When to shop and socialize: Republicans and Democrats have opposite opinions

The summer season may be looming on the calendar, but that doesn’t mean Americans are in a warm-weather mood to spend money and socialize.

“The U.S. economy isn’t like the movie ’Field of Dreams.’ If you reopen it, there’s no guarantee anyone will come,” advised a new survey from Bankrate.com, an online personal finance resource which suggests that much of the public remains leery about patronizing businesses such as restaurants, bars and theaters.

All except Republicans, however. There are some stark differences in opinion.

“While governments are giving the go-ahead to Americans to venture out of their homes to resume a semblance of their lives before the lockdowns, a majority believe this is happening too soon,” said Mark Hamrick, a senior economic analyst for the organization. “The nation’s political divide is in full view here with 3 of 4 Democrats saying it is too soon to be reopening businesses compared to about 1 in 3 Republicans.”

Over half of the respondents — 55% — say businesses are reopening too soon, while 43% say they expect to shop less in public than they did before the outbreak.

“Republicans and Democrats are on opposite sides of both of those issues,” the poll analysis said.

The survey found that 35% of Republicans and 75% of Democrats said businesses were opening too soon. Another 38% of Republicans are ready to visit retailers with added safety measures in place during Memorial Day weekend — compared to 7% of Democrats and 22% of U.S. adults overall. Another 56% of Republicans would be comfortable visiting businesses in under one month; 20% of Democrats and 35% of Americans overall agree.

The research claims greater implications exist beyond political divides.

“It suggests the U.S. economy can’t be flipped on and off like a light switch, as experts far-and-wide echo concerns that the pandemic might wreak a toll on consumer spending that can’t immediately be made up,” the poll analysis said. “It also highlights one of the most pressing pick-your-poisons in modern times that’s left both sides of the aisle divided: Saving lives or the economy.”