Stealth gubernatorial candidate Sarah Huckabee Sanders is working the party line, blaming gas prices on Joe Biden.

Advertisement

Facts? Who needs ’em? It’s complicated, but nuance isn’t in the GOP playbook. The U.S. is a net energy exporter. The domestic energy industry has leases it isn’t using. We get a very small amount of our supply from Russia. There are some arguments, beneficial to U.S. refiners and our allies, for continuing to accept some Russian supplies (though I tend to agree it’s time to tighten that screw on Putin, too).  Prices are high everywhere in the world. The war is a problem. Our so-called Saudi allies aren’t much help. And so on.

But loading your honking giant SUV with expensive gas and blaming it solely on Biden is pretty big stretch, as Matt Campbell has duly noted.

Advertisement

Matt continues:

Advertisement

I chided a friend on Twitter yesterday for moaning about the price of gas. He’s comfortable financially for one thing. I said maybe it was better to endure a little pain for Ukraine than to complain. Or drive less. Or buy an EV. My response from a numbnutz MAGA was that it was “elitist” to suggest people drive less or buy an EV.

Really? Elitist? Depends on what you drive, for one thing. A Chevy Bolt will run you about $32,000. And the fuel is cheap and the maintenance cost virtually non-existent in my experience. A Denali runs $61,000 or more. The fuel ain’t cheap even when prices are lower given the guzzling. Country living with long commutes has a price, sure and people have to work. I get that. But that doesn’t mean optional outings can’t be reduced.

Advertisement

I know. I’m wasting my breath.

50 years of fearless reporting and still going strong

Be a part of something bigger and join the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times. For 50 years, our progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock has been tackling powerful forces through our tough, determined, and feisty journalism. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 email subscribers, it's clear that our readers value our commitment to great journalism. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating – as little as $1 –, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Take a stand with the Arkansas Times and make a difference with your subscription or donation today.

Previous article COVID today and the open line Next article Does Tom Cotton really want to link Reagan with Trump? It reflects poorly on both.