So let's summarize for the moment, the current economic effects of the war and ask: who is benefiting?
Crude oil has nearly doubled in cost, thereby pumping significantly more revenue into the coffers of .. Russia and Iran. Some of the added dollars you pay at the pump, are directly funding those regimes. And now that we're lifting sanctions on Russian oil (with SecTreas contemplating doing the same to Iranian oil), we're helping our enemies earn even more money, with which to buy more weapons and strengthen their own military capabilities.
American oil companies will also see their profits increase significantly. None of that, however, will be returned to consumers. Chevron execs will do very well from this whole quagmire.
Weapons manufacturers will all do quite well.
The American taxpayer, meanwhile, is now being asked to pony up an additional $200 BN , which will of course be rolled into the already catastrophic national debt. Overall inflation will absolutely increase (there is no way it can't, considering that the cost of oil directly affects so many of the goods that we buy.) Yet at the same time you'll see economic growth slow or reverse, because when gas goes to $10/gallon (as it might well do), consumer spending will absolutely take a hit.
For those of you who remember the late 70s, that's what stagflation was. Rising prices coupled with a shrinking economy and rising unemployment. The last time stagflation happened, it was triggered by an oil shock created by OPEC. This time -- it'll be entirely our own doing. A rather stunning "own goal." Bravo!!
So just to review:
Essentially what we're accomplishing is a wealth transfer from American consumers (and consumers in allied countries) to a couple of pretty terrible regimes, plus the execs and shareholders of a few very large companies (oil and defense, mostly). That flow of wealth will directly strengthen our adversaries.
So much winning!
Last edited by Turbosina; 03-20-2026 at 04:39 PM.