Gas and Gaslighting: Secret Subject Swap

 

 

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This month 5 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. Read through mine and at the bottom you’ll find links to all of today’s other Secret Subject participants.

My subject is: So, the gas prices . . .

It was submitted by: Tamara of Part-time Working Hockey Mom. 
 

 

Why do I hate this prompt? Because, for me, due to where I live, it's a trigger. My blood pressure is rising just thinking about it.

 

Gas prices are rising, and honestly, it doesn't affect me directly as much as it does many people. I've mentioned that I live in a Covid denier state, where few are vaccinated and when there is the need for mask mandates, they're ignored. In fact, if you put a mask on, it's like putting a target on your back around here. So I don't go out much. Hubs is semi-retired, going to work only twice a week. Due to the lack of used car availability, College Boy hasn't been able to replace the car that he totaled over a year ago. PurDude is still on our gas card, so most of the gas we pay for is his. He only goes into the office a few days a week, but he does take long car trips back here, to KC for a weekend with friends, and he frequents ski mountains. Still, taking the other 3 of us out of the equation, we're not directly affected by what happens at the pumps as so many people are.

But, despite the fact that our gas consumption is way lower than it ever was, I'm not saying that I don't care that the prices are rising. Gas is the start of a ripple effect of rising prices, as it directly affects the transportation of goods.

 

Therefore, the price of everything is rising. Food shortages, and rising prices began with and are continuing to be affected by Covid. But now, adding gas prices into the mix, I look at my grocery list and wonder if I'm going to have to take out a second mortgage on the house to afford a head of lettuce. With necessities replacing splurges, things like cookie butter may soon be a thing of the past {{gasp}}.

Cookie Butter Pancakes

But what directly affects me more than the rise in gas prices, in all prices, is two things. First, sincere compassion for those who were already living economically marginalized lives who literally may not be able to afford food, and especially healthy foods. It's difficult to think of people trying to get ahead in this country being forced into (or further into) food insecurity. The results this has on the physical, mental, and emotional growth of these children is something that we, as a society, will be left to deal with and are morally obliged to address.

 

And I am infuriated by the blatant, ignorant politicization of the rise in gas prices. The gaslighters are now gaslighting gas. 

 

 

It is an everyday occurrence around here to hear people (wasting gas driving around just to show off their pro-trump and don't-tread-on-me flags, btw) yelling about how Biden raised gas prices. This from people (including in my neighborhood) who had "impeach Biden" signs on their lawn even before his inauguration. This from people who are happy to contribute to the death toll of Americans by refusing to take any covid safety measures. 

 

Running around in an oversized gas guzzler is a priority. The sanctity of life? Not so much.

 

Look, there are a lot of reasons why gas prices are high, and Biden has little to do with it. Covid is a factor (trump made it worse, Biden is fighting to mitigate it). Bankruptcies 15 years ago (way before Biden) which, to a great extent, turned the lending community off of investment in oil had an impact. And the Russian aggression against Ukraine (I don't believe Putin consulted Biden) is in the immediate mix. The ban on the import of Russian oil to the US, part of a humanitarian strategy meant to squeeze a blood-thirsty dictator, was, in fact, implemented by Biden. We are not dependent on Russian oil, but are impacted nonetheless due to the fact that oil trade is global.

 

Life is more difficult now for all of us, and gas prices are only a part of it. People who are callously indifferent to, and are directly accountable for, the continued danger and even death of Americans are far more responsible than Biden. And their gaslighting is now, and will remain, a detriment to prices, to society, to our way of life, to humanity.

 

Pass the blood pressure cuff . . . 

 

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver 

Climaxed

Part-time Working Hockey Mom 

What TF Sarah

 

Cookie Butter Pancakes

                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1/3 cup cookie butter

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 TBSP brown sugar

4 - 5 TBSP butter for pan frying, divided

Directions:
*Whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and cookie butter. It won't be completely smooth, just well incorporated. Set aside.

*In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and brown sugar.

*Add the buttermilk mixture to the large bowl and mix, just until incorporated.

*For each pancake, heat about 1/2 TBSP butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Scoop just under 1/3 cup of pancake batter into the pan and form about a 5 inch circle.

*When the edges get brown and crispy, flip the pancake over and cook the other side. Reduce heat to just below medium and cook the other side until browned.

*Repeat until all the batter has been used. Makes 8 - 10 pancakes.