It’s not enough to say the tradeoff between democracy and gas prices is misguided. It’s important to also note that the tradeoff is illusory. (via MaddowBlog)
That said, it’s also true that prices are higher than they were a year ago at this time, and polling suggests it’s an issue on the minds of many voters. It’s not surprising that Republicans have made this one of the centerpieces of their midterm strategy.
Will the price of gasoline — a price that has very little to do with which party controls the government — nonetheless determine the outcome of the midterm elections, and quite possibly the fate of American democracy? I wish that were a silly question, but it isn’t. All of this commentary is compelling. With all that Americans are facing, to put gas prices — which, again, have fallen in recent weeks — at the top of the priority list, rewarding far-right reactionaries with political power because the last fill-up cost more than expected, is a tough decision to defend.
In other words, it’s not enough to say the tradeoff between democracy and gas prices is misguided. It’s important to also take the next step and note that the tradeoff is illusory: Congress has no meaningful influence over gas prices or the energy marketplace.