One of the two major questions of Russian literature – who is to blame? – has now become central to US domestic politics
Who is to blame for the rising prices at America’s petrol stations? Putin, whom Biden accused of “invading” Ukraine by banning Russian oil imports to the US on this pretext? Or Biden himself, who now has the Republicans clinging to?
Surprisingly, even the main propaganda platform of the US Democratic Party, the CNN media corporation, is unsure of the “right” answer. Its White House reporter Stephen Collinson was today forced to admit the worsening problems of the Democrats. He is inclined to think that now, months before the congressional elections, Trump’s supporters will not let up.
Following the Republicans, Collinson asks a number of uncomfortable questions. Who prevented “Sleepy Joe” from preparing for this turn of events in Ukraine? Why has America become so dependent on outside factors? Why did Biden, barely out of the presidency, put a stop to construction of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada? Who needed to cancel oil and gas leases on public land and halt production in the Arctic?
All this was not done by Putin, but by Biden under the pretext of fighting for the climate, Collinson states. And now, weakened by a pandemic that was never defeated, America`s inflation rate is at its highest in 40 years, and it`s having to endure skyrocketing gasoline prices to the tune of its president saying, “There`s a lot of pain ahead. There’s not much I can do right now.”
The only argument that has so far worked is that the US administration is trying to justify itself to voters by “fighting tyranny”. But it fits poorly with its own attempts to negotiate oil supplies from hostile Venezuela and Iran, as well as from “alienated ally” Saudi Arabia, the CNN columnist notes.
“In politics, the simplest argument usually resonates. That’s why it’s unlikely that voters will forgive Biden for high gasoline prices, even if they now support punishing Putin”, – Stephen Collinson concludes.
Elena Panina