The Biden administration cannot continue to ignore growing issues in our nation. This winter, Americans will struggle to keep their homes warm and will be facing dangerous road conditions.
By Jessica Jacobs
As the seasons change, the American economy is raising many red flags. The Biden administration has tirelessly driven the economy downward by ignoring the growing inflation and a national labor crisis. As prices increase and shortages press on, America will face its next great crisis: a cold, dangerous winter.
The price of home heating oil is skyrocketing. Information from the Energy Information Administration shows concerning data on the price of oil. Crude oil is used for heating, electricity, and transportation; on Oct. 6, the price of crude oil per barrel was $77.43. This price is up $2.60 from last week alone, and $36.76 from the year prior. The price of natural gas was up $3.15 from the previous year, and inventories of both natural gas and crude oil were down significantly.
Analysis found that the price of home heating oil has surged 180 percent in the last 12 months. These price increases hurt American families who are already facing rising gasoline prices, vehicle shortages, and higher than average grocery store bills. Home heating price surges will hurt low-income Americans the most, leaving many without a choice but to go without heat on the coldest of nights.
The crisis does not end there. America’s labor shortage will come to head as the colder months begin. Each fall, state and local governments anticipate the snow by hiring and training workers to plow the roads. This is especially important in areas of the nation that are impacted by harsh winter weather. Ohio, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, have each voiced their concerns about the winter.
Despite implementing new online recruiting methods, the Ohio Department of Transportation still expects challenges. The ODOT said that staffing shortages could mean that the roads take longer to plow. The challenge ties to the national trend of struggling to find enough workers. Similar concerns are shared among Wisconsin public officials, who are determined to keep the streets cleared this winter.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials have been unsuccessful in their annual winter preparations due to the national labor shortage. The PennDOT is seeking 600 temporary diesel mechanics and plow truck drivers. Pennsylvania’s highway system requires significant plowing in the winter months. With a shortage of plow drivers, state transit could be gravely impacted.
The Biden administration cannot continue to ignore growing issues in our nation. The economy and national labor shortage must be acknowledged and resolved before it is too late. This winter, Americans will struggle to keep their homes warm and will be facing dangerous road conditions. President Biden must tackle these problems before the snow arrives.
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