"The point in history at which we stand is full of promise and danger. The world will either move forward toward unity and widely shared prosperity — or it will move apart." The quote is by Franklin D. Roosevelt. The status quo isn't working.

Perhaps the idea of a president who wants to build a wall doesn't appeal to you. And maybe one with a plan for how to fix everything does not appeal to you either. I ask that you put party politics aside for a moment and consider that outside of the current historical levels of wealth inequality, these three startling facts hold true about the U.S. right now.

First, there are 18.6 million vacant homes in the U.S. and just 600,000 homeless people.

Second, 50% of our food is thrown out or wasted while 11.8% of American households experience food insecurity and far more are eating diets with inadequate nutrition.

Third, 13.7% of our population does not have any health insurance, meanwhile we are all paying twice as much per capita as leading nations that provide universal health care to all citizens.

Think about that again. Thirty-one vacant homes per one homeless person. Four times the amount of food we need to feed our hungry. Potential to cut health care costs by double digits while eliminating all copays, deductibles, premiums and fees through a universal health care system.

But we do nothing.

Does that sound like a country where the social contract between government and citizens is being met? Can you really blame the silent majority of this country for feeling left behind and for distrusting the government? Solutions are literally sitting right in front of us but no one wants to act.

Who are we, as a nation, when we allow a few thousand people to benefit from trillions in tax cuts while the rest of us are told to fear "socialist" policies that are deeply rooted in the American tradition and would help millions of people — including ourselves?

Our country is no longer a manifestation of our inner values. It is no longer the land of opportunity where we work hard, love our neighbors and lift up those who have fallen. Instead, we are told to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps.

But not everyone is physically or mentally able when they can't get a job at a decent wage, or when extreme weather ruins a season’s worth of crops, or when there is no guaranteed health or mental care. Let's accept reality together and admit that we all have certain baseline needs that this country can and should provide in our darkest moments of need.

Not just for some of us, but for all of us. Together, we must build on the work of FDR's New Deal and Second Bill of Rights and demand our government pass a 21st century Economic Bill of Rights that permanently codifies this commitment to providing a stable baseline standard of living so that everyone experiences true freedom to pursue their life without worry.

Skylar Hurwitz resides in the village of Lumberville in Solebury Township.