War? What is it good for?

 War? What is it good for? Absolutely not this:

Price Average from 03/06/26

As the family bookkeeper*, everyone leaves their weekly receipts on my desk. The latest caught my eye. 

On March 2, Peter reached half tank so he topped off. The price was 3.299/gallon for regular grade with the US standard 10% ethanol. It's the basic gas, the lowest grade E10. 

We use a gas station which adds fuel injection cleaners to all grades of their gas. The additives include polyetheramine (PEA), which helps prevent carbon deposits on fuel injectors and intake valves so our prices are always a little more.

But this jump! A 42¢ increase per gallon. 0.414 of 2.784 is a 14.87% rise in price in a week.

But it isn't just war. Look at blueberry prices.

From mid- February to March 5th the price rose from 5.77 to 7.88, a jump of $2.11 for an 18 oz container. A rise of 36.568% over last month. Economists point to trade policies, the weather, labor shortages, transportation costs, cold storage costs, seasonal issues, and other factors for the increase. 

I wish I could say that it was just this, that there is end date, but I can't. Certainly seasonal variances factor in but add in steel tariffs, plastic containers made from petroleum, and now rising gas prices, these are but a few issues. 

Ever since Trump took office, the economy has gotten worse for 90% of Americans. This K shaped economy has any growth being made by purchases from the 10% who still have disposable income. 

For those on the declining extension of the K, it is the cost of everything. Energy prices for home heating and cooling, rent rising and property tax increases, skyrocketing auto purchase prices and repairs, and insurance rates across all sectors. Parts and parts of parts from appliances to computers to clothing and shoes are up, up, up. 

So many things are going so wrong for an overwhelming majority of people. Our retirement funds are now seeing uncertainty as the insanity of an escalating, expanding war takes hold. Even back room Republicans are saying this is Trump's Vietnam, not the actual one he avoided with imaginary bone spurs. Trump's quagmire. The End Times, Armageddon for the White Christian Nationalists in the military ranks. World War 3.

I remember an early Econ course where we played the market over a month. I chose the basics like McDonalds, Coca Cola, Nike, and other brand names but threw in a random R&D weapons company which surged when yet another conflict started. That stock alone took me to the top of earners for the project. It was a fluke on my part. But right now on Capital Hill, politicians are gaining thousands of dollars using their insider knowledge. The 10% will get richer and richer while the rest of us suffer.

Trump's Economy Sucks

* Family bookkeeper, Secretary, Scheduler, Cook, Cleaner, Patient Advocate, Nurse, Organizer, Launderer, Therapist, Financial Advisor, Personal Assistant, Chauffeur, Life Coach, Handyman, Multitasker, MacGyver, in other words just another mom and wife.