“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” – Nelson Mandela
In 1776, the founders of the United States fought for a truly radical, progressive concept: that all are created equal, and that we are endowed with certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. At that time, it was perhaps the most liberal declaration that had been made publicly. We have taken those rights for granted, however, and they are slipping away from the average US citizen.
When that declaration was made centuries ago, our forerunners were immediately unable to live up to those lofty ideals. Instead, American independence resulted in the creation of a country where slavery was practiced and only white, land-owning men had the right to vote. Despite this, the spirit of that declaration remains a guiding light for liberty, and over the centuries great strides have been made in expanding rights such that all people are actually endowed with the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Today, in the northeast, we keep the torch lit, and we remember what it means to be free. We are not going back - and we will resist efforts in Washington to pull us back towards the dark ages.
We deserve a Constitution and laws that are based on modern concepts of liberty and equality - not the antiquated notions of slavery and the landed gentry. An updated Constitution must work for the many, not the few, and must protect and uphold northeastern values and improve democratic systems.
The northeast drove the fundamental values of the American Revolution of 1776. These values hold true in the northeast today, but other parts of the United States have adopted less accepting, more autocratic values. While we aim to unite all people of the United States under our values, we maintain and are unafraid to assert our right to self-determination as our own nation in the event that progress continues to fail in Washington.
When that declaration was made centuries ago, our forerunners were immediately unable to live up to those lofty ideals. Instead, American independence resulted in the creation of a country where slavery was practiced and only white, land-owning men had the right to vote. Despite this, the spirit of that declaration remains a guiding light for liberty, and over the centuries great strides have been made in expanding rights such that all people are actually endowed with the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Today, in the northeast, we keep the torch lit, and we remember what it means to be free. We are not going back - and we will resist efforts in Washington to pull us back towards the dark ages.
We deserve a Constitution and laws that are based on modern concepts of liberty and equality - not the antiquated notions of slavery and the landed gentry. An updated Constitution must work for the many, not the few, and must protect and uphold northeastern values and improve democratic systems.
The northeast drove the fundamental values of the American Revolution of 1776. These values hold true in the northeast today, but other parts of the United States have adopted less accepting, more autocratic values. While we aim to unite all people of the United States under our values, we maintain and are unafraid to assert our right to self-determination as our own nation in the event that progress continues to fail in Washington.
National Identity & Autonomy
A nation and a country are two different things - a country is a region, such as the United States, that has a common government. A nation is a region that shares a common culture and values. While we accept, at the present, that we belong to the country of the United States, we assert that the United States consists of several smaller nations. The northeast has a different culture, a different set of values, and different aspirations than states found in the south and central parts of the country.
As the heart of the United States’ founding and development over the centuries, we believe that our values lie at the heart of what it means to be a citizen of the United States, and that it is the other parts of the United States that have deviated from these values.
We have no intent of meekly giving up the country we built, the country of our shared values, to the advance of would-be kings and despots who advocate only for the rule of hatred, division, and oppression. We will ceaselessly fight against the advance of the forces. If, however, authoritarianism prevails in Washington, we maintain and are unafraid to assert our right to self-determination as our own nation, a right protected and secured by the Charter of the United Nations, onto which the United States has signed. We reject the 5-3 ruling of the Texas v. White Supreme Court case in 1869, given that the Constitution does not require the various states to have a “perpetual” association with each other. We assert that the Constitution of the United States in no way prohibits the autonomy or independence of the states that currently belong to it, and we do not accept the notion that our forefathers would bind us to a future course in perpetuity without our own consent. We support each state’s individual ability to chart their own course and determine their own future.
We are patriots - we believe in democracy, in our country’s ability to improve itself, and in the liberties our forefathers fought to protect. We simultaneously recognize and celebrate our culture and seek to support and improve our nation. We refuse to be dragged back into the dark ages by a mandate of tyranny given by states that are not part of our nation.
As the heart of the United States’ founding and development over the centuries, we believe that our values lie at the heart of what it means to be a citizen of the United States, and that it is the other parts of the United States that have deviated from these values.
