In mid-May, Georgia’s abortion-ban law refused to let a pregnant brain-dead woman pass away peacefully, forcing her to become a human incubator until she carried her baby to birth. A month earlier, federal authorities wrongfully deported a legal resident whom they accused, with little evidence, of being a gang member. These acts seize the autonomy of people across the United States, supposedly the “greatest,” “richest” and “strongest” country in the world. 

The U.S. may have the highest gross domestic product, the ninth-highest GDP per capita and considered to have one of the strongest militaries. But it lacks something undeniably necessary for a holistic modern nation: humanity. 

Gun violence is one of the leading causes of death for children in the U.S. with 12 children dying and 32 injured from firearm violence every day. Repeatedly, elected officials offer “thoughts and prayers” when children are massacred in schools, but they never take action in a significant way to address the issue.

Moreover, the U.S. is the only high-income nation that doesn’t guarantee health coverage to its population, resulting in 100 million people across the nation together owing $220 billion in debilitating medical debt. Meanwhile, a third of the workforce earns less than $15 an hour, a wage that simply cannot support a family. 

Internally, we are hurting, flailing and falling. Those in power disregard our basic rights, hopes of safety for our children and our quality of life. 

We’ve entered an undeniable and unprecedented plutocracy — a government led by the rich for the rich. Considering how 26 appointees of the Trump administration have personal net worths over $100 million and 12 are billionaires, this is the wealthiest elected administration in history. The absurd distance in socioeconomic status between those in government and the citizens of this nation is an unacceptable discrepancy. 

Not only is the main internal attitude in the U.S., from the people to the politicians, inhumane and disconnected as a response to the fight for economic survival and human rights, but the U.S.’ influence of inhumanity plagues the rest of the world. 

Despite the U.S. historically being a global hegemon, the current administration is prioritizing an “America First” approach to foreign affairs. This abrupt shift in the nation’s history of global involvement reeks of irresponsibility and unfinished business. 

Although the U.S.’ global involvement hasn’t always been one of humanitarian excellence, the country still had significant impacts and efforts from its policy and actions, from assisting with European recovery after World War II to President George W. Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in 2003.

The U.S. has also historically been involved as a self-proclaimed mediator and ally of Israel in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Now there is nothing but silence and hollow negotiations, shown most poignantly through the current state of affairs. 

Recently, as Israel has threatened to fully occupy Gaza and has blocked humanitarian aid from entering the strip for over two months, major allies of Israel have condemned the nation’s government. Britain, France and Canada released a joint statement on May 19 writing that “If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.” 

Meanwhile, on June 4, the U.S. vetoed a balanced and mutually beneficial United Nations Security Council resolution that called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and the allowance of humanitarian aid deliveries to Palestinians.

In the 15-member council, the U.S. was the only nation to vote against the resolution. Dorothy Shea, the acting U.S. Ambassador at the U.N., justified the “no” vote by saying, “Any product that undermines our close ally Israel’s security is a nonstarter.” Defending vetoing the possibility of a population, almost half of which is under eighteen years of age, being afforded food and water during a genocide by referencing a political and economic allyship is horrific. Strategy should have no place in the question of whether a child will starve or not. 

It is unacceptable for our leaders to simply watch as famine and destruction run rampant. It is and should be simple to take action, to be enraged and to condemn clear inhumanity. To pass ceasefire resolutions in the face of genocide and famine. And yet they continue on, quiet when it matters and loud when it doesn’t. We need effective people-focused policy and actions, from ensuring rent-stabilized housing in gentrifying neighborhoods to allowing the population their legal right to protest without sending the National Guard. We need leaders who are one with the people, not leaders who are one with their wallets.