“I must think myself independent my whole life, if it essential to my existence." -John Adams
We assert that the United States consists of several smaller cultural regions, otherwise known as nations. Cultural differences have made it significantly harder to advance civil rights for all peoples. We believe interregional communication, cooperation, and compromise has become too difficult, and the people we represent are better served by the pursuit of rights outside the federal system.
Sovereignty & Nationhood
Self-Determination for All Peoples
We believe individuals have a right to determine their own future. People should not be coerced to accept a government against their will, and all people have the right to withdraw their consent to be governed by those that would oppress them. All states, provinces, and cultural regions locally and around the world have a right to self-government and to establish policy that reflects their community’s values, so long as those values do not infringe on the rights and freedoms of others.
National Identity
A nation and a country are different. A country is a region which has a common government, while a nation is a region which shares common culture and values. While we accept, at the present, that we belong to the country of the United States, we assert the United States consists of several smaller nations. The Northeastern region–including the six New England states, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, should they choose to join us,--have a different culture, set of values, and aspirations than other regions of the United States.
The differing values held by various nations in the United States have led to gridlock and strife in Washington and the perpetuation of violence throughout the United States. We seek to end this strife and guarantee the rights, freedoms, and quality of life of the people of the Northeast. We belong to a wider region that we seek to unite as one nation on the basis of our shared values, and it belongs to us, collectively, as a people. As a nation, we are entitled to self-governance, self-determination, and to be free of tyranny.
Nationhood
We assert that our region is its own nation. Consequently, a nation requires its own self-governance We support progressive steps being taken towards full independence, generally in the following chronological order:
Legal Path to Autonomy & Independence
We maintain that there is a fully legal path towards independence for the Northeast.
The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution explicitly states that “the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” The Tenth Amendment protects each state’s right to pursue their own destiny independent of the federal governmental structure. We do not find validity in any Constitutional argument made in opposition to this position.
Beyond this, however, we recognize it is the right of any people to alter or abolish a government when it becomes oppressive of the people’s rights. Self-determination is a natural law that cannot be confined by a document adopted nearly 250 years ago by people who are not alive today. We also understand that states have delegated sovereignty to the federal government but have not surrendered that sovereignty entirely; thus, each state retains its right to rescind their participation in the federal framework.
Understanding that autonomy is legal, there are several paths forward towards self governance–from increased autonomy to outright independence–including::
Our Party calls for regular polling on the subject of autonomy and independence within all regions of the United States. If elected, our Party will advocate for the holding of a referendum to decide the question of our future; either as a continued cog in the federal machine or as a free and independent nation.
Federal Overreach & Oppression
We are a Party of peace; we will never choose violence when peaceful options remain open to us. In the face of fascist militarism we have reason to believe that our right to self determination, our nation, and the people who reside in it are in danger from federal overreach, oppression, and violence. In the face of such overreach, our Party would support the assemblage of defensive forces for our region.
We believe individuals have a right to determine their own future. People should not be coerced to accept a government against their will, and all people have the right to withdraw their consent to be governed by those that would oppress them. All states, provinces, and cultural regions locally and around the world have a right to self-government and to establish policy that reflects their community’s values, so long as those values do not infringe on the rights and freedoms of others.
National Identity
A nation and a country are different. A country is a region which has a common government, while a nation is a region which shares common culture and values. While we accept, at the present, that we belong to the country of the United States, we assert the United States consists of several smaller nations. The Northeastern region–including the six New England states, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, should they choose to join us,--have a different culture, set of values, and aspirations than other regions of the United States.
The differing values held by various nations in the United States have led to gridlock and strife in Washington and the perpetuation of violence throughout the United States. We seek to end this strife and guarantee the rights, freedoms, and quality of life of the people of the Northeast. We belong to a wider region that we seek to unite as one nation on the basis of our shared values, and it belongs to us, collectively, as a people. As a nation, we are entitled to self-governance, self-determination, and to be free of tyranny.
Nationhood
We assert that our region is its own nation. Consequently, a nation requires its own self-governance We support progressive steps being taken towards full independence, generally in the following chronological order:
- Regional Cooperation: The Northeast must work closely together to achieve common goals. Too often our states look inward to solve their problems when the federal government leaves them in the lurch; we must, as good neighbors, seek each other out and discuss how to mutually attain goals. Together we have the economies of scale needed to implement a myriad of policies we wish to see enacted in an affordable and sustainable manner.
