Coupled with the House’s recent vote to end federal marijuana prohibition, we may see continued progress in improving policing and correcting flaws in the justice system.
Things we’re pessimistic about: The federal government won’t ever get serious about the national debt.
Even before the pandemic, the federal government projected it would spend at least $1 trillion more than it took in annually for the next decade. With the demands of the pandemic and a Biden administration eyeing a larger role for the federal government in various aspects of life, it’s hard to imagine this trend changing any time soon.
Sacramento won’t focus on the basics.
Sacramento’s problems are many, often self-inflicted and commonly long-identified. If the governor and the Legislature focused on the basics, such as making sure the state’s unemployment agency does what it’s supposed to do and making sure existing programs and obligations are sustainable, state government woud better serve the public and be on better footing to handle novel problems. But, with an even bigger Democratic supermajority, we can expect Sacramento to spend far too much time and money on new programs and poorly thoughtout ideas.
Americans will remain divided on basic facts.
It’s one thing for Americans to be divided on their vision for the role of government in society or particular cultural trends. But it’s another for Americans to be so divided that they can no longer agree on basic facts. There is plenty of blame to go around for how we arrived at this point, but resolving it won’t be easy. As long as people only seek out information that confirms their worldview, or fail to critically engage with information, this problem will drag on.