He’s not asking for your pity, or mine. He’s explaining why he and many other Americans are feeling helpless and are finding it difficult to mount a resistance, eventhough they know they should.
Interstingly sanctions had this same effect on the Iranian middle class. No way to revolt and replace the government when your rent is double your income.
The Gulf monarchies are unsustainable as anything other than vassal states. If they play nice with the biggest bullies, they get paid handsomely and a small fraction of them can be rich beyond reason and fly around in luxury jets with their personal organ donors.
Except now Iran is calling the bluff of the big bully, demonstrating that America and Israel won’t protect them.