Public confidence in the American economy has soured. After years of elevated prices, Americans continue to struggle with the rising cost of the necessities that shape everyday life: housing, food, gasoline, health care and transportation. Recent polling reflects that frustration. Pew Research Center found that six in ten Americans believe President Trump’s economic policies have made economic conditions worse, while only about one in four describe the economy as excellent or good.
Yet while families are struggling to make ends meet, the priorities coming out of Washington often seem disconnected from the economic reality facing ordinary Americans. The elaborate transformation of the White House, costly projects surrounding Washington and an open-ended war may dominate the headlines, but they do little to address the kitchen-table concerns confronting families in communities across America.
The real crisis is the cost of living.
The passage of the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act has added another layer of uncertainty for families already struggling to keep up. Changes to SNAP, including new work and reporting requirements, have contributed to a significant decline in participation. Between May 2025 and May 2026, the number of Americans receiving SNAP fell from 42.2 million to 36.6 million.
Meanwhile, the grocery bill keeps getting bigger. Government data show that grocery prices are approximately 33 percent higher than they were in 2019—the largest five-year increase in roughly half a century.
Beef has become a luxury for many families. Ground beef, once one of the most economical and versatile choices for dinner, is increasingly difficult to fit into a family budget. When a simple hamburger becomes a financial decision, we have to ask what has happened to the promise of American prosperity.
And this isn’t just about food.
The economic strain is being felt by wage earners, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, working families and people experiencing homelessness. Across our communities, people are making impossible choices: How much can I spend on groceries? Can I afford to fill the gas tank? Can I pay the rent and still have enough left for utilities, medicine and food?
For some renters, housing costs can consume an enormous share of their income, leaving little room for anything else. That is not economic security. It is economic survival.
The consequences of the conflict with Iran are being felt here at home as well. The disruption surrounding the Strait of Hormuz has added pressure to global energy markets, while gasoline prices have risen sharply. The economic consequences of international conflict do not stop at the battlefield; they eventually reach the gas pump, the grocery store and the family budget.
Where Did the American Dream Go?
There was a time when American prosperity was the envy of the world. We built products here, employed millions of workers and sold American-made goods around the globe.
For generations, a manufacturing job could provide a pathway to home ownership and a middle-class life. In communities like Montgomery, Illinois, jobs at the former Caterpillar plant represented that possibility.
Today, that promise feels increasingly distant.
A college degree and a full-time job are no longer guarantees that a young American can afford a home, raise a family, save for retirement or even comfortably manage the monthly bills. Wages may be rising, but when housing, food, transportation and health care rise faster, workers still feel poorer.
That is the affordability crisis we need to confront.
Health Care Should Not Be a Luxury
Health care is another source of growing anxiety.
The 2025 budget law makes substantial changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, while the enhanced ACA premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025. Analysts estimate that the law’s health provisions, combined with the expiration of those enhanced tax credits, could leave millions more Americans uninsured over the coming years.
The consequences will extend beyond individual families. Hospitals, nursing homes, community health centers and state governments will feel the pressure when more people are uninsured or unable to afford care.
For seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and working families already living on tight budgets, higher health care costs can mean choosing between a doctor’s appointment, prescription medication, groceries or the electric bill.
That is not a choice any American should have to make.
The Questions We Should Be Asking
There are other serious questions about the direction of government: the future of public education, environmental protection, the Department of Homeland Security and federal health policy. Decisions being made in Washington will have consequences that reach far beyond the Beltway and into our communities.
The question is whether government is working for the many or primarily serving those who already have the greatest resources and influence.
That question will be answered not only in Washington, but here in Kane County and communities across America.
There is a growing desire for change among people who believe government should once again focus on the fundamental concerns of the people it serves: affordable housing, good jobs, accessible health care, safe communities and the ability to raise a family without living paycheck to paycheck.
That energy is real. So is the frustration.
But frustration alone does not create change. Participation does.
As we approach the midterm elections, voters have an opportunity to make their voices heard. Whether you vote early or on Election Day, make a plan to participate.
The American dream should not belong only to those who can afford it.
The hunger for change—and for a government that serves the people—is within our reach.
Vote on November 3. Together, we can make our voices heard.
SOURCES
Ott, Matt (2026, July 29). Public’s faith in economy falls as U.S. gas prices rise. Associated Press
Durbin, Dee-Ann. (2026, July 30). Americans rewire grocery shopping; coupons, discounts save many families. Associated Press.
Rugabar, Christopher, (2026, August 13). U.S. inflation slows in July, but prices remain elevated. Associated Press.
Pew Research. Evaluation of the economy remains negative.