Kansas City Playlist: AI Labor Day Weekend & Democratic Socialism

Don't worry . . . 

We understand that NOBODY is in the mood for a 1,000 word treatise on pop culture economics. 

Moreover . . . 

Our main point is simple . . .

American Democratic Socialism 2026 just might be another red herring reminder that Dems ALSO don't have any solution for the war in Iran or the worsening American economy at the low-end. 

Better than that . . . We can drill down locally . . .

For the most part our KC metro Democratic Socialists politicos performed miserably and most local "pundits" declined to delve into the topic at all for fear of having to do something besides recycle their talking point greatest hits from the 90s. 

Accordingly . . . 

This Labor Day weekend we consider the plight of workers as AI increasingly threatens to replace employees at every strata. From the executive office to the warehouse . . . Automation continues to supplant wage earners in a struggle that started with the Industrial Revolution and gained seemingly infinite momentum after the stream powered drill bested John Henry.  

Another fun fact we'll throw out just for real ones to consider . . . 

Women accounted for the vast majority of gains in the latest U.S. job report as this new economy is CLEARLY leaving a lot of people behind. 

Also . . .

Old school locals might remember that KC once held the most strident Labor Day parades in all the nation but the celebration stopped in the early 80s . . . Around the time that globalization took hold and corporations begin shipping most American manufacturing across the border and overseas.  

This www.TonysKansasCity.com playlist is, yet again, dedicated to local laborers of all sorts who can't afford to wait around for unlikely Universal Basic Income to become a reality . . . 

To start we note that this blog is our labor of love so we don't ever get a day off . . . Accordingly, this classic track from Loverboy is apropos even the midst of a trade war with Canada . . .

Americans alive now will likely always miss Dolly. So this dedication and one of the best opening movie sequences of the 20th century fits perfectly tonight . . .

Showing our age . . . Dated techno adored by Gen X fits nicely here and seems even older than its 2001 release date.

The bridge brings us to a slacker anthem for American workers who know that retirement does not await . . . About the track: Todd Rundgren wrote his hit song "Bang the Drum All Day" after the entire melody and core theme popped into his head while he was asleep. Rundgren played every single instrument on the original 1983 track himself.

Americans are generally the hardest working people on planet Earth . . . Nevertheless . . . This 1977 country song hit speaks to the spirit of American independence that will likely never find a way to merge with socialist efforts to appropriate populist sentiments.

As always, thanks for reading this week and have a safe & fun Labor Day Weekend.