- Devolved/Decentralized Powers & Autonomous Governance: We call for the devolution/decentralization of federal powers to regional governmental bodies (a regional parliament or congress). More self-governance in our region means tax dollars to stay closer to home and our people have more control over their own destiny. Disaster relief services, energy, and justice systems are just a few examples of items eligible for decentralization. Items which would not only increase in quality at the regional level, but would benefit directly from the taxpayers they’re serving.
- Independence: If it is the will of our people we would call for the full separation of the Northeast as a whole to ensure our future is our own.
Legal Path to Autonomy & Independence
We maintain that there is a fully legal path towards independence for the Northeast.
The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution explicitly states that “the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” The Tenth Amendment protects each state’s right to pursue their own destiny independent of the federal governmental structure. We do not find validity in any Constitutional argument made in opposition to this position.
Beyond this, however, we recognize it is the right of any people to alter or abolish a government when it becomes oppressive of the people’s rights. Self-determination is a natural law that cannot be confined by a document adopted nearly 250 years ago by people who are not alive today. We also understand that states have delegated sovereignty to the federal government but have not surrendered that sovereignty entirely; thus, each state retains its right to rescind their participation in the federal framework.
Understanding that autonomy is legal, there are several paths forward towards self governance–from increased autonomy to outright independence–including::
- Constitutional Amendment: Under Article V, a new amendment can be passed explicitly allowing a state to separate. This would require a two-thirds supermajority of the House and Senate– as well as three-fourths of the state(s) population to agree via referendum.
- Consent of the States: In Texas v. White, Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase noted that secession is legal through "revolution or through consent of the States". This implies that if Congress and the other states agreed to let a region go (essentially a "negotiated divorce"), it could be considered a legal act.
- The New State Clause (Article IV, Section 3): While historically used to add states, this framework—which requires the consent of both the state legislature and Congress—could be adapted to facilitate the departure or reorganization of a territory.
Our Party calls for regular polling on the subject of autonomy and independence within all regions of the United States. If elected, our Party will advocate for the holding of a referendum to decide the question of our future; either as a continued cog in the federal machine or as a free and independent nation.
Federal Overreach & Oppression
We are a Party of peace; we will never choose violence when peaceful options remain open to us. In the face of fascist militarism we have reason to believe that our right to self determination, our nation, and the people who reside in it are in danger from federal overreach, oppression, and violence. In the face of such overreach, our Party would support the assemblage of defensive forces for our region.
Communities & Local Government
Natural Resource Control
The Northeast is home to versatile and numerous natural resources. With our proximity to both the sea and freshwater resources we have significant opportunities to generate renewable energy; we have the knowledge and ability to harvest timber sustainably, and we are committed to pursuing environmentally-friendly practices in agriculture and aquaculture alike. We additionally believe the acquisition and use of these resources must be controlled by the people to ensure they are applied fairly and necessarily. We call for all natural resources to be managed through devolved/decentralized regional powers rather than under the eye of the federal government.
Home Rule
Much federal innovation begins at the state level, and much state innovation begins in our towns and cities. We believe local government is the cornerstone of our democratic society, and our Party puts special emphasis on the importance of local government. We believe that matters being inadequately addressed by the State government should be devolved to lower levels of government.
Furthermore, we believe that our localities are the most knowledgeable about the issues they are facing. We advocate for and pledge to deliver more flexible state and federal funding sources for infrastructure and community improvement projects and remove the present, extremely prescriptive approach being taken to fund local projects.
Refusing Unfunded Mandates
We believe that states and local governments must have a direct say in matters which would impact their costs and, in turn, taxes. While prescriptive policy that requires local-level action is occasionally passed by higher levels of government, we believe the level of government that adopts a policy must be prepared to fund said policy. We refuse the very notion of unfunded mandates and commit to forming a government devoid of them.
Maximum Feasible Participation
A cornerstone of the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act, our Party is committed to the concept of maximum feasible participation, where all citizens are empowered, encouraged, and given opportunities to participate in governance. We will support the effort of maximum feasible participation by providing seats to impoverished and disenfranchised individuals on local, state, and regional boards and commissions, by increasing opportunities to learn about local government and policy in public educational settings, and by otherwise connecting all residents with their local decision-making processes.
The Northeast is home to versatile and numerous natural resources. With our proximity to both the sea and freshwater resources we have significant opportunities to generate renewable energy; we have the knowledge and ability to harvest timber sustainably, and we are committed to pursuing environmentally-friendly practices in agriculture and aquaculture alike. We additionally believe the acquisition and use of these resources must be controlled by the people to ensure they are applied fairly and necessarily. We call for all natural resources to be managed through devolved/decentralized regional powers rather than under the eye of the federal government.
