[munificent]

You are both right.

Individual behavior is a combination if individual choices, local culture, and surrounding leadership.

Most individuals in the US are making smart choices (though you wouldn't be able to see that from the news since they are by nature not newsworthy). Local culture varies widely across the US. Some places are more science-focused than others. Local and state leadership is all over the place. Trump is obviously doing a catastrophically poor job.

All of these things affect the outcomes we see.