In a poll conducted last week by Reuters, 80% of respondents — including solid majorities of Republicans and Democrats — said they support the idea of not importing any oil from Russia, even if that leads to higher gas prices at the pump.
How long will this bipartisan era of good feeling last? That’s anyone’s guess, but if you are thinking, “A few weeks at most,” you are probably right. Moral outrage could be overwhelmed by gas price fury in a heartbeat. Americans may be sending boatloads of “thoughts and prayers” to the people of Ukraine, but their tolerance for high gas prices will be short lived, if history is any guide.
There is reason to be skeptical about a poll that says people are OK with higher gas prices, but once people find they are spending $100 or more to fill the tank, the era of good feeling could evaporate quickly and turn into the blind rage that is the hallmark of reactionaries today.
Here’s news that might shock you. Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia proposed bipartisan legislation to ban Russian energy imports in response to the invasion of Ukraine, calling it a counter to Russia “weaponizing” energy. Manchin, you may recall, won’t lift a finger to fund electric vehicles for the US Postal Service, protect voting rights for minorities, or preserve a woman’s right to choose how to manage her own body, but he is at the forefront of this new legislation. One has to wonder what is in it for him, as he obviously doesn’t care a flying fig leaf about his constituents.