Citizens Declaration
A Message to American Politicians & the Media

(We ask that you read the Citizen Declaration in its entirety. If you
agree with it, please send signed copies to your local, state and
federal representatives and news media. For your convenience, we provide the document as a Word Document and a PDF, with space provided for your signature.)

American democracy demands honesty and integrity in leadership. It's your, responsibility, as our political leaders, to provide this. To make our expectations clear, we, the people, submit this Citizens Declaration.

Tell us the complete truth about all the issues.

• Not half-truths or spin or disinformation. Neither exaggerate nor understate. Explain the negative side of what you support as well as the positive. We will respect and appreciate your honesty and you will change the tenor of politics.
  
• Don't tell us what your opponent is doing wrong. Tell us what you are doing right, and what your plans are for bettering our nation and its people. Nobody appreciates negative ads. All they do is turn the majority of people away from politics and dishonor your name for endorsing them. There is no honor in deriding an opponent's character.
• No pie-in-the-sky! State your case and how it will be paid for.

We do not condone nor do we support an attitude of war between political ideologies that ends up dividing us.

• We are all Americans. We have differing opinions. That is our strength and greatness. Take that away by encouraging a contentious political divide, and you destroy everything that America stands for.
  
• We expect and demand a tone of civility and cooperation in the discourse between the parties. This includes advisors, consultants, campaign managers, assistants and support staff. (Political action groups, while they may be private, represent you as well. Either rein them in or publicly denounce them.)

We reject political schemes and strategies that try to sway our opinions beyond the simple telling of the complete truth.

• If you have a consultant or strategist who recommends tricks or schemes to sway opinion, get rid of him or her. Hire people who will keep your position honest and forthright.
  
• We, the people, will no longer tolerate any distortion of the truth. Each party must police itself for the honesty and integrity of its own membership. When scandal arises, tell us right away, with no "damage control" or concealment. You will earn our respect and trust. If you huddle and conspire and use misleading rhetoric, our faith in you will diminish, as it has already.
  
• We expect functional cooperation between the parties. When this is not possible, take your message to the American people in its entirety, and let us decide.

The good of special interests do not necessarily reflect the good of the American people.

• We hold you accountable to discern this, and demand that you make decisions on our behalf, without special consideration for political contributors.

If there is anything sacred in our democracy, it is our right to vote.

• We admonish those running for office to appeal for that vote only through honest and direct communication.
  
• We further demand that every vote is protected, counted and respected. Tampering with the election process is surely a treasonous offense and should be punished accordingly

We believe that true American patriotism is about working hard for the good of the American people, all of them, and the world we inhabit.

• Not lobbyists or corporations or unions or energy industries or foreign governments—or even your personal popularity or wealth.

Anything less than open and honest truth is a manipulation of our system and contrary to the spirit of democracy, and should be considered treasonous. If you cannot follow these honorable mandates, then please resign or do not run for office. We hope to attract leaders who still have high ideals. You either make democracy work, or you destroy it.

We call upon the media to once again become an honest, non-partisan watchdog of our democracy. Political bias in the name of journaling is both obvious and disgraceful. We must all reject "political spin" and carry our inquiries and evaluations to the bottom-line.

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