Hurray for the blue wave. Cultural issues are easier, but economics and gas prices are a harder nut to crack.

I'm happy that we had the "blue tsunami" election, especially for cultural reasons. Divided government means less chance of dictatorship and I basically like DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion).

Economics and bringing down prices is a tougher task. As for gas prices, we can stop fighting Iran, but will Iran gladly reopen the Strait of Hormuz? Places like Iran and Russia are still brutal dictatorships sitting on lots of oil. They may have incentives to let more oil flow if we lift sanctions so their economies, and unfortunately their authoritarian governments, can eat a little better. Is that the right thing to do?

Alternative energy is a nicer way to go, but that doesn't necessarily bring down prices, at least in the short run. Washington State has among the highest gas prices in USA, partially because we are trying to address climate change with our Cap and Trade tax on fossil fuel companies. They, of course, pass the costs along to consumers. We are back to these difficult economic realities that cause political pendulums to swing. The blue tsunami may be fragile.

At least I like the culture of liberalism. Hurray for diversity, bike lanes, transit systems and so forth. I remember when Trump's transportation secretary disparaged what he called "DEI bike lanes." The US Transportation Department was better under the leadership of former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.