Our Declaration

1. Equality as Freedom from Domination

If we abandon equality, we lose the single bond that makes us a community, that makes us a people with the capacity to be free collectively and individually in the first place.

Foundation of Community. The Declaration posits that equality is not merely a desirable ideal but the very foundation upon which a free and cohesive community is built. Without a commitment to equality, the bonds that unite individuals into a collective capable of protecting its members from domination dissolve. This principle underscores the interconnectedness of individual liberty and collective strength.

Separate and Equal. The concept of equality in the Declaration begins with the idea of states being "separate and equal" among the powers of the earth. This initial framing emphasizes the importance of sovereignty and freedom from external control. Just as individual citizens should be free from domination, so too should nations.

Beyond Formal Rights. The book challenges the notion that equality is solely about formal civic rights, such as the right to vote. While these rights are essential, the Declaration's vision of equality extends far beyond them, encompassing a broader commitment to ensuring that all members of society have the opportunity to participate fully in the political and social life of their community.

2. Government as a Tool for Equality

The purpose of democracy is to empower individual citizens and give them sufficient control over their lives to protect themselves from domination.

Instrument for Empowerment. The Declaration views government not as an end in itself but as a tool to empower citizens and safeguard them from domination. This perspective highlights the importance of ensuring that government serves the interests of all its people, not just a privileged few. It also emphasizes the need for citizens to actively participate in shaping the policies and decisions that affect their lives.

Consent of the Governed. The Declaration asserts that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. This principle underscores the importance of popular sovereignty and the right of citizens to hold their leaders accountable. It also implies that governments must be responsive to the needs and concerns of the people they serve.

Equal Access. The book emphasizes the importance of equal access to the instrument of government. This means that all citizens, regardless of their background or status, should have the opportunity to participate in the political process and influence the decisions that shape their lives. This includes not only the right to vote but also the right to hold office, to speak freely, and to organize and advocate for their interests.

3. Collective Intelligence through Egalitarianism

The purpose of democracy is to empower individual citizens and give them sufficient control over their lives to protect themselves from domination.

Wisdom of the Crowd. The Declaration suggests that the best way to understand the course of human events is to draw on the collective intelligence of the community. This means creating spaces for open dialogue and deliberation, where all voices can be heard and all perspectives can be considered. It also means valuing the contributions of ordinary citizens, not just experts or elites.

Potluck Approach. The book uses the metaphor of a potluck to illustrate how collective intelligence works. Just as each person brings a dish to share, so too does each citizen bring a unique perspective and set of experiences to the table. By combining these diverse contributions, the community can create a more complete and nuanced understanding of the challenges it faces.

Beyond Expertise. The book argues that expertise is not enough to solve complex problems. While experts have valuable knowledge and skills, they often lack the context and perspective that come from lived experience. To make good decisions, communities need to draw on both expert knowledge and the wisdom of ordinary citizens.

4. Reciprocity: The Bedrock of Freedom

In their ideal form, democracies empower each and all such that none can dominate any of the others, nor any one group, another group of citizens.

Mutual Responsiveness. The Declaration emphasizes the importance of reciprocity, or mutual responsiveness, in building a just and equitable society. This means that citizens should be willing to listen to each other's concerns and to respond to them in a fair and reasonable manner. It also means that leaders should be accountable to the people they serve and responsive to their needs.

Equality of Agency. The book argues that reciprocity is essential for achieving equality of agency, which means that all members of society have the power to shape their own lives and to participate fully in the decisions that affect them. When people are treated with respect and their voices are heard, they are more likely to feel empowered and engaged.

Beyond Tolerance. The book challenges the notion that tolerance is enough to create a just society. While tolerance is important, it is not sufficient. To truly build a community where all members can thrive, we need to move beyond tolerance and embrace a spirit of reciprocity, where we actively seek to understand and respond to the needs of others.

5. Co-Creation: Shared Ownership of Our World

Political equality is equal political empowerment.

