Declaration of Freedom

Preamble

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all individuals are created equal, endowed with certain unalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Governments are instituted to secure these rights, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, not the wealth of corporations. Whenever any form of governance becomes destructive of these ends by allowing the influence of moneyed interests to corrupt the democratic process, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new governance, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety, happiness, and liberty.

Grievances

• Corruption of Democracy through Wealth: In the landmark case of Citizens United v. FEC (2010), the Supreme Court ruled that corporations and unions could spend unlimited money on political campaigns, equating financial expenditures with free speech. This decision enabled billionaires and corporate entities to funnel vast sums into Super PACs, effectively drowning out the voices of ordinary citizens. In the 2020 election cycle alone, over $14 billion was spent, making it the most expensive election in U.S. history, with a significant portion coming from a handful of wealthy donors.
• Erosion of ‘We the People’: The concept of corporate personhood, first established in Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad (1886), has been exploited to grant businesses the same First Amendment rights as individuals. This interpretation has allowed multinational corporations to heavily influence policy-making by funding lobbying efforts and political campaigns. The result is a democracy where profit-driven entities wield disproportionate power over legislation and public policy, marginalizing the interests of everyday citizens.
• Subversion of Public Policy: Powerful lobbying groups, such as the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and the American Petroleum Institute (API), have spent billions to influence public policy in their favor. In 2019 alone, the pharmaceutical industry spent over $295 million on lobbying, contributing to laws that protect drug pricing monopolies. Similarly, fossil fuel companies have lobbied against climate change regulations, undermining environmental protections for profit.
• Concentration of Wealth and Power: Income inequality in the U.S. has reached historic levels, with the wealthiest 1% owning more than 40% of the nation's wealth. This concentration of economic power translates into political power, as seen with billionaires like the Koch brothers and Sheldon Adelson using their fortunes to influence elections and public policy. Their contributions have shaped tax laws, labor regulations, and environmental policies to benefit the wealthy elite at the expense of working families.
• Suppression of Political Dissent: Through control of mass media and social platforms, a few powerful conglomerates shape public opinion and manipulate political narratives. In 2020, just six corporations controlled approximately 90% of U.S. media. This concentration of information control has been used to marginalize dissenting voices, influence election outcomes, and suppress grassroots movements demanding social justice and economic reform.

Reaffirming the People's Power

We, therefore, the people of the United States, appealing to the conscience of the nation and the judgment of history, solemnly publish and declare that we are absolved from all allegiance to systems of oligarchy, corporate corruption, and political manipulation. We reaffirm the power of the people as the true sovereigns of this land, and that all political connection between us and corrupt systems is and ought to be totally dissolved. As free and independent individuals, we have full power to reform governance, restore democratic principles, and ensure that it is We the People, not corporations, who determine the future of our nation.