United States: What are Americans' expectations for Joe Biden's 100 days?
Audio 01:21
Joe Biden supporter in the streets of Washington, January 18, 2021 © AFP - TIMOTHY A. CLAR
Text by: RFI Follow
5 mins
Joe Biden will arrive at the head of a country destabilized by multiple crises, as rarely in its history.
What do Americans expect during the first 100 days of the new president?
Reports in Philadelphia and Washington.
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From our special envoys to the East Coast of the United States
,
Stefanie Schüler
and
Bertrand Haeckler
In the coronavirus era, the ice rink in front of Philadelphia City Hall is one of the few places open to the public.
Fighting the epidemic is America's number one priority today.
“
We need to focus on immunization so that we can reopen, so that the kids go back to school and people go back to work and that we get some semblance of a normal life
,” Sheyla says.
►Also read: United States: progressives and African Americans await Joe Biden at the turn
Marc's expectations are economic.
He “
would like to see small businesses recover
”.
“
You know, these people put everything they own into their business to make money.
And there, the government closed them.
I would like these people to be better,
”he says.
"
Peace is the most important thing for me
"
The political violence at the start of the year has also left its mark.
Dana wishes Joe Biden could restore "
peace, this is the most important to me
".
“I
think we have to deal with the problem of monopolies, especially those in the tech industry.
These monopolies make us lose control.
And the events of the last days are a direct consequence of that,
”says David.
Robert hopes the new administration "
will fight climate change and end climate skepticism
".
Fortunately, Robert blurted out to conclude, that the chief climate skeptic of the past four years leaves the scene this Wednesday.
"
75 million people voted for Donald Trump
"
D-1 of the inauguration of Joe Biden, the federal capital of the United States looks more and more like a fortress.
Rick rode an hour's bike to downtown Washington.
His road stopped in front of a roadblock guarded by heavily armed soldiers, a few blocks from the White House.
“
You know, I often bring my kids here.
We walk around the Mall and we fly kites there.
Now it looks like a military base.
It's incredible, in four years we have gone from kites to a quasi-war situation
”, he notes.
What does he think of the current political situation?
“
I don't know what the future will hold.
75 million people voted for
Donald Trump
.
How do you get them to change their mind?
"
A divided country
We often talk about what politicians could do.
But this division of the country also concerns every American.
With this new president, will it be easier for Rick to take a step towards the other camp?
“
I think it's going to take time.
I have lost some very good friends under Donald Trump's presidency, people I never thought would support the same things he did, he sighs.
It separated us.
I don't talk to them anymore.
Hope things could work out.
But many Americans right now believe that the Civil War may not be over.
There may well be even more conflicts before peace returns.
Is that what he thinks?
No more conflicts before peace?
"
I think some people will not give up
."
►
To read also: United States: Joe Biden wants to act quickly after taking office
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United States
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