Sorry but I have to throw 2021 into the equation. No, we don't know for sure how things will be in the 11th month of 2021 but my guess is if you asked the same question this time next year, 2021 will dominate the poll.

We're in deepsiht but we don't feel it — yet.

All the info I have seen on excess deaths point to there being more, like 30% +/-.

I voted for 2008, I think a lot of people never recovered from that either financially or mentally. Though I can certainly see 2020/2021 being worse.

2020, not just from Covid but Oil crashing right before Covid ,that combined with the economical hit to small business's operating on thin margins and now we are seeing number of closures. 2020 by far.

Yes, the jury is still out but the preliminary numbers suggest you are incorrect.

"The over all death rate in the US could, and most likely went down in 2020"

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/excess_deaths.htm

"with the lock down there was much less driving and the related car accidents"

https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/08/31/roadway-deaths-are-way-higher-than-normal-report/

"business were shut down and the related work place accidents were lessened."

Construction, manufacturing and essential work, the really dangerous jobs, carried on as usual for the most part. Healthcare became a life threatening profession for many. I doubt you will see a great reduction in work related deaths.

I took a beating in 1999 - 2000 financially. I recovered but not fully when 2008 hit me. To compound that I was going thru a ugly divorce that didn't get settled until 2010. Adding other things that life can throw at you, I can say 2000- -2010 was the darkest days financially for me.

I dug out of a huge hole and got back on track. I am nowhere near what I thought I would have financially and I'm working longer than I wanted too ( I'm 70 yrs old). I'm fortunate - I'm still in a better spot than most. 2008 everyone took a hit, 2020 is different: jobs, business segments are taking a beating, some are doing well. My company is doing well.

I'm not sure 2008 changed the way I live as much as 2020 has. It will carry into 2021.

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I take exception to those above saying essentially that 2008 was easy or that we recovered quickly or recovered fine. None of those were / are true. We did not recover quickly (or “fine”) and it was not easy. I only reached my “break even” point digging out of the losses I suffered after 2008 in 2017. Nine years later. The opportunity cost of that “lost decade”? Doubtful I’ll ever recoup that. I’m glad I’m where I am and learned a lot but it galls me (and terrifies me) to hear people pooh-pooh 2008-09 like it was no big deal. That’s a perfect set-up for history to repeat when people have such short attention spans and memories...

That said, I think 2020 is worse overall in terms of the damage to our system, our society, our values and our psyche as a nation. It’s done incalculable damage in terms of mental and physical health to people, in addition to financial. Our kids are getting screwed with “lockdowns” and loss of access to social groups they need. The damage to our liberties is real - we’ve enabled and awakened tyrannical impulses in our “leaders” that will have severe after-effects for years, maybe even a couple of generations.

Worst of all, NOBODY has held the culpable parties accountable. Nobody. Not in / because of 2008 and not now. That’s very worrisome.