it is. i was reading some book about energy market cannibalization in countries that produce oil. this was prob like 10+ years ago, but the author talked about how, across the board in any country you could name with either open, democratic or repressive autocratic institutions, no matter what absolute position prices started in... if energy prices went up sharply, the political system destabilized.

one of the examples was KSM and how they are oil rich and heavily subsidize domestic consumption. super cheap gas, electricity generated from oil, just crazy wasteful/luxury consumption systems. the amount being consumed domestically was growing rapidly and projected to interfere with exports and the national economy, but whenever the government even slightly fiddled with the subsidy structure to lower domestic consumption, there were stoppages and demonstrations and perceived threats to the monarchy across society.

apparently, this happens everywhere and one of the takeaways was that without widespread adoption of post carbon infrastructure and technology, political systems are hip deep in shit. and few places are more intensely screwed than the transportation sector of the US.

its infuriating that this has been warned of and presicted since i was a young person in school, and, if anything, leadership has only become more recalcitrant.

because people are stupid and seeing the number go up and down on the gas station sign is the #1 way more Americans judge the economy.