AOC and Gas Stove Hijinks – Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez never shies away from scolding the public regarding climate change and consumer protection, but she has outdone herself this time.
AOC she wants to take your gas stove away.
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Well, not literally.
But the New York progressive firebrand is concerned that stoves using natural gas can cause adverse brain development and other health concerns in children, a claim that was widely mocked by Republicans and other detractors.
Debate on Gas Stoves Heats Up
This bruhaha started on January 9 when it came to the attention of lawmakers that the Consumer Product Safety Commission was considering the blockage of new gas stove sales.
They are believed to have a “hidden hazard” that would include risks of asthma and breathing problems and effects on cognition among children.
The Nanny State Strikes Again
One Republican threw some shade and outrage on the commission for what he believed was another example of federal government overreach.
Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas said on Twitter that would never comply with any gas stove ban. “I’ll NEVER give up my gas stove. If the maniacs in the White House come for my stove, they can pry it from my cold dead hands. COME AND TAKE IT!!”
Don’t You Know About Nitrogen Dioxide?
AOC did not back down in her own tweet and maintained that the nitrogen dioxide released from gas stoves is linked to “reduced cognitive performance.”
Twitter Pugilists Ready to Brawl
Twitter hecklers went sky high with vitriol.
Some showed photos of AOC using a gas stove, along with the first lady and vice president cooking with gas.
Others joked that as a result, AOC’s own cognitive abilities had been reduced. Yikes.
What Are We Really Talking About?
Soon it was time for a consumer product commissioner to explain the group’s position.
CPSC Commissioner Richard Trumka told Bloomberg that anytime there is a consumer product that can cause health problems, any option is on the table, including a total ban.
You Are Not Required to Transition Away from Gas
Trumka was forced to put out a clarification soon after. The following statement appeared on Twitter. “To be clear, CPSC isn’t coming for anyone’s gas stoves. Regulations apply to new products. For Americans who CHOOSE to switch from gas to electric, there is support available – Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act which includes a $840 rebate.”
AOC Turns Up the Gas
Never one to be chastened, AOC still wanted to have the last word with more advice for consumers.
“Maybe if you cook and you don’t have the exhaust hood on, maybe you turn that on. Maybe if you’re in a place where it’s amenable, and you’re cooking, open a window if it’s not freezing out or there’s another issue.”
Don’t Overreact to Government Guidelines
These public outcries on government regulation often devolve into Twitter battles that then create an echo chamber. No one wants health problems from consumer items, but policymakers must be careful when associating such drastic measures with obscure, dubious, or incomplete scientific harm claims.
Social media can make a serious topic comical. One thing is sure, AOC gets the blood pumping when it comes to egging on keyboard warriors on Twitter. Constant scolding and refusals to back down are never fun. By the same token, reacting angrily and going thermonuclear on perceived government misdeeds without having all the facts is also unappealing.
Let’s Move On
So, it is time to cool it on gas stoves if that pun can be excused. Let the debate between Republicans who prefer less government intervention in the economy and Democrats who wish to better protect consumers with strict guidelines and regulations move on to another subject.
Author Expertise and Experience: Serving as 19FortyFive’s Defense and National Security Editor, Dr. Brent M. Eastwood is the author of Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare. He is an Emerging Threats expert and former U.S. Army Infantry officer. You can follow him on Twitter @BMEastwood. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and Foreign Policy/ International Relations.
