Let's Demand $10 Gasoline for Volodymyr Zelenskyy
A small sacrifice for freedom, a shared suffering for strong people
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The best part of waking up is Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s “I’m Here” video.
The White House called us all shallow, selfish phonies. At a press conference, some rube from the administration said the US will not sanction Russian energy because it would cause us too much pain at the pump.
Well, this is our chance to prove me wrong. And to impose sanctions that actually hurt Putin and the Russian oligarchs.
If Americans retain some vestige of our frontier stock, we will gladly sacrifice a little cash for Ukraine and its personification of resilience, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Fifty percent of the Russian economy comes from energy exports. The oligarchs who support and maintain Putin’s regime make their money from energy. Sanctions on anything but energy are BBs against a battleship.
If the US were to stop importing oil from Russia, the oligarchs would turn against Putin in a week. And Volodymyr Zelenskyy might live to receive the accolades and honors he’s already earned by denying US offers of escape.
The US has refused to suffer together since World War II. Instead, we’ve concentrated the cost of freedom on a small and shrinking group of individuals and families who understand that liberty comes at a high cost.
From Vietnam to the war on terror, we tried to isolate the pain of war, to protect the precious economy of the wealthy. The banks and huge corporations profit from war; the families with a flag in a shadowbox on the mantle pay the price.
If America wants to prove my dire predictions wrong, it must do so with something stronger than words.
I call on my members of Congress—Ann Wagner, Roy Blunt, and Josh Hawley—to demand that the US stop importing any commodity from Russia, especially oil, until this man and his country are liberated and at peace.
I have sent this message to Ann Wagner, Roy Blunt, and Josh Hawley. Please tell your Congressional delegation to stop importing Russian energy until Ukraine is safe and free.
Bill, I have appreciated all of your writing for the last few months, however, I would like to comment on this one. I sympathize greatly with the Ukrainian people and want this war to end ASAP. However, in order for that to happen, and in order to secure a more stable outlook for Ukraine, we have to recognize that Russia has some legitimate interest in keeping this country neutral. They are a huge neighbor, like Mexico would be for us. Sure, we could apply more pressure on Russia now, but what would be more useful is to focus on what terms could make for peace for both parties. We must realize that not every Eastern European country can be in NATO if we want lasting peace between East and West. While I admire Zelenskyy's tenacity and morale campaign with these videos, and in spirit I want Ukraine to win, I think a more pragmatic view is needed to establish a lasting peace with Russia as Ukraine really is on their doorstep.