Kansas City Playlist: MAGA War Economy

Looking ahead it's clear that Middle-East conflict is a permanent element of American political life no matter party or politician holding elected office.

Punchline: Heading into 2026 midterms it should be obvious to every voter that there is NO CHOICE available to withdraw from global entanglements. Sadly, "America First" was just a slogan and there really is no such thing as "progressive" foreign policy beyond widely unpopular open border policy. 

And so . . .  

Rather than fret over silly concerns like "Democracy" it seems more important to consider far more practical issues like SURVIVAL.  

As always, a consideration of economic news offers a more valuable perspective than culture war blathering. 

And so we wanted to share a view of the future in terms of financial reporting . . . 

Forecasters say a prolonged conflict could resemble past global economic crises. “Surging oil and gas prices are harbingers of economic trouble,” said Ian Stewart, the chief economist in the UK at the accountancy firm Deloitte. “Higher energy prices, triggered by war or revolution in the Middle East, were important factors in western recessions in 1973, 1979 and 1990.

“The surge in energy prices in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine collapsed Europe’s growth rate in 2023.”

The clearest parallels, however, are with the 1980s. Back then, Ronald Reagan sent US warships to Hormuz to protect merchant shipping during the Iran-Iraq war. In an episode that became known as the “tanker war”, Washington dispatched the largest naval convoy since the second world war to keep oil and gas exports flowing.

Four decades ago Tehran and Baghdad knew that targeting Hormuz would draw US involvement. By threatening western economic interests, they sought to gain leverage. In a case of history repeating itself, naval escorts are being mooted, after an apparent miscalculation by the Trump White House that this time would be different.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Russia, China and the US - the global winners and losers of the Iran war

As the conflict triggers economic disruption some risk being hit hard, while others stand to benefit.

The Iran war has already hit your gas budget. Here's what it's coming for next.

The U.S.-Iran war has begun cutting into discretionary spending, raising mortgage rates, battering stock markets and souring consumer sentiment.

'The stakes are enormous': how a prolonged Iran war could shock the global economy

Donald Trump's 'little excursion' is likely to have long-term effects, from oil prices to inflation to growth, say experts

Accordingly . . . 

TKC isn't offering financial advice but merely sharing a truism: The longer that military conflict against Iran continues, the more apt we are to feel the consequences on the home front. Moreover, Kansas City might be wise to plan for an engagement beyond initial projections if only because students of history might remember that from Vietnam to Afghanistan . . . American military engagements always seem to endure longer than initial predictions.

And all of this inspires tonight's playlist that seem to repeat President Eisenhower's 1961 warning about the military industrial complex . . . 

We'll start with an American classic that, like it or not, spoke to ongoing class-differences amid conflict . . . Released in 1969 by Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Fortunate Son" is a, iconic anti-war anthem written by John Fogerty in about 20 minutes. Fueled by anger over the Vietnam War draft, it criticizes how wealthy elites avoided service, while working-class men were sent to fight.

A nostalgic 90s era clip, sadly, seems apropos. Here's the best summary we could find: "Pearl Jam's "Do the Evolution" music video (1998) is a critically acclaimed, Grammy-nominated animated short directed byTodd McFarlane (creator of Spawn) and Kevin Altieri (Batman: The Animated Series). It depicts a dark history of humanity, covering war, environmental destruction, and social apathy. The video marked the band's return to making music videos after a six-year hiatus."

We like the music but let's not confuse this with an anti-war post given our skepticism of all things and very little faith of "social justice" outcry from the middle-class in between vacations . . . And so we share "Boom!" by System of a Down which levels harsh criticism against the military-industrial complex and the Iraq War along with a video that features thousands of protesters who did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to shape the discourse or determine policy despite their valiant efforts.

For the bridge . . . Released in 1988 on the album, Green, R.E.M.'s "Orange Crush" is a politically charged song about Agent Orange, the herbicide used in the Vietnam War. Michael Stipe wrote the song partially influenced by his father, who was in the military. Orange Crush is a play on words, referencing both the 80s era soft drink and the highly toxic defoliant that killed or maimed hundreds of thousands.

Finally . . . Released on the 1970 album, Paranoid, Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" is a seminal heavy metal anti-war anthem written by bassist Geezer Butler. Originally titled "Walpurgis," it condemns politicians and generals as profiteering "war pigs". The song was inspired by the Vietnam War and is known for its heavy, shifting riffs, air-raid siren intro, and scathing lyrical critiques.

As always, thanks for reading this week and have a safe & fun Saturday night.