Home Rule
Much federal innovation begins at the state level, and much state innovation begins in our towns and cities. We believe local government is the cornerstone of our democratic society, and our Party puts special emphasis on the importance of local government. We believe that matters being inadequately addressed by the State government should be devolved to lower levels of government.
Furthermore, we believe that our localities are the most knowledgeable about the issues they are facing. We advocate for and pledge to deliver more flexible state and federal funding sources for infrastructure and community improvement projects and remove the present, extremely prescriptive approach being taken to fund local projects.
Refusing Unfunded Mandates
We believe that states and local governments must have a direct say in matters which would impact their costs and, in turn, taxes. While prescriptive policy that requires local-level action is occasionally passed by higher levels of government, we believe the level of government that adopts a policy must be prepared to fund said policy. We refuse the very notion of unfunded mandates and commit to forming a government devoid of them.
Maximum Feasible Participation
A cornerstone of the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act, our Party is committed to the concept of maximum feasible participation, where all citizens are empowered, encouraged, and given opportunities to participate in governance. We will support the effort of maximum feasible participation by providing seats to impoverished and disenfranchised individuals on local, state, and regional boards and commissions, by increasing opportunities to learn about local government and policy in public educational settings, and by otherwise connecting all residents with their local decision-making processes.
Solidarity in Self-Determination
Indigenous Peoples
We believe indigenous people themselves are the best representatives of their own values, desires, and hopes for the future. All people within a country deserve fair and just representation. Our Party will work to ensure proper state and national recognition and voting representation for all indigenous nations and tribes who desire it. Our Party will fight to ensure that any government formed for an independent or autonomous Northeast would work with all nations and tribes to fairly and equitably ensure their representation alongside the states.
The federal government has never addressed previous abhorrent genocidal and treaty-breaking actions towards the indigenous peoples of North America, and our Party will stand up against further maltreatment and work towards restorative solutions for all native tribes.
International Self-Determination Movements
Our Party supports organic movements to change governance structures, including but not necessarily limited to the Scottish independence movement, the Irish reunification movement, and the call for Palestine to exist as a sovereign and self-ruling state outside the confines of Israel.
We believe, however, that such movements can only be organic when they are brought about and advocated for by the people of that given region. Attempts by other countries to annex territory because of a false narrative must be vigilantly observed and thwarted.
We believe indigenous people themselves are the best representatives of their own values, desires, and hopes for the future. All people within a country deserve fair and just representation. Our Party will work to ensure proper state and national recognition and voting representation for all indigenous nations and tribes who desire it. Our Party will fight to ensure that any government formed for an independent or autonomous Northeast would work with all nations and tribes to fairly and equitably ensure their representation alongside the states.
The federal government has never addressed previous abhorrent genocidal and treaty-breaking actions towards the indigenous peoples of North America, and our Party will stand up against further maltreatment and work towards restorative solutions for all native tribes.
International Self-Determination Movements
Our Party supports organic movements to change governance structures, including but not necessarily limited to the Scottish independence movement, the Irish reunification movement, and the call for Palestine to exist as a sovereign and self-ruling state outside the confines of Israel.
We believe, however, that such movements can only be organic when they are brought about and advocated for by the people of that given region. Attempts by other countries to annex territory because of a false narrative must be vigilantly observed and thwarted.
Personal Freedoms
Autonomy of Body & Person
All people have a right to autonomy of their own body and mind; as a Party, we assert no law should be passed that would abridge this right. This right extends to all matters of bodily autonomy including gender affirming care, reproductive care, and any other forms of care which may directly impact a lucid patient.
Right to Move & Relocate
For too long, country borders and a lack of affordable transportation have prevented people from existing where and how they’d like. We believe people have a right to affordable travel within our country’s borders and, if they no longer wish to reside where they are, have a right to relocate safely. We acknowledge that there are some people within our borders who would rather live in a society that has arranged itself differently or that has a different culture to our own, and we wish to ensure that those people are able to safely emigrate as they choose.
All people have a right to autonomy of their own body and mind; as a Party, we assert no law should be passed that would abridge this right. This right extends to all matters of bodily autonomy including gender affirming care, reproductive care, and any other forms of care which may directly impact a lucid patient.
Right to Move & Relocate
For too long, country borders and a lack of affordable transportation have prevented people from existing where and how they’d like. We believe people have a right to affordable travel within our country’s borders and, if they no longer wish to reside where they are, have a right to relocate safely. We acknowledge that there are some people within our borders who would rather live in a society that has arranged itself differently or that has a different culture to our own, and we wish to ensure that those people are able to safely emigrate as they choose.
