Did they bitch about gas prices under biden and solely blame him? If so, ask what's different now. See if they can point to state level changes that affected gas prices.
This is assuming they would at least attempt a good faith argument. If not, I'd just laugh and imply they have the mentality of a child thinking they figured out the world and are dead wrong. Like listen to their inane rants and just kinda chuckle as if it's impressive they built such a convoluted plot in their head.
"Have the day you voted for."
Just make something up that you find funny. There is no point engaging in reality.
Say Newsom actually passed legislation that lowered prices act but trump over turned it because hes brought and paid for by the oil and gas lobby.
Whatever they reply just make up something that directly counters it. Let them see how it feels to try and debunk bullshit 24/7
Don't bother engaging. They will not change their mind, you will not change yours. All roads lead to friction.
“Believe whatever the fuck you want.”
There is no solution here.
In my own similar situation, I have come to the conclusion that it's bigger than any single issue. You can't reason any of these folks out of it, because a major factor is their belief that they are always, always right regardless of what the truth may be.
You can show them the math. You can cite paper after paper. You can try whatever you want and none of it will stick. Even if they claim otherwise, they think they're right and you're wrong. The closest you'll get is appeasement.
You always go crazier.
Bring up the ancient aliens that have infiltrated the highest levels of the Russian and Israeli governments and are using bisexual mind control to force Trump to cuckold himself to Newsom, causing the theta waves to destabilize the oil reserves, leading to the shortages that will allow Mongolia to rise as a global power.
That, or do the smart thing and shrug and walk away.
if you want people to change their minds on something, don't tell them anything. ask them.
Ask them if prices have risen since last year. Then ask them that you are interested in how California fucked this up recently, and if they could tell you which new Californian law has been enacted in recent months, that made gas so much more expensive.
Ignore all propaganda videos they might send you, and keep asking for that law that must have changed.
Well, personally I would break off contact with my parents if they openly supported fascism, but other than that you can suggest they just read a book about economics or some such. Rich countries all have far higher taxes on petrol than California, and with good reason.
Tell them to move. Living on the West Coast is a privilege. If they don't like it they are free to leave.
Also, it's not the taxes that cause the price of gas to fluctuate daily, it's supply and demand of things like crude oil. Trump's stupid war in Iran has caused oil prices to spike globally, and this is easy to prove.
“You voted for this.”
Ok, maybe not if you’re a minor and living in their house…
Two options.
Remind them that they are stupid and that California's air quality used to be way worse before stricter fuel refinement and SMOG laws. As a Californian I can literally confirm this within my own lifetime.
Stop speaking to them like I've done with all the dipshit conservatives in my orbit because you'll never change them so why waste your time on lost causes? The only possible catalyst for change is them losing their loved ones due to their own ignorance but, realistically, that same ignorance will prevent them from accepting that it's their own fault.
Generally, I avoid people who engage in MAGA talking points. The massive, oligarch-sponsored, far-right propaganda machine that dominates social media and television viewership uses the same brainwashing techniques used on US soldiers in Korea, and there's no cure for that yet.
We know human beings can be manipulated. It's why we regulate advertising and prosecute grift. FOX News should be unlawful has it stands, but so should gambling and here we are.
My own father is a MAGA disciple and an avid viewer of FOX News. He's isolated from all other news sources, which is what they do. I have to protect myself from him.
They should move to Alabama and experience the conservative rule they want. Then they should stay there.
"Is it nice, living in a reality of your own design?"
"buy an ev you stupid fuckers",
The answer is obviously 'it depends'.
Do you want to be an asshole to your parents? Do you want to keep things civil?
The most responsible and mature answer is probably, just ignore them and actively be out of their communication reach. This means physically (don't be in the same room/house as them) and digitally (turn off notifications from them).
Get an EV!
Just kidding... unless...? >.>
Since there seems to be a divide between your views and your parent's, ask yourself if you think you could have a constructive discussion about the causes for high gas prices on a level playing field.
If no, do not engage. Maybe ask them to not discuss politics around/ with you to avoid building tension between each other.
If you think you can discuss this with them, go for it, but stay on topic. There's a lot to be upset about in politics no matter where you stand or what you vote. If you realize that you can't close the gap, cut your losses and change topic.
But additionally, ask yourself why it is so important to you to discuss the topic with them. Knowing where you are coming from and what you want out of this might help to protect yourself from stress.
AAA has gas prices country wide
https://gasprices.aaa.com/state-gas-price-averages/
basically everywhere on the western side of the country is getting rocked. Idaho is deep red and is pushing 5 bucks a gallon.
Add to that that more then 10% of the country lives in California so demand is naturally going to be higher which in turn causes prices to go up. So yeah, part might be high fuel taxes, but its certainly not the only part, unless they're gonna say Alaskas high prices are also just because of fuel taxes, in which case they're just dumb.
Well as a left progressive who has looked into California gas, and also lived there for 4 years, yeah, there are some ridiculous fees, but also some very high standards that cause higher prices, and some of it is to pay for legitimate improvements and upkeep in the state - but tell them that everyone is starting to get high gas prices that the US used to be immune from, largely thanks to oil and gas bribing politicians to keep us addicted to oil and gas and stifle modern energy production, thereby bribing politicians to keep our prices high and climbing ever higher as oil production becomes more problematic, as the world transitions away from gas and moves to electric, causing less demand eventually that would also cause higher prices just like these war related production issues do. If politicians had invested in and encouraged investment in modern energy production we would have increasing numbers of jobs in those energy sectors, not decreasing and seasonal, and prices would be lowering as solar and wind and battery tech get cheaper and cheaper. Solar is now the cheapest, and that includes compared to oil and gas.