We have no intent of meekly giving up the country we built, the country of our shared values, to the advance of would-be kings and despots who advocate only for the rule of hatred, division, and oppression. We will ceaselessly fight against the advance of the forces. If, however, authoritarianism prevails in Washington, we maintain and are unafraid to assert our right to self-determination as our own nation, a right protected and secured by the Charter of the United Nations, onto which the United States has signed. We reject the 5-3 ruling of the Texas v. White Supreme Court case in 1869, given that the Constitution does not require the various states to have a “perpetual” association with each other. We assert that the Constitution of the United States in no way prohibits the autonomy or independence of the states that currently belong to it, and we do not accept the notion that our forefathers would bind us to a future course in perpetuity without our own consent. We support each state’s individual ability to chart their own course and determine their own future.
We are patriots - we believe in democracy, in our country’s ability to improve itself, and in the liberties our forefathers fought to protect. We simultaneously recognize and celebrate our culture and seek to support and improve our nation. We refuse to be dragged back into the dark ages by a mandate of tyranny given by states that are not part of our nation.
Limiting Federal Power
The federal government’s power over the fifty sovereign states is excessive and has grown intolerable. The vast differences in culture and values between the various sections of the United States has forced the values of some states onto others, leading to discontentment, the deprivation of human rights and liberties, and general gridlock in Washington.
We believe that it is the responsibility of the government to guarantee and protect each person’s rights. To that end, we support a national approach to the implementation of single-payer (universal) healthcare, climate-protecting regulations, and other related legislation; but we reject overreach at the federal level beyond actions taken to protect and ensure human rights.
Given that no alternative seems to be feasible in our current political climate, we will call for Washington to devolve power to regional bodies and states so that they may administer a government that aligns with regional values. We assert each state’s right to self-determination and self-governance and reject Washington’s oppressive level of oversight and paternalism.
We believe that it is the responsibility of the government to guarantee and protect each person’s rights. To that end, we support a national approach to the implementation of single-payer (universal) healthcare, climate-protecting regulations, and other related legislation; but we reject overreach at the federal level beyond actions taken to protect and ensure human rights.
Given that no alternative seems to be feasible in our current political climate, we will call for Washington to devolve power to regional bodies and states so that they may administer a government that aligns with regional values. We assert each state’s right to self-determination and self-governance and reject Washington’s oppressive level of oversight and paternalism.
Regional Cooperation
The states of New England and the Mid-Atlantic are already deeply intertwined economically, socially, and programmatically, coordinating with a large number of interstate agreements to solve our common issues. We believe that further regional integration, led by the region and directed locally instead of by the federal government, can only benefit the northeast. So, we call for the creation of a northeastern parliament that will allow for multifaceted regional cooperation and protect the people’s rights and liberties that are under attack from Washington.
We propose that this parliament consist of the six New England states, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and any others that choose by majority referendum to join with it.
We propose that this parliament consist of the six New England states, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and any others that choose by majority referendum to join with it.
Self-Reliance
As a people-focused Party, the Yankee National Party advocates for programs that assist people in need and encourages community assistance and cooperation on all levels that will help better the condition of the people. We also believe, however, that our states, regions, and federal government have not only a right but a responsibility to be self-reliant and able to provide basic necessities to its people without being beholden to potentially hostile external actors. To that end, we support a transition to true energy independence - the goal of moving, as near as possible, to a 100% renewable energy grid that removes our dependency on fossil fuels and, critically, the oil-generating countries that use their position as oil producers to wield undue influence over our country, dragging us into immoral foreign quagmires that waste American lives, resources, and damage our diplomatic relationships. We encourage all regions to diversify their economies in an effort to strive ever closer to self-reliance.
Local Government
Much federal innovation occurs at the state level first, and much state innovation occurs in our towns and cities first. We believe that local government is the true cornerstone of our democratic society, and the Yankee National Party puts a special emphasis on running candidates for local office, where they can gain experience, learn what it means to serve the needs of individuals, and make a lasting impact on the day-to-day lives of thousands of their fellow citizens.
Internal Community Improvement
We believe in local rule when it comes to policy decisions, and the same goes for decisions about how we want to develop and improve our community infrastructure and amenity offerings. We reject federal overreach in such community improvement projects and support each community’s right to choose how to best spend federally-provided infrastructure funding.