Everybody deserves the bare minimum.

We're fighting for a short list of things people need to live. Nothing else.

Get involved

01 — The idea

Five demands.
One question.

The US is one of the richest countries on earth, yet millions of us can't see a doctor, pay rent, afford food, or take a sick day.

The good news is, other rich countries and even some US states have already solved these problems. Our goal is to give all Americans access to those solutions.

This project provides voters and policymakers with a basic list of essential needs, each paired with a fix that already works somewhere. We ask every candidate one question: will you fight for this list? Yes or no.

We support the ones that say yes and make sure they keep their word.

Everything else—party, ideology, culture wars—stays off the table. If you're pushing for the list, you're on the team.

  • Portable

    Anyone can use the list in their town, city, or state.

  • Strict

    Only urgent needs. Only proven fixes.

  • Hijack-proof

    Clear criteria keep side fights off the list.

02 — The list

Urgent needs, proven fixes

A need qualifies if it is

  1. Life or health. People are harmed without it.
  2. Wide. It affects many, not a few.
  3. Now. Waiting causes harm today.
  4. Basic. A requirement, not a nice-to-have.

A fix qualifies if it is

  1. Proven. Already works in a peer country or US state.
  2. Clear. Understandable at a glance.
  3. Measurable. Checkable with real numbers.
  4. Fair. Asks the most from those who have the most.

01 Health care that doesn't bankrupt you

The need: Getting sick shouldn't cost your house or your life.

The fix: Universal coverage, as Massachusetts did. Every peer country does this.

"It costs too much."

The US spends nearly twice what peer nations spend on health care — and has the lowest life expectancy among them. Commonwealth Fund

Meanwhile Massachusetts, post-reform, has the lowest uninsured rate in the nation. US Census

Already in place: Massachusetts, Canada, Germany, Japan, Taiwan

02 Housing you can afford

The need: Shelter shouldn't consume an entire paycheck.

The fix: Build more homes and cap sudden rent spikes, as many peer nations do.

"That kills construction."

Half of US renter households — a record 22.4 million — spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Building more and capping spikes is how peer cities keep rents in check. Harvard JCHS

Already in place: Minneapolis, Oregon, Vienna, Japan

03 Enough money to live on

The need: Full-time work shouldn't leave you poor.

The fix: A living wage, plus an annual resident dividend from shared wealth — the Alaska Permanent Fund model.

"People will stop working."

Economists studied 35+ years of Alaska's dividend and found "no effect on employment." People kept working; part-time work actually rose. NBER, Jones & Marinescu

Already in place: Alaska, Seattle, California, Australia

04 