Tell them they sound like Libertarians, who don’t want to pay for road repairs because “the roads are already built.”
Two options:
Link obvious rise to "no new wars" Iran Epstein War (bring up Epstein relentlessly).
Say it's wild how California is outsmarting Trump. Guess he's a terrible incompetent leader who cannot outsmart California let alone Iran.
You need to also start fucking with their algorithms. Inject some reality into their phones etc.
If you live with them or rely on them, you should consider saying nothing. Avoid disagreements with them. Conservatives do not develop deep emotional bonds with their children the way normal people do. You risk them abandoning you before you are able to survive on your own.
If you do not live with them or rely on them financially, it is best to not communicate with them at all. Nothing good can come from a relationship with a conservative.
In fact, nothing good in human history has ever come from conservatism.
Socratic method is the only way, but it's very frustrating.
"Shut the fuck up. I'm not playing this game anymore. Goodbye."
Tell them that they're idiots and never speak to them again
Tell them your hurt to learn that they are capable of unconditional love and support. Ask them if they'd have loved you more if you raped a few children, or was racist AF.
Red hats suffer from a collective delusional state. Talking to them is pointless.
Say honestly both Trump and Newsom working to reduce our oil usage is a good thing. Trump is also working harder then any president to finally cut down US ranchers to give vegan diets a better chance.
Its just too bad Trump wasnt as smart anf its costing us billions for his plan to go back to the middle east for a few decades compared to just taxing it.
maybe something like:
"I agree with you guys, gas prices are a complex issue with many different factors affecting how much gas costs. however, gas is currently high due to how supply and demand works. a major port that exports about 20% of the globe's gasoline is now closed, causing supply to go down and demand to go up."
short, concise, factual. first sentence is key cause you agree with them, gas is complicated. but everyone can agree when there is less of something, the price of it goes up.
hope this helps
I had this same argument with some dipshit the other day, except they were blaming Biden and AlL tHe ExEcUtIvE oRdErS hE sIgNeD, didn't want to listen how gas prices were not this bad literally a year ago. These people have lost all cognitive ability to discern facts from fiction.
Maine this article explains it: https://www.psypost.org/lower-cognitive-ability-is-linked-to-stronger-christian-nationalist-views-even-after-accounting-for-education/
Well tell them to switch to electric, gas is not coming down any time soon 1/4 of oil supply was cut because of some idiot and the prices aren't just high in California not on the whole world.
In fact people in Europe would like to have our prices.
Going back to taxes and fees. If your parents grew up in California they sure remember when we were infamous for smog. Smog was especially bad here, because of the geological position, on one side there's wind from ocean on the other are mountains. That configuration prevents air from circulating and traps smog.
Only after mandating catalysts, special, more expensive gasoline blend and pushing car manufacturers to lower emissions we for that under control.
I didn't know about you, but I rather pay more than have to worry on additional lung diseases and cancers.
Also, most red states can lower their gas tax because our money partially funds their road maintenance. They should pay everything themselves instead of sucking free money. Damn socialists.
“Goodbye.”
Tell them to "get good" then drink the remaining gasoline in their fuel tank without breaking eye contact to establish dominance
Plot twist: they don't live in California
It's not going to work, but I'd just show them the data:
Let them decide what to believe.
Tell ‘em to move to Texas where they can have cheap gas as prohibitively expensive property taxes instead!
Tell them to get an electric vehicle.
Sharing DNA does not make you obligated to keep toxic individuals in your life. Your peace of mind is more valuable than arguing with people brainwashed by billionaires. Moving on is always an option.
You tell them you want something called “estrangement” because they’re fucking stupid.
Why don't you show them gas prices for the rest of the country?
Unfortunately, a plurality of Americans actually believe that. There's no helping them; this is the line of bull they're being fed by their leaders and the billionaires who own the media.
If they still vote Republican, they are probably pretty low on the intelligence bell curve and must be difficult to have coherent conversations with. Option B is that they are extremely hateful and the world is collectively curious why you are still talking to them.
Do you live in California?
Tell them they're stupid and stop talking with them.
I cut my shithead republican family members out of my life and it's made it much better. No more arguing with pondscum about how living under Biden was as bad as ice kidnapping and murdering people in the street.
Been a really nice year without that
These things do increase the price of gas. Is it more than the increase from war? I don't think so. But that part doesn't matter because they (may) think the war is good and the taxes are bad so they are willing to pay the extra for the war.
Login to their router and block the URLs for Facebook, whatever their TV provider is (since most cable tv runs through the internet nowadays), Twitter, Nextdoor, and any podcasting service you can think of.
Competing with a multi-billion dollar propaganda network as one person who they likely perpetually see as immature and uneducated is going to be like Sisyphus pushing a boulder up a mountain.
Alternatively, if they watch Fox "News", you can create a fake version of Fox with a fake Fox banner and show lefty YouTube political commentators instead. I'm sure there's some way to automate that process.
FWIW,
They seem to be partially correct.
wp:Gasoline and diesel usage and pricing#United States
wp:List of governors of California
wp:Steve Hilton#2026 California gubernatorial election
Xavier Becerra
Steve Hilton
Hilton has pledged to make significant changes to California's economy, including reducing gas prices to just $3 per gallon, lowering utility bills, and abolishing income taxes for individuals earning less than $150,000 per year.
It ain't like it was 40 years ago when a Republican like Reagan won California twice, including the election where he won 49 states back when he was 73 years old, whereas weak Trump couldn't even win 40%.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_United_States_presidential_election#Results_by_state
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_United_States_presidential_election#Results_by_state
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_presidential_election#Results_by_state
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_States_presidential_election#Results_by_state
So sad.
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