Think Big · Start Small · Cooperate Always
These are the principles that govern how US4A operates and how its members engage with each other, with their communities, and with the wider world. They are not aspirations, they are standards.
Everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity, has an inviolable right to life, food, shelter, education, and physical and mental health, protected by equal due process under the law.
Flexible admission levels that respect U.S. capacity and global need, with seasonal work visas to meet labor gaps. Immigration status alone is not evidence of wrongdoing; every person is entitled to due process and humane treatment. Real consequences, including deportation, for those who cause genuine harm to another person, proportionate judgment for lesser offenses. Immigrants who follow U.S. laws enjoy the same basic human rights and protections as any resident.
No citizen or institution may restrict another's rights on the basis of belief or identity. We encourage constructive communication, collaboration, and equitable compromise. Disputes are natural; harassment, discrimination, or violence are never tolerated.
Equal access to counsel and due process. Wealth or status must not tilt the scales. Robust checks and swift consequences for officials who abuse power. Courts must remedy proven wrongs, not serve as tools for intimidation.
Peaceful protest and creative expression are fundamental, so long as they harm no person or property. Slander, deliberate misrepresentation, and defamation corrode the democratic process for everyone and are not protected within this cooperative. Public corrections and full disclosures are required when misinformation occurs.
Human rights outweigh the privileges of any corporation, government, or organization. Local businesses and community groups take priority over multinationals. Profit is welcome, unless it violates human, societal, or environmental rights.
Rules shouldn't be one-size-fits-all. If someone can prove they exceed a regulation's intent by another method, an exception should be written into law with evidence and oversight. Incentives and tax breaks must hinge on revenue reinvested in communities, not on company size.
Offices are decided by popular vote. Eligible voters are verified citizens. Election integrity depends on accessible, secure, and verifiable voting, and the rejection of unverified fraud claims used as political weapons. Campaign finance must be fully transparent; voters have the right to know who funds those who seek to govern them.
The 250/1 Citizen Covenant translates these core values into specific, measurable commitments that candidates for public office can sign and citizens can witness. It is where principles meet accountability.
Read the Covenant →