We frequently evoke the ideals of American excellence and exceptionalism. But earlier this week when I visited Kensington, Pennsylvania , what I saw was a third-world reality within our own country. Those needle-ridden streets are the direct consequence of a porous southern border and disastrous domestic policies that pay people to do the opposite of what we want them to do.

What I witnessed revealed to me the profound reality of the double consciousness that permeates our nation — the stark contrast between the grand ideals we champion versus the harsh realities faced by those dwelling in the depths of despair in Kensington . Regrettably, a Kensington can be found in nearly every corner of America.

If we are only as strong as our weakest link, then Kensington is an unsettling portrait of an America in decline, embodying the antithesis of progress and optimism. This was not a representation of America first; it was a distressing manifestation of what happens when we enact bad policies that put America last.

I don’t believe it has to be this way. After traveling the country and speaking with voters, I am more convinced than ever that we don’t have to be a nation in decline. But first, we have to make that choice — a choice to be better, to do better. And it starts with better policies.

As president, I’m prepared to do just that. However, those policies will take time to take root. If a sink is overflowing, you don’t run for a mop, you turn the faucet off first. I believe there are simple opportunities to stop the flooding of despair we witnessed on the streets of Kensington. And when combined with the hard work of reviving our national identity, I believe such an agenda will produce good fruits in this country.

The first step is to stop incentivizing people to do the very things we don’t want them to do. If we want people to work, then stop paying them not to work. If we want people to be clean and sober, then stop handing out needles and crack pipes. Enabling destructive behavior is not compassionate. Do we really think handing out kits packed with Pyrex crack pipes, metal pipe screens, mouthpieces, lip balm, alcohol swabs, lighters, chewing gum, and condoms, is the way to help people get back on their feet?

This is insanity. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting something other than citizens transforming into tranq-doped zombies right before our eyes, or playing hopscotch over used needles to avoid getting stuck, or watching people sweep the sidewalk in front of tent camps under the deafening and disorienting sound of SEPTA trains overhead is the very definition of insanity. The people I met in Kensington deserve better.

The extreme permissiveness in areas such as Kensington not only drives up the number of homeless and addicts, but it also incentivizes the very behaviors we don’t want to replicate in our country. And for those who might think their families are immune from such suffering, as a mother who lost her child to fentanyl poisoning told me, if we don’t fix this problem, your child is next.

The second step is a little more complex. To progress from the initial stage of prioritizing urgent needs to effectively tackling the problem of drugs inundating our streets, we must address the vulnerabilities along our borders. This is just common sense. After witnessing the sheer human misery caused by unfettered drug access for myself, I’m astonished that we haven't focused our attention on the immense power the drug cartels have along our southern border and the devasting impact this has had on Americans.

In a perplexing contrast, our government has allocated hundreds of billions of dollars to protect borders far from our own, but somehow has failed to prioritize securing our own borders with the same vigor. It is a matter that extends beyond just building a wall. As president, I will take the threat resulting from an unsecured border seriously. I will use our military to secure our border and make it clear to the cartels that we will not be entangled in a modern iteration of the opium war that is being waged on American soil. Instead of allocating immense resources abroad to secure other nations’ borders, we must redirect our attention and invest in safeguarding our own sovereignty.

The third step moves beyond merely triaging societal wounds. It begins with understanding the root causes of societal decay rather than focusing only on its symptoms. Addiction, anxiety, depression, and the various afflictions affecting both modern America and the streets of Kensington are merely manifestations of a deeper underlying rot within our nation's spirit. We are lost, unsure of our identity, unable to discern between reality and falsehood. There is a collective longing for authenticity and genuine compassion that seems frustratingly elusive.

We must fill this void of meaning in our country by rediscovering what it means to be an American. We must reclaim those values that once defined us and can still shape our future. Faith, family, patriotism, a one-tier justice system, meritocracy, the sanctity of the individual — these unwavering truths have withstood the test of time and can revive places such as Kensington, restoring them to their former glory that lasted for nearly a century before decades of flawed policies brought them to their knees.

Kensington is ready for its revival. Even in the depths of the city’s inferno, I saw some angels too. There were some offering medical attention with solace, others making heartfelt prayers on behalf of those suffering, and still others just lending a listening ear. I spoke with a young police officer who wore a bright smile and a grateful heart and said he is proud to serve the community in which he grew up, despite witnessing his partner being shot the week prior.

We have within us what is needed to resolve our many issues. We just need the conviction and courage to see it through. If we can refocus this country on faith, family, and truth, we will unleash the American spirit and return the Kensingtons of America to their former glory.

Vivek Ramaswamy is a Republican presidential candidate.