There is not one magic silver bullet that’s going to fix this mess. We have gone so far down the rabbit hole that it will take an across-the-board hard correction to turn this thing around. But we promise it will be worth it! Believe us, it’s far better to endure a little pain now – while we still have control over how to absorb it – than to live in denial until the music just stops and there aren’t enough chairs.
It may not always be a ton of fun, but we can absolutely do it! We got this, America!! We have all the necessary ingredients – unlimited talent and intelligence, unparalleled freedom of opportunity, and vast economic resources – to cultivate the strength and goodness of America that we all know exists.
The easiest, least overwhelming way to think about this challenge is in terms of our overall long-term, big picture MISSION and our STRATEGIES, or what actions we’re going to take to make it happen. We can break our STRATEGIES down into three categories: SHORT-TERM, MID-TERM, and LONG-TERM.
1787’s LONG-TERM, BIG PICTURE MISSION
1787’s Plan of Action demands long-term fiscal responsibility – controlling deficits and debt; scrutinizing programs for waste and efficiency; and asking taxpayers to fund only what can be justified.
The Plan also ensures that Americans who genuinely need help are not abandoned, and protects Americans during times of crisis such as unemployment, disability, illness, old age, childhood poverty, or temporary financial crises. We believe, like Abraham Lincoln, that government has a role to play in expanding opportunity and ensuring every American has a fair chance:
“To elevate the condition of men – to lift artificial weights from
all shoulders – to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all –
to afford all, an unfettered start, and a fair chance, in the race of life.”
This plan protects vulnerable people, preserves opportunity and dignity, and helps those who are able to return to economic self-sufficiency. America’s safety net should be strong enough to catch people when they fall but designed to help them get back on their feet. We also believe that a fiscally responsible government protects programs that prevent larger costs later – for example, childhood nutrition, preventive health care, workforce training, or assistance that helps someone remain employed rather than becoming dependent on longer-term support.
The number one goal of our social agenda should be to help level the playing field by creating fair and equitable opportunities that move people from any sort of dependency to self-sufficiency as quickly as possible. Notice we said move people from, not yank the rug out from under their feet. There must be an appropriate transition for those trapped in vulnerable circumstances, or it will just make the problem significantly worse – which the Republicans did on July 4, 2025 with their insidious One Big Beautiful Bill.
As we search for solutions, we all need to understand that chronic inequality is not something that those trapped in its relentless grip can work – or even at times educate – themselves out without a helping hand.... and it is highly insulting to act like they can or even should. In truth, the only way to close these persistent gaps is to enact policies that actively work to counteract the original ones.
Our national social service policies must be designed to work together to make the biggest impact. The main reason we constantly fall short of finding solutions is that we always approach our challenges compartmentally instead of comprehensively.... as if these challenges exist in isolation from one another. That is just not going to work. Because there are so many problems to solve, the only plausible answer is to be boldly strategic in our attack.
We have a great idea! To operate at our very best, let’s start thinking of America as a team instead of factions divided by race, money or social class. Think of the entire world as the Global Nation League, which, in my imagination, is kind of like the NFL. Every country in the world is its own team, and every team in the league competes against all the other teams. To win this global game, it’s going to take every single one of us playing at our very best. All successful teams understand that every player on the team needs the very best resources available to play at the highest level, and successful teams make sure every single player has those resources – which ultimately makes the entire team stronger.
< cue: the song We are the Champions by Queen >
Therefore, to be successful, every player on Team America needs to make sure every other player has access to the very best education, health care, and job opportunities, and that other things – like housing and wages, for example – are fair and equitable.
If we begin to operate like this, America will be unstoppable.
(We are the champions, my friends…And we’ll keep on fighting
till the end. We are the champions, We are the champions,
No time for losers, 'Cause we are the champions of the woooorld!)