This election is a choice.

If Democrats win, they can continue to cut drug prices, protect seniors, and protect health care and education. Their incentive will be to bring inflation down and avoid a recession, and protect people from the harshest consequences if there is one. If Republicans win nationally, they will be in campaign mode for the next two years — trying to make Biden look as weak as possible and trying to make life as hard and frightening as possible. They will be intent on paving the way to what Steve Bannon openly advocates — permanent one-party power.

Republicans are trying to play on emotions, but:

The 2022 midterms can’t fix crime. If mass incarceration created safety, we would be very secure in this country. Republicans can make things worse. Democrats have increased funding for localities and states, including funds specifically for law enforcement, over unanimous GOP opposition. Republicans want to talk about crime, not take steps, like gun safety laws, that bring it down.

The 2022 midterms can’t fix high gas prices. If Republicans win, they may rise more. Russia and Saudi Arabia will see that that inflicting pain on American consumers, to support the party they clearly prefer in US politics, gets us to back off on supporting Ukraine and on supporting human rights in the Middle East. Democrats are taking short-term, successful steps to moderate gas prices; moving us to cheaper, renewable, domestic, cleaner energy that generates more, safer and well-paying jobs.

Republicans want to protect oil companies, not consumers or workers.

The 2022 midterms can’t fix higher grocery prices. They may make thing worse, with Republicans determined to cut food supports, “entitlements” like social security, and make life as hard as possible for Americans leading up to the 2024 election. If voters don’t punish Republicans for January 6th and irresponsibility on Covid — which has killed many of their own supporters — Republicans can pretty much count on not enough of us seeing their economic obstructionism as hurting consumers and workers.

The 2022 midterms can’t fix disability discrimination. Both parties need constant pushing on disability rights and needs. But Democrats are open to persuasion; current GOP is not.

—Maureen Graves, disability law advocate

The 2022 Midterms

This election is a choice.

Republicans are trying to play on emotions, but:

Republicans want to protect oil companies, not consumers or workers.