I have not posted on this blog for almost two years. I was going to resume with a long take on the midterms on Tuesday. But I realized I don't need a long take to figure out what voters care about this cycle. I just need to think about conversations with my wife, many friends, and co-workers.
But let's use my wife as the example: A major subject in our lives is how much more expensive it is to live. We'll fret over the costs of gasoline, or the cost of eggs, or the dairy-free margarine we prefer. Or how much more expensive it is to enjoy lunch at one of several middle-class restaurants. Or how more expensive airplane tickets will be for that special vacation we've been planning 10-plus years for.
We are pretty fortunate middle-classers. Unlike many others, we don't have to tap into our savings, or worse, use credit cards to meet daily essential needs. Across America, lots and lots of people have to do that.
Inflation is the key issue today. It's easy to understand why. It affects virtually everyone. If you, or your family, are paying thousands more each year just to exist, it's your issue. And it's what you are thinking about. Crime and immigration are also concerns, but they pale in comparison to your pocketbook.
It's not selfish to care so much about inflation that it's your major issue. One isn't coveting when inflation plagues us. One isn't greedy, or unfeeling to consider inflation a major issue. We just want to make ends meet. We want to provide for our children. And we want policies and politicians to prevent inflation, not egg it on.
In my world, we're talking about inflation. Across the nation, we're talking about inflation.
Here's what my wife and I never talk about: a perceived threat to democracy if our preferred political party does not win.
Republicans are tub-thumping the threat of inflation. It's their chief priority. I hope they continue to care about the issue if the GOP wins Congress. I'll be very disappointed if the next Congress emulates the previous Congress with constant investigations and impeachments.
Democrats are tub-thumping a threat to democracy if they lose elections. It's a bit ironic since Democrats spent tens of millions of dollars boosting -- in the primaries -- Republican candidates who they cynically thought would be easier to beat.
Maybe they will be easier to beat. Or maybe a lot of these "democracy threats" will win Tuesday, which would be even more ironic.
I don't predict elections. When I do I am invariably wrong. But I know that inflation is a far bigger concern than a temper tantrum that democracy will end if a candidate loses.
We're a strong country. Politics is always cyclical. We abide, and we endure. And we dismiss political demagoguery.
