A high price for patriotism, paid by those who can least afford it


There's a scene in Jack Kerouac's counterculture classic On the Road where the impecunious characters are so broke they have to coast their car down a mountain to reach the next town. Finding an open pawnshop, they exchange a new watch for one dollar — enough to replenish the tank and get back on track.
Kerouac probably wouldn't be very happy if he pulled up to the pump today. According to the American Automobile Association, average gas prices hit an all-time high of $4.17 this week.
Because it isn't adjusted for inflation, vehicle efficiency, or total income, that number is somewhat misleading. But real costs have increased sharply over the last two years and are approaching levels last seen in the late 2000s. And the Biden administration's decision to ban Russian oil will likely exacerbate the problem.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
To Republicans, rising prices are an irresistible opportunity to criticize the president without directly challenging his response to the Ukraine crisis. In a press conference yesterday, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) argued that "the main reason Americans are paying so much is bad domestic policies."
To Democrats, on the other hand, the war offers a welcome chance to shift attention away from the administration. Polls suggest that a large majority of the public is willing to accept measures to punish Russia even if they cause higher prices at the pump.
With conditions in Ukraine still fluid, it's hard to predict how the politics of gas prices will develop over the coming weeks and months. As the parties seek their advantage, though, it's important to remember that the burdens are hardly imaginary. Americans premise some of their most important economic decisions on the assumption that fuel will be relatively cheap. That includes the selection of cars, residences, and employment. In the long term, consumers can adjust. In the coming weeks and months, though, it's not so easy just to drive less.
For many Americans, then, quick price increases are more than a minor inconvenience. They're a practical necessity that drains money from expenditures on food, clothing, and housing as well from from saving and discretionary spending. Since those goods have to be produced and shipped, moreover, costly energy raises their prices, too.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Gas prices may well continue to rise, and you can count on the administration to appeal to patriotic duty and shared sacrifice to justify the results. The truth is, neither Biden nor Putin is solely responsible for the situation. But denying it's a real and growing problem? That's what they call gaslighting.
Samuel Goldman is a national correspondent at TheWeek.com. He is also an associate professor of political science at George Washington University, where he is executive director of the John L. Loeb, Jr. Institute for Religious Freedom and director of the Politics & Values Program. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard and was a postdoctoral fellow in Religion, Ethics, & Politics at Princeton University. His books include God's Country: Christian Zionism in America (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2018) and After Nationalism (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2021). In addition to academic research, Goldman's writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications.
-
Can Trump put his tariffs on stronger legal footing?
Today's Big Question Appeals court says 'emergency' tariffs are improper
-
Film reviews: The Roses, Splitsville, and Twinless
Feature A happy union devolves into domestic warfare, a couple's open marriage reaps chaos, and an unlikely friendship takes surprising turns
-
Thought-provoking podcasts you may have missed this summer
The Week Recommends Check out a true crime binger, a deep-dive into history and more
-
Truck drivers are questioning the Trump administration's English mandate
Talking Points Some have praised the rules, others are concerned they could lead to profiling
-
Pomp but little progress at Trump's Ukraine talks
Feature Trump's red carpet welcoming for Putin did little to advance a peace deal with Ukraine
-
Gavin Newsom's Trump-style trolling roils critics while thrilling fans
TALKING POINTS The California governor has turned his X account into a cutting parody of Trump's digital cadence, angering Fox News conservatives
-
Inflation derailed Biden. Is Trump next?
Today's Big Question 'Financial anxiety' rises among voters
-
Costco is at the center of an abortion debate
Talking Points The decision to no longer stock the abortion pill came following a pressure campaign by conservatives
-
Trump warms to Kyiv security deal in summit
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump's support for guaranteeing his country's security 'a major step forward'
-
Ukraine, European leaders to meet Trump after Putin talks
Speed Read Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week
-
Trump picks conservative BLS critic to lead BLS
speed read He has nominated the Heritage Foundation's E.J. Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics