Improve Initiative.org

Sacrifice on our terms
For our benefit

Demand The Promise

Withdraw Cooperation
Force Their Accountability

Influential leaders with nationwide appeal, and those close to them, are urged to consider supporting a nationwide economic boycott to improve government functioning and prevent the final decay of our institutions. Today’s federal leadership continues to disturb the peace, reallocate resources away from those in need, exploit ambiguity, and adversely interpret laws in ways that cause lasting harm.

Their strategy is erosion through exhaustion: repeated rule-breaking designed to wear down enforcement through crisis fatigue and apathy, undermine national morale, and present their actions as virtuous and just. If ignored, these actions will persist rather than fade.

Conscientious and irreplaceable workers have been fired or forced to leave, then asked to return. Critical infrastructure has been dismantled or institutionally captured, rendering it ineffective. When law-abiding citizens are arrested and released without record, snatched from their homes without due process, violently detained, or killed with indifference, an emergency response is warranted.

What is the last straw for you? How much needs to be taken before you take action that actually changes things? If that threshold has been reached, act—commit to a coordinated economic boycott that creates measurable pressure and demands accountability.

Most Americans, regardless of ideology, want accountability, ethical clarity, and predictable systems—but increasingly feel those systems no longer function as intended, instead enforcing rules that bind ordinary citizens while shielding the powerful. Traditional protests feel symbolic, - people are not looking for another political crusade, but rather a peaceful, meaningful way to influence government.

The goal is a system with predictable rules, consistent consequences, and one that fairly rewards both owners and labor for their contributions to society. As Gene Sharp noted, “Democracy (e.g. choice by the people) does not survive by itself. We must be stewards of justice (and choice).” The aim is to create stability, not redistribute political power or punish businesses. This is not a protest against all businesses or wealthy individuals, - many share an interest in a stable, predictable system and may ultimately support an initiative that promotes stability, fairness, and sustainable growth. Success will be driven by prioritizing the importance of our labor, ensuring meaningful and uncompromised choice in how our government serves our needs, and fostering accountable, thriving businesses.

Since the financial interests of businesses and wealthy donors remain among the most reliable motivators for Congress, these interests can be leveraged to compel our federal system to enact fair and reasonable laws and to build a stronger framework for accountable governance. This approach is lawful, moral, and well-structured.

Demands are designed to limit abuse of power and reduce undue financial influence in politics. The initiative channels everyday economic habits—spending, viewing, and clicking—into a short-term, well-defined nationwide withdrawal. The strategy unfolds in three phases: rapid enactment of accountability laws, enforcement of accountability through investigations, and strengthening institutions to ensure long-term stability. This protest leverages impulse buying and advertising revenue to create measurable disruption. A complete set of demands is presented in prioritized order to define the full scope of essential issues required for our federal system to operate at peak capacity. Presenting this comprehensive scope empowers the public to define the final set of demands through surveys and broad input. Despite the common preference, small-scale proof of concept in this case is not feasible. Localized boycotts lack the leverage to affect national policy. Only coordinated, nationwide participation generates the scale of pressure needed to drive federal action.

The boycott, if adopted, would occur from 7 AM to 7 PM on the last Tuesday and Thursday of a chosen month.

Its strength lies in predictability and measurement: through pledges and public participation tracking, potential economic impact can be estimated in advance, making the effects more foreseeable and harder to ignore. The initiative invites scrutiny, stress-testing, and collaboration from leaders, economists, and the public to determine whether the idea is responsible, realistic, and genuinely useful, presenting its details not as rigid prescriptions but as starting points to be refined through evidence, critique, and practical evaluation. At the same time, changes to goals and principles require more strict and careful deliberation informed by evidence and identified weaknesses.

This is one possible solution—not a final answer. If it falls short, it should inspire stronger, more effective approaches, capable of producing meaningful results quickly, and that limit delay, reversal, and obstruction.

Imagine a government truly accountable to its principles, where even the most powerful abide by the same laws and standards as everyone else. That future is possible—but achieving it will require collective sacrifice and the discomfort of breaking our daily routines through boycott action and preparation.

1. Pass an amended John Lewis Voting Rights Act: Include provisions that prevent purging and other forms of voter removal. Include provisions that prevent manipulation of district map boundaries by legislatures. Create U.S. House districts using a computer model and computational methods, aiming to enhance fairness, transparency, and public engagement in the electoral process, and mandate that states justify deviations from the model.

2. Pass a Criminal Prosecution Act for SCOTUS: Include provisions that limit the use of the shadow docket to short-term, temporary relief cases only, - restrict the court’s ability to introduce or infer new facts and require cases return to lower courts to establish needed facts, - and prohibit ruling on synthetic cases that originate without an actual plaintiff or injured party. Include provisions that amend the code of conduct to become mandatory, - amend honoraria rules to prohibit reimbursement for travel and lodging, - and include felony criminal penalties for presiding over a case that involves gifts, financial interests, or a relationship with either party. Require automatic impeachment hearings if a justice is found to have received gifts from parties with business before the Court without prior notification and without recusal. The "good behavior" clause in the Constitution guarantees that federal judges hold their positions for life, but only "during good behavior". This means they can and should be removed for misbehavior (term limits may be pursued if 75% of respondents support such a measure).

Pass a Constitutional Amendment that grants Congress the power, under tightly prescribed and very narrow circumstances, to challenge a Supreme Court ruling when its findings are based on omitted, ignored, or misrepresented facts, precedents, or evidence (or Congress can be granted the power to create, under very narrow circumstances, a review panel comprised of federal judges and experts)(no criminal liability may arise solely from judicial reasoning, legal interpretation, or ruling—all solutions shall preserve judicial supremacy)(Lastly, the amendment can preserve self-policing by granting power to initiate the review panel, to a small percentage of justices).

3. Pass an Anti-Super PAC and Anti-Lobbying Act: Include provisions that prohibit the establishment of super PACs. Include provisions that amend the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 to include a four-year ban against lobbying for all three branches of government, their staff, and advisers employed more than a cumulative 3 months, - include an eight-year ban for any elected official or staff that served more than eight years in office or on staff, - the lobbying ban shall prohibit direct, advisory, or strategic lobbying roles with felony criminal penalties. Without these constraints, the super-wealthy will continue to influence the creation of laws to which only the common man will be held accountable.

Pass a Constitutional Amendment to establish that political spending is free speech within the narrow limits defined in the Campaign Reform Act of 2002.

4. Pass a Criminal Prosecution Act for Congress: Include provisions that amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and the Foreign Emoluments Clause to include stricter financial disclosures and stricter ethics rules with felony criminal penalties. Amend the Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 (to include the presidency and the Supreme Court) with felony criminal penalties. Prohibit trading where there is direct interaction with a particular sector, industry, or company, - require seizure of all illegally obtained assets or profits (whether willfully or non-willfully obtained). If convicted of a felony, strip members of leadership positions and committee assignments, - and require automatic impeachment hearings.

Pass a Constitutional Amendment to protect law-abiding citizens from arbitrary or extrajudicial deprivation of liberty, including unjustified detention, restriction of freedom of movement, or loss of life not otherwise authorized by due process of law. The amendment shall expressly prohibit detention, questioning, surveillance, or enforcement actions based solely on a person’s appearance, language, accent, or other non-criminal characteristics. These protections shall not be diminished or nullified by judicial doctrine or interpretation. The amendment shall further prohibit all forms of slavery and involuntary servitude without exception, including as punishment for crime, thereby closing the exception clause of the Thirteenth Amendment. Finally, the doctrine of qualified immunity shall be abolished and replaced with a standard of accountability that permits civil liability for violations of constitutional rights, while allowing reasonable consideration of the inherent risks and safety demands of law enforcement duties.

5. Pass a Criminal Prosecution Act for POTUS: Include provisions that re-establish the partitioning of presidential authority and reject the idea of “the unitary executive theory”. Include provisions that amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and the Foreign Emoluments Clause to include stricter ethics rules, financial disclosures, and divestiture with felony criminal penalties. Require automatic impeachment hearings if convicted of a felony. This law is meant to include provisions that make all essential presidential norms into law. The executive branch should not have ambiguity in areas that profoundly disrupt the public order.

Pass a Constitutional Amendment that prohibits any form of presidential immunity for criminal or unofficial acts (except for official acts expressly authorized by the Constitution), including any claim of self-immunity,- and that limits pardoning power by prohibiting pardons for crimes against the state (including treason, insurrection, coup attempts, and coup-related violence against officials), crimes involving conflicts of interest, quid-pro-quo arrangements, and any form of self-pardoning.

1. Economic Boycott

Halt spending from 7 AM to 7 PM on the last Tuesday and Thursday of a designated month. Include all goods, - in-person and online services, - prepaid or per-use accounts, - and subscriptions (e.g. temporarily suspend the use of streaming services, unlimited coffee programs, car wash subscriptions, etc.). The extent of disengagement will depend on individual circumstances and commitment. The greater the participants disengage from daily economic activities, the sooner the proposed demands will be met. However, partial participation will play a large role in the protest’s success. Purchase all necessities and essentials prior to the protest.

2. Advertising Blackout

Avoid all advertising platforms and devices, with as much disengagement as possible. Only devices needed for safety and essential communication should be used. For emergency news and alerts, rely on direct, low-ad sources such as emergency text alerts, weather radios, or official government channels (e.g. city or state alert systems). Ideally, city, county, and secretary of state offices would provide concise updates at regular, preannounced intervals on boycott dates.

(e.g., don’t use email, podcasts, social media, video-on-demand platforms, music apps, network TV, cable TV, etc. Don't call in to any radio station. Don't listen to radio online, through apps, streaming, or with a listening meter. Where it’s safe to do so, turn off voice-activated assistants and navigation. Don’t use apps that show advertising or are connected to the internet. Temporarily restrict as many devices from children that is safe for family circumstances and that is emotionally manageable).

3. Restrict Use of Online Services

Cease participation in all online services, particularly those supported by advertising (e.g., gambling, multiplayer gaming, stock trading, dating sites, etc.).

