Swallow The Medicine. Rebuild The Nation.

Temporarily higher prices at the gas pump must not deter America from defeating Iran and rebuilding its own robust energy and manufacturing sectors.

Cole Ellison | October 26, 2026

Gas and diesel prices are among the most pressing concerns facing Americans today, and for good reason. When the dollar amount rolls over on the pump, it hits truck drivers, tradesmen, farmers, and families trying to get by. This is more than an inconvenience. It is a direct hit to their livelihoods.

But should the price of filling our tanks decide the future of the United States?

The pain is real. No serious person should dismiss it. Still, there is a difference between suffering for something worthwhile and suffering in vain.

For years, energy debates have pitted competing visions against each other. Conservatives argued that affordable energy, domestic production, and reliable infrastructure are essential. Progressives pushed policies to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels at the expense of affordability, reliability, and common sense.

Donald Trump’s first term showed that Americans can experience periods of comparatively low fuel prices. Presidents do not control prices at the pump by themselves—global demand, refining capacity, and international conflict all matter—but government decisions about domestic energy production still matter. Americans have every right to demand policies that protect their ability to work and provide for their families.

Now we are in conflict with Iran, and energy prices have become part of the cost. Whether someone supported entering this conflict is a legitimate debate. Whether the United States should permit Iran to hold global commerce hostage through threats to shipping is another question entirely.

I do not want an endless war. I also do not want my children to deal with this conflict because we neglected to resolve it. Above all, I want to teach them that America does not abandon........

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