Active Participation. The Declaration envisions a society where all citizens are co-creators of their shared world. This means that they are not merely passive recipients of government services but active participants in shaping the policies and decisions that affect their lives. It also means that they feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for the well-being of their community.

Beyond Individualism. The book challenges the notion that freedom is solely about individual autonomy and self-reliance. While individual liberty is important, the Declaration suggests that true freedom can only be achieved through collective action and shared responsibility. When citizens work together to create a better world, they are not only improving their own lives but also strengthening the bonds that unite them as a community.

Stake in the Future. The book emphasizes the importance of cultivating a sense of shared ownership in public life. This means ensuring that all citizens, especially young people, feel that they have a stake in the future of their community and that their voices matter. It also means creating opportunities for them to participate in the decisions that shape their world.

6. The Art of Democratic Writing

Language is one of the most potent resources each of us has for achieving our own political empowerment.

Language as Empowerment. The Declaration underscores the power of language as a tool for political empowerment. The ability to articulate one's ideas, to persuade others, and to participate in public discourse is essential for achieving political equality. This highlights the importance of cultivating citizens' capacity to use language effectively.

Group Writing. The book emphasizes that the Declaration was not the work of a single author but a product of group writing. This process, while challenging, is essential for democracies, as it requires individuals to come together, negotiate their differences, and forge a shared vision for their community.

Democratic Process. The book highlights the importance of the democratic process itself, not just the final product. The conversations, debates, and compromises that led to the Declaration were just as important as the document itself, as they helped to build a sense of shared purpose and commitment among the colonists.

7. The Power of Words and the Limits of Words

The men who wrote the Declaration of Independence grasped the power of words.

Words as Action. The Declaration demonstrates the power of words to shape reality. By declaring their independence, the colonists transformed themselves from subjects of the British crown into citizens of a new nation. This underscores the importance of taking words seriously and recognizing their potential to create change.

Beyond Rhetoric. The book cautions against viewing the Declaration solely as a rhetorical masterpiece. While the text is undoubtedly eloquent, its true power lies in its ability to inspire action and to mobilize people around a shared vision.

The Need for Action. The book acknowledges that words alone are not enough to achieve lasting change. The Declaration's ideals of equality and freedom must be translated into concrete actions and policies. This requires a sustained commitment to social and political reform.

8. The Declaration as a Model for Political Judgment

The Declaration also conveys another lesson of paramount importance.

Connecting Principles and Facts. The Declaration provides a model for how to make sound political judgments. It begins by laying out a set of principles, such as the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It then presents a series of facts, detailing the grievances against King George III. Finally, it connects these principles and facts to a course of action: declaring independence.

The Importance of Evidence. The book emphasizes the importance of grounding political judgments in evidence. The Declaration does not simply assert that King George III is a tyrant; it provides a detailed list of his actions to support this claim. This underscores the need for citizens to be informed and to critically evaluate the evidence before forming their own opinions.

The Role of Moral Sense. The book argues that political judgment also requires a moral sense, a capacity to connect facts with principles and to make ethical evaluations. The Declaration appeals to the "candid world" to judge whether its actions are just, implying that all people have the capacity to make such judgments.

9. The Enduring Relevance of the Declaration

Equality and liberty—these are the summits of human empowerment; they are the twinned foundations of democracy.

Timeless Ideals. The Declaration's ideals of equality and freedom remain relevant today. While the specific challenges facing society may have changed, the fundamental principles of democracy continue to provide a framework for addressing them.

A Call to Action. The Declaration is not simply a historical document; it is a call to action. It challenges each generation to live up to its ideals and to create a more just and equitable society. This requires a sustained commitment to civic engagement and a willingness to challenge injustice wherever it is found.

A Living Document. The book suggests that the Declaration should be viewed as a living document, one that is constantly being reinterpreted and reapplied to new circumstances. This means that we must continue to grapple with its complexities and contradictions, and to strive to make its ideals a reality for all.

Last updated: February 28, 2025