Why the Fight Over Stoves Misses the Point

Innovations have always invited excitement and new ideas. I came of age on the precipice of the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution. The orchards and farms of my childhood gave way to rows of glass-and-steel buildings — the first hints of what would later become Silicon Valley.

It happened fast — faster than anything before it. We went from Pong to Atari to Nintendo in less than a decade. Home computing leapt from clunky Atari 800s to early PCs with no graphics, and then to the Macintosh — the first home computer to make graphics part of everyday life. All within years, not decades.

That’s what I’ve always loved about invention: it opens the mind, invites new ways of thinking, and moves all of us forward. Whether it’s a medical breakthrough, a home safety upgrade, or an industrial advance, the heart of innovation beats with the same hope — to make life better for everyone.

Kitchen Appliances and the Long Pause

If there’s one area where progress seemed to stall, it was kitchen appliances. For decades, the “big” advances were mostly cosmetic: sleeker handles, bigger ovens, stainless steel instead of avocado green.

But mid-century designers had already dreamed up some wild ideas. Watch an old episode of Bewitched and you’ll spot clever oven-stove combos and compact layouts that wouldn’t be out of place today. I once saw an ad for a refrigerator mounted high on the wall like a cabinet — a design that would free up huge amounts of floor space.

It took a long time for that kind of creativity to return. In the last decade, though, we’ve seen a quiet revival. Refrigerators with convertible zones that can switch from fridge to freezer. Ovens that add steam for better baking. Built-in coffee systems that turn your kitchen into a corner café.

And my favorite — the one I think is most universally helpful — is the induction cooktop.

Why Induction Isn’t Just a Trend

Induction cooktops are safer, faster, and smarter. They only heat the pan — not the surrounding surface — and they shut off automatically if left unattended. That means less risk of burns, kitchen fires, or dangerous gas leaks. They’re not perfect, but they’re a leap forward compared to what most of us grew up with.

For me, they’re personal.

My dad was the better cook in our family, and Saturday mornings were his domain. Bacon or sausage sizzling. Pancakes stacked high. Hot chocolate waiting for sleepy kids who had just wandered downstairs to watch cartoons. Even after retirement, he kept the tradition alive, cooking himself a full breakfast most mornings.

When Alzheimer’s crept in, it slowly stole those mornings. It wasn’t just names or dates he forgot — it was muscle memory. More than once, my mom came downstairs to find the smell of gas in the air or an open flame burning on the stove. She began to sleep lighter, anticipating the moments she might have to rush in before something went wrong.

Eventually, he couldn’t cook anymore. It was the safest choice, but it also took away one of the last things he loved doing for himself. That loss of independence hurt as much as the disease.

When I installed my own induction cooktop years later, I couldn’t help but think about him — and how a single piece of technology could have allowed him to keep cooking longer, with far less worry for my mom. Safety, yes, but also dignity.

The Culture-War Boogeyman

That’s why I get frustrated when certain politicians turn appliances into the latest front in the culture wars. A safer stove shouldn’t be partisan. No one’s forcing anyone to change, but you’d never know it from the way some leaders talk — as if swapping a gas burner for an induction one is some ideological surrender.

And here’s the real absurdity: the people most helped by this technology aren’t “West Coast progressives” or “elite foodies,” as the talking points go. They’re sandwiched households — families caring for aging parents while raising young kids. People who don’t have the luxury of turning safety into a partisan sport.

The truth is, this isn’t about stoves. It’s about whether we let progress serve the people who need it most — or whether we bury it under political theater. Every time we do the latter, we make life harder for the people we claim to represent.

Other Quiet Innovations That Make a Difference

The kitchen isn’t the only place where practical, life-improving innovations are happening.

Smart thermostats, for example, aren’t just about adjusting the temperature from your phone. They let you fix what you forgot — turning down the heat after you’ve already left for vacation — with a single tap.

Smart locks remove the need for hiding keys under mats, letting you manage access without wondering if the neighbor feeding your pets locked the door afterward.

Even tankless water heaters — one of the choices we made in our remodel — are game changers. They heat water on demand, free up valuable space, and make homes more efficient without sacrificing comfort.

Individually, these might seem small. Together, they give back time, space, and peace of mind — often without fanfare or culture-war baggage.

Innovation Shouldn’t Be a Political Casualty

I think of my dad every time I use my induction cooktop. I think about the mornings he could have cooked safely, the peace of mind my mom could have had, and the dignity he could have kept. That’s what’s at stake when we let innovation get twisted into a political talking point — we lose sight of the real people it could help.

Progress isn’t about shiny gadgets for the rich. It’s about making everyday life safer, easier, and more humane — especially for the families balancing the heaviest loads. When we politicize that, we’re not defending freedom. We’re just making life harder for the people who need help the most