Buck passing is a time-honored tradition in American politics. A former Minnesota Governor once wryly observed that successful leaders have perfected the ability to take credit for things that they don’t deserve and avoid the blame for those things which they do.
Harry Truman had a sign on his desk that famously said, “The Buck Stops Here.” By the time Mr. Biden arrived at the Oval Office that sign was long gone. Rumor has it that Donald Trump had a sign that read, “I kick buck and take names! (You got a problem with that?)” The current clueless Commodore of our ship of state should have a sign that reads, “C’mon Man…What Buck? (You S.O.B.)”
There is not enough space in this column to discuss all the boneheaded decisions that this President has made since assuming office. About the only thing that this administration has done right is actually something that they haven’t done. At least not yet. They haven’t taken the Trump tariffs off Chinese imports. Even if it means we have to pay a little more for certain things, bringing more jobs and shorter supply lines back to America is worth it. Give Biden credit.
On virtually every other front this crew has earned the abysmal approval ratings that Americans are giving them. There is a reason Brandon has become the least popular name for American baby boys.
Consider energy policy and the negative consequences his bad decisions have had. Terminating the Keystone XL pipeline was only the beginning. It didn’t just affect the 10,000 hardworking people who lost their jobs, it has affected everyone. Our economy has been compared to a giant ship. It can’t stop and turn on a dime. So it is amazing that in less than a year we went from energy independence (actually exporting oil and gas) to again begging OPEC to open the spigots. The administration is winning its war on domestic energy production. American consumers are losing. Gasoline and home heating oil prices have risen over 40% since Inauguration Day.
Higher energy prices are actually integral to their plan. It’s hard to get people out of their comfortable SUV’s and into smaller, more expensive electric cars without higher gasoline prices and huge EV subsidies.
If you want to change weather patterns and cool the climate you can no longer simply throw a virgin into a volcano.
These policy choices cascade throughout the rest of the economy. We see the rapidly rising grocery prices. The President (with help from his friends in the media) may try to pass the buck onto greedy truck drivers and grocery store owners. Most consumers won’t buy it.
Firing tens of thousands of supply chain workers who refuse to knuckle under to vaccine mandates probably won’t help control inflation or unplug bottlenecks either.
Residents of South Alabama have been told to expect higher natural gas prices. Why? Because the administration is blocking a pipeline in Illinois. Even though there are producing platforms in Mobile Bay and just offshore, much of that gas now needs to be diverted up North to keep Yankees from freezing.
Most industries require affordable, abundant energy to remain competitive. Aluminum prices have risen to near-record levels. Higher energy prices are already forcing the closure of some plants in Europe. Tighter supplies and higher prices for aluminum will affect everything from cars and construction to beer cans.
Rising energy prices have little impact on people who can afford to write big checks to liberal causes and candidates. It’s every day Americans bear who the burden. Every time they go to work or pick up the kids from school it costs them more. They understand the consequences of inflation far more than the overpaid suits on Wall Street. The ones who told us just a few months ago that inflation was only “transitory.” Maybe they were right. Maybe we are transiting to full-blown stagflation.
All of this was avoidable.
Bad policy choices by the Commodore in Chief have us headed for the rocks. Only a dramatic course correction can save our ship now. But don’t be surprised if all we get is a “full speed ahead” and accelerated buck-passing.