America has a long history of working hard and giving back to those who need it. Most of us have been raised with a sense of wanting to do good. Yet the US has fallen behind our peers in most ways that matter to individual citizens. We have to be smarter with our contributions so that we do not just provide a temporary band-aid that ultimately continues the status quo.
Surmountable was founded to identify plausible solutions to 100 issues and what you can do that would actually make a difference.
Every topic is broken down into six easy-to-understand sections:
- Summary of our current situation
- How we can begin to turn things around
- Core problems that we have to overcome
- Potential goals that we can strive for
- Actions we can take as individuals
- A quote to inspire you to act
Each issue is then grouped into three categories that are homages to the Declaration of Independence in which American colonists listed 27 grievances for their case against King George III. We do not have a tyrant today thanks to their brave efforts, but we must realize that our challenges now come from our own inattention to the very government we elect. When representatives have a 95% reelection rate and senators return for another 6 years well over 80% of the time, we cannot rely solely on our candidates of choice for change. We should not wait for politicians to cast aside partisan gridlock to do what is right.
Let's start working together to achieve our common goals with three new declarations
Our environmental declaration
We must stop plundering our own seas, ravaging our own coasts, and burning our own towns either our through deliberate action or willful inaction that affects animal welfare, the conservation of nature, our environmental health, or green technology to ensure more sustainable business.
From the Declaration of Independence (24):
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
Our social declaration
We must accommodate large districts of our people through accessibility, culture, economics, education, and health necessary for the public good.
From the Declaration of Independence (1, 3):
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
Our governance declaration
We must pass laws of immediate and pressing importance to the accountability, civil rights, equality, security, and survival of our society without neglecting underrepresented populations.
From the Declaration of Independence (2):
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
