Walmart has essentially eradicated all of the mom & pop grocery stores where I live in western Kentucky. Which, for better or worse, forces virtually the entire city’s population to descend on the store for grocery shopping. As you walk into the store, you will inevitably be bombarded with messages from the intercom to get a flu shot or some other seasonal vaccine. This will be followed by a reminder that soda and potato chips are on sale.
Shopping in the local Walmart presents a fair picture of middle America. The county’s poverty rate is above 17%, homes are unaffordable, drug addiction is rampant, and wages remain stagnant. Among all of these issues, the rising cost of grocery prices make it challenging for many people in the community to afford real, whole foods. The unfortunate alternative is to purchase cheap junk food, go to a local food pantry, or simply go without. The simple reality is that many Americans can no longer keep up with rising costs in the grocery store.
But what does this have to do with war in Iran?
We often hear that Congress has passed a new defense budget, ever again surpassing its previous allocations. The most recent appropriations allocated $838 billion to military services in FY26 and now both President Trump and his domestic allies are calling for an increase to $1.5 trillion. For everyday Americans, that number is frankly unfathomable. But have you ever questioned, how does America pay for war?
Income tax has not always been permanent in America. But to give you the short version of the story, it was created to fund war and then later adopted as a permanent fixture. During times of war, Congress has periodically increased taxes to fund operations. However, politicians can only raise taxes so much before citizens begin caring about where their dollars are going. As a result, we no longer increase taxes for the sole purpose of funding wars.
Instead, we use debt. Because the public would be unwilling to fund wars through taxes, the American government defers to borrowing money. But where does that money come from? There is never enough capital in circulation to fulfill the American bloodlust, so it must be printed.
The American government’s incessant use of debt as a means to pay for wars of choice directly devalues the dollar’s purchasing power by forcing banks to digitally print money. Every dollar borrowed inflates our currency which, in turn, increases prices for everyday goods while working class compensation remains stagnant. It has held true for decades that wages do not and will not keep up with inflation.
As the Trump administration, Congress, and the federal bureaucracy continue this war against Iran (currently costing over $1,000,000,000 per day), your dollar loses its value with every bomb dropped and missile launched. Couple that with the increased cost of oil (a result of the conflict occurring in the Middle East), and we are certain to see already insufferable grocery prices increase over the coming years. If you thought there was a cost of living crisis now, just wait.
Leadership on both sides of the aisle and across branches have failed to provide any cohesive explanation as to how this war benefits the American people. They have failed to represent their constituents who, for the most part, are unconcerned with rhetoric from faraway dictators, and instead are focused on feeding their families. And based on where I sit in western Kentucky, I can say with certainty that this war will only further distress everyday Americans simply trying to survive.
So, is this baseless war so necessary that you are willing to accept groceries, gas, housing, and all of the necessities for life more expensive for both yourself and your children?
Patrick Samuels is a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret. After his military service, Patrick transitioned to entrepreneurship and now serves as the CEO of Sunnyside Egg Co. His experiences during military service and in the aftermath of his return caused a sharp change in ideology driving his vocal criticism of U.S. involvement overseas. He can be contacted at psamuels@protonmail.com for further inquiries.
