Republicans give better mileage!
Democrats are all about “affordability” these days. They actually elected a socialist as mayor of the nation’s capital of capitalism, so the wind is at their sails. Which, speaking of alternative energy sources, is why we think the Affordability/Abundance wing will fly headlong like sandhill cranes into the whirling windmills of the party’s better-established Climate Changie wing come next year’s mid-term elections.
We thought about affordability after marveling that the average new passenger car costs $49,105. Last time we took our 13-year-old daily driver in to the dealer, the mechanic shook his head and offered to give it a cigarette and a blindfold.
READER DISCRETION ADVISED: This is where the Head Groundskeeper goes positive on Donald J. Trump. The President Wednesday 12-03-25 peeled back Joe Biden’s corporate fuel economy standards from an unrealistic 50 mpg, intended to force drivers into electric vehicles. Auto makers are happy, plant floor is happy, showroom is happy. (Do we really need hands-free driving? Vehicles these days can do everything but prepare your taxes.) In any event, Trump’s CAFE rollback will save American drivers $109 billion over the next five years — almost as much as the Somalis stole from Tim Walz!
Which causes us to wonder how the two leading Democrats mentioned for President — they being Gavin Newsom and J.B. Pritzker — can say “Affordability” without provoking a Danny Thomas spit take from voters.
Regulated and unaffordable
Can’t have affordability without Abundance unless you’re a socialist and repeal the law of supply and demand. Abundance, Ezra Klein’s manual for the Democrat(ic) party’s return to relevance, posits that too many regulations are clogging America’s carburetors (O.K., fuel injectors).
But California is the most regulated state in the country, according to the Mercatus Center at George Mason U. — 23.1 million words worth (not the poet!) of must-do’s and shall-nots. (Wisconsin gets by with less than half.)
California is also one of the most expensive.
“California is struggling with an affordability crisis, and in recent weeks, the focus has turned to the state’s soaring electricity rates,” reports the Public Policy Institute of California.
Rates have surged dramatically in recent years, from about a third higher than the national average in 2015 to over 80% higher last year. … Soaring electricity costs affect lower-income residents the most.
The average single-family house costs $906,500 in California — double the national average. Gallon of gasoline is $4.62 compared to Wisconsin’s $2.63; its gas tax is 71 cents a gallon — compared to our 33 cents.
Newsom Democrats remain in thrall to the Greta Thunberg wing of the party. (Haven’t heard from the little Swede lately. Does she have a boyfriend?) On top of the gasoline tax, California has a cap-and-trade program to lower greenhouse gas emissions, a low-carbon fuel program, and underground gas storage fees. Bowing to the enviro lobby, Newsom is closing petroleum refineries.
Illinois, as the chart shows, isn’t much better.
One other point, before we leave the chalk board. Trump’s Republicans have lowered the annual rate of inflation to 3 percent from Joe Biden’s 9 percent. That does not mean the cost of living is lower, only that prices are increasing at a much slower rate. That’s dis-inflation but not de-flation. To get the latter, the usual prescription is an economic depression. The answer is higher wages. And something lawmakers can really control: lower taxes.
Blaska’s Bottom Line: Right on cue, Democrats in the WI State Senate released today its first digital ad of the 2026 election cycle ballyhooing “Democrats commitment to making the Badger State more affordable for everyone.”
17 responses to “America can’t afford Newsom or Pritzker”
Ummmm…let’s drop this trope of Republicans being the party of fiscal restraint and consumerism. Just explain the BBB, please! Moreover Trump has done everything he can to short-circuit the Fed’s fiscal restraint policies curbing their admittedly too generous policy that fired inflation (along with the pandemic aid); giving him credit is gilding the lily…okay, wrong term but had to try fitting gilding in! 🙂
Both parties are addicted to spending and taxing and neither has shown any sign that they understand or care about an eventual economic reality that’s going to hurt this country.
They have been screaming about a healthcare plan for over a decade. Still nothing. On the first insurance will go sky-high which will blow up this already sinking economy. This shell game they are playing will sink them within hours. Ayear from now Dosey Don will be renting a room from a Saudi prince and eating camel burgers.
Basically, whatever Democrats say is the exact opposite of what they mean. Whatever the mainstream media say about Republicans is really what’s going on with Democrats. It’s that simple.
well, whaddya know – the J6 pipe bomber was a lefty of color – and it took Bongino and Patel to kick the “fine men” of the FBI off the case in order to get to the bottom of it with cell phone and other information that Chris Wray and co. conveniently overlooked. All the focus was on the grandmas waving American flags, can’t do actual detective work.
Dosey Don gave a blanket pardon to all j6 folks. He walks.
And wasn’t that female Capitol Police officer that the insurrectionists tried to blame.
https://san.com/cc/conservative-publication-identified-a-suspect-in-jan-6-pipe-bomb-case-it-wasnt-her/
Tim Walz’s Somalian tribe is over in Barron, Wisconsin making things less affordable for those local natives also.
Kash has the FBI drive his drunk ass girlfriend and her friend’s home. Ride sharing saves gas and the cost of Uber. Very affordable way to travel. I wonder if they tipped the driver or charged it to us taxpayers.
Less affordable how?
Ah yes, Abundance. After the Palisades Fire debacle of governance, they’ve already built one house.
Super abundance of incompetence, unaffordability, over regulation and taxes.
And Affordability, like the Affordable Care Act and its Abundance of higher premiums and deductibles.
Way to go Democrats.
J’ever notice how places like CA and Madison, whose leaders never tire of portraying themselves as champions of the poor and downtrodden, are also the places where the poor and downtrodden can’t afford to live? It’s been decades since working-class families have been able to buy a house in Madison; now they can’t even afford to rent a decent apartment here. Meanwhile, luxury high-rises sprout like noxious weeds throughout downtown, catering to UW students living on daddy’s dime and Epic employees, the real beneficiaries of ‘progressive’ policies.
Another great post, Gary! 👍👍
I thought affordability was a scam. A made-up word. Are you saying that I have been misled by this administration? Dementia Don said it was a “con job.” Where’s Hannity when you need him?
Newsom and Pritzker talking about “affordability” feels ironic when their states are among the most expensive in the nation. From high gas prices to heavy regulations, everyday costs keep rising. Even students juggling work and saying “do my online class for me” look for help wherever they can, like myassignmenthelp Meanwhile, practical moves like Trump’s fuel rollback feel like real relief — which is why many voters think Republicans give better mileage.
“the Head Groundskeeper goes positive on Donald J. Trump.”
From convicted felon to FIFA Peace Prize winner!
The man certainly has turned his life around what a heart warming story suitable for a Hallmark hall of fame tv movie.
Except, no plaid shirt.
Is it time to melt down some diet coke cans and make him another medal? spray paint it gold. Just is good as the FIFA one.