For millions of hardworking people, the dream of owning a home, buying a new car, or building a small business just received another crushing blow. On Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee announced its first interest rate hike in more than three years. The Fed increased its benchmark rate by a quarter percentage point, pushing the target range to 3.75%-4%. The decision feels less like a calculated economic cure and more like a direct penalty on ordinary citizens. As Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh tightens monetary policy to fight elevated inflation, everyday people are left asking a painful question: Is the central bank destroying the American dream in order to save it?

The Fed claims it is trapped by economic reality. According to its statement, the 12-0 unanimous vote stems from an economy that expands at a solid pace alongside resilient domestic spending. Yet, inflation remains elevated above the 2% target. Spurred by surging oil prices and global geopolitical tensions, prices refuse to cool down. Central bank purists view today’s hike as an aggressive but necessary step to anchor prices. They argue that letting inflation run unchecked does far more damage to working-class families than higher borrowing costs ever could.