Prologue
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Like Thomas Paine’s political pamphlet Common Sense, The Common Ground is written by a political independent, a typical citizen who wishes to ensure a healthy system of government with accountability across all political parties, representatives and actors. In 1776, Paine named what was wrong, stated the harms to everyday people, and then with equal force described the country that could exist if people chose to build it. That is the spirit of this document.
The Common Ground is named for the Earth and home we share, the ideals a vast majority of us believe in, the needs we all carry, as well as the bonds of family, community, and spirit that connect us. All of us, We the People, as one.
What follows is an accounting of our present moment, placed in historical context, ending with a transformational path forward. This is not a collection of talking points for a party or partisan platform. You will not be asked to change parties, abandon your faith, or surrender values you have held your entire life. Many of the deepest values driving this work: truth, accountability, dignity, protection of the vulnerable, and stewardship of what we inherit, are values shared across every tradition represented in this country.
This document weighs heavily on the imbalance of power in our country and the problems we collectively face. This requires significant emphasis on the Trump administration; however, the larger picture transcends both parties. It is also critical to look far beyond the present moment, as in the broader course of time, all current leaders will soon become history, and new generations will step forward.
The Declaration of Independence set forth our duty to act, to provide “new guards for their future security.” This duty extends far beyond whether any of us support a particular party, or the current administration. Our duty is to hold our government accountable, to uphold our Constitutional rights, and create protections for generations to come. This requires us to love our country enough to acknowledge realities we may not wish to see, possibly within ideas or people we have supported, or within ourselves.
Our duty requires us to be well informed of the complexities of the life we share, with a commitment to honesty. Being well informed carries its own responsibility, one this document has tried to meet with real care. The content, quotes and data referenced throughout have been researched with great care. Over 400 sources, connected to bracketed citations within the text, are listed in full at the end of this document, so anyone wishing to verify a fact, or learn more, can do so.
Times of great difficulty force us to seek greater understanding, reflect upon our deepest values, determine our most fundamental priorities, and let go of everything that no longer serves us well. In that place of clarity, we dream of something greater, a future much brighter and healthier, less violent and stressful, more loving and peaceful. Our greatest challenge, as individuals and as a society, is in seeing the present moment clearly; not only the issues and concerns, but the opportunities.
In 1776 the people boldly envisioned a new nation with strong founding ideals, though their practices fell far short. We are the heirs of all of it: the founding promise and the betrayals, the atrocities of our past, as well as the highest ideals constantly pulling us forward. The beauty and the shame, the progress and the unfinished work, all of it is our inheritance. Today we envision the revolution of spirit and conscience necessary to fulfill that dream. A revolution of unity is required, built on the bonds between us, to create the highest path forward. It is now our turn, our duty and obligation, to safeguard our rights and our democratic legacy for generations to come.
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“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.”
— Thomas Paine, 1776
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