The objective of this document is two-fold: One is to declare our independence from this government, which is destroying our nation. The second is to declare the form of government and economy that we intend to institute instead.

What We Are Against

Under Donald Trump, the current US government has declared war on the American people and has forfeited the right to our loyalty. It has recklessly gutted the governmental agencies caring for our welfare; it is trying to extort our taxes for the private enrichment of billionaires and corporations; it is attempting to erode the independence of our judiciary and our military; and it is showing blatant disregard for both the law and common decency. It is also reversing efforts to protect the environment and address climate change, our existential crisis. It is discriminatory against women, minorities, the poor and more. And it is attacking freedom of speech and freedom of and from religion. Our president has called himself a king.

To paraphrase our original Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all humans are created equal, that they are endowed with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government, dedicated to our safety and happiness.

Along with our nation’s founders, we declare that we have the right to alter or abolish this government and institute a new one. In this section, we declare our independence from this corrupt administration and the system that has given rise to it. Here are some ways we can resist. Please add your own

·         Using our economic power, boycott the American economy as much as is possible for us, particularly focusing on corporations that are supporting this illegal government takeover, including Tesla, Walmart and Amazon.

·         Pressure our congresspersons, regardless of their party affiliation, to stop supporting this administration and its draconian legislation. Particularly organize against his fellow Republicans who support it.

·         Use nonviolent protests of all kinds wherever we have the power to do so, including strikes, focused boycotts and sit-ins.

·         Speak truth to power and support one another in so doing.

What We Are For

The original Declaration of Independence says we have the right to institute a new government. What would that look like? We declare that the purpose of any society and economy is to care for people and the earth. And that’s what we want. Our current economic and social system is NOT geared to caring for people and the earth. It’s geared to creating profit for the rich. We want a society that cares for us, and we want a government that fights for that.

Our current economic system is anti-democratic and leads to the wealth inequality that is underlying the current power grab by the economic elites – the billionaire oligarchs and large corporations who are taking over our government. To have real political democracy, we need economic and social democracy as well. To that end, we will fight for long-term change. This is what a truly representative government should do:

·         Wake up our fellow Americans.

·         Gather people together to talk about our needs  – from farmers, to parents, to teachers, to students, to clerical workers,  to the poor, disabled, elderly and even the well to-do. What do we really need?

·         Create a social safety network that is real and meaningful. Address our widespread mental health crisis not only in terms of individuals’ suffering, but in terms of the lack of a safety network that causes stress for everyone.

·         Reaffirm the values of caring and compassion, underlining that we are one. Remind ourselves that people who don’t have money can’t buy our products; that people who have no healthcare can’t work or can infect others; that people who have no stake in society can become a threat to us all. Reaffirm that our strength comes from all of us supporting one another to reach our potential.

·         Get money out of politics and repeal the disastrous Citizens United decision. Enforce strict campaign financing regulations.

·         Use the powers of the government to encourage the formation of economic cooperatives in all kinds of business.

·         Demand that employees have equal or greater power in the boards of directors of all major corporations

·         Create a single-payer healthcare system that covers everyone.

·         Create limits on CEO pay and profits and strengthen those governmental agencies being gutted by this administration whose purpose is to protect workers and consumers.

·         Establish legal rights for the millions of immigrants who work in this country and support the society and economy.

·         Strengthen laws that promote diversity and inclusion and repeal laws that discriminate against women and minorities. This would include the re-establishment of Roe v Wade.

·         Become a stand for democracy again, opposing autocrats around the world.

·         Make serious strides toward combatting climate change, which will otherwise destroy us all.

If you agree,

·         Sign this New Declaration of Independence and pass it on.

·         Bring it to the organizations you belong to, and ask them to co-sponsor.

·         Invite us to speak.

·         Contact: Beth Green at beth@thestream.info.

Sponsored by The Stream, Inc., a 501(c)3 corporation