4. Business Participation

This is a consumer-based protest. However, businesses may show solidarity by not placing orders or scheduling deliveries on boycott dates, where feasible. Businesses may also pause operations for one hour on boycott dates at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET to join a simulcast lunch with seven short interfaith prayers or nonsectarian reflections.

This Theory of Change document serves as a guide for implementing a coordinated campaign to build public support and pressure Congress to enact fair, enforceable laws that improve government accountability. The Theory of Change provides a strategic, narrative explanation of how and why change is expected to happen, outlining the pathway from the current problem to the desired impact. It includes key assumptions, risks, and contextual factors, and is used to justify the strategy—explaining why mass mobilization, economic pressure, and public sentiment can influence policymakers when traditional mechanisms have failed. The Logic Model complements this by breaking down the campaign into actionable components: inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and long-term impacts. This implementation framework ensures that every step— from pledges and petitions to boycotts and investigations—builds on public will and measurable data to drive systemic change. Together, they provide a structured, evidence-informed roadmap from citizen engagement to legislative and institutional change.

Phase 1

1. Establish support via pledges and petitions

2. Refine widely supported demands

3. Boycott to pressure business

4. Business to pressure Congress

5. New widely-acceptable laws enacted

6. Improved federal governance

Phase 2

1. Boycott to pressure business

2. Business to pressure States & Congress

3. Investigations to promote accountability

4. Improved accountability & governance

Phase 3

1. Boycott to pressure business

2. Business to pressure Congress

3. Address critical structural-governance issues (rather than hot-button or values based issues)

4. Vital agencies and infrastructure stabilized to baseline functionality or upgraded to peak utility

Prioritized Principles

P1: Prohibit voter removal and purging. Voting must be easily accessible by all citizens.

P2: Develop the broadest possible set of widely acceptable demands in order to gain the support of over 50% of the population and limit the ability to discredit the protest’s goals and methods. Demands must focus on ensuring choice by the people and the behavior of federal officials.

P3: Investigations shall be designed to ensure the existing balance of political power is not altered. Corruption must be eliminated without regard to party affiliation.

P4: Restrict financial influence in the electoral process from wealthy donors and organizations. Ensure rule by the people through the unmanipulated selection of federal representatives. Ensure our nation's values are defined by the people. Prohibit self-enrichment mechanisms used by politicians and political operatives. Serving the public, and receiving a livable salary, must be the sole motivation for those seeking office. The same standard must apply to political staff and consultants.

P5: Codify all substantive rules and norms into law, with enforceable consequences.

We have a 'social compact' with our government in which we agree, as citizens, to obey laws, pay taxes, and cooperate as consumers. In return, the government promises to protect our rights, maintain security and order, uphold justice and the rule of law, provide representation and participation, and deliver public goods and services. We must demand that these promises be kept.

We have a responsibility to offer a plausible solution to our current troubles. This requires accepting that every problem has an answer and every question a solution, provided we are willing to apply our talents and imagination. The problems we face are not separate from us, they are reflections of us. Resolving them, therefore, is a shared responsibility that demands collective effort and creativity. It is not optional, it is an obligation. If we refuse to take on the responsibility, or burden, of offering solutions shaped by our perspectives and lived experiences, we become complicit in the very problems we face.

Prioritized External Factors

The following strategies outline a disciplined, adaptable approach to managing resistance from political, institutional, and economic actors. While each category of resistance may require different tactics, several core elements apply throughout: maintaining focus on expanding a broad base of support, using structured and outcome-driven engagement, and preventing opposition from redirecting attention through distraction or misrepresentation.

These ideas are not presented as final or exhaustive solutions. Rather, they are intended to encourage refinement, collaboration, and the development of stronger, more effective strategies. The emphasis is on maintaining commitment to established goals and principles while remaining flexible in execution.

E5: Frequency of everyday freedom loss under authoritarian systems:

Actions by the current administration show a real desire to move toward an authoritarian style of government. How will that affect non-political, everyday life? Historically, many authoritarian systems did not remove daily routines entirely, but they often changed how predictable, fair, and autonomous everyday systems functioned. The losses usually appear in administrative control, favoritism, unpredictability of law, reduced choice, and dependence on state approval rather than explicit political repression.

(The following examples outline common patterns observed in historical authoritarian systems and compare them with current warning signs and policy trends within the present administration.)

1. Loss of Property Security (Homes, Businesses, Wealth)

Historical Frequency: 70-85%

Population Affected: Majority

Current Administration Similarities: Behavior and policy signals indicate this enjoyment/access is at-risk

Business owners risk losing licenses or contracts

The wealthy may be pressured to support regime

Poor citizens can lose housing protections

Government or political actors can seize property, revoke licenses, or force sales with weak legal recourse.

7. Reduced Media, Internet, and Information Diversity

Historical Frequency: 90-100%

Population Affected: All

Current Administration Similarities: Behavior and policy signals indicate this enjoyment/access is at-risk

Less variety in news sources

Cultural content becomes more uniform

Social media platforms pressured to acquiesce to the regime's agenda

Information ecosystems narrow as media outlets self-censor or come under state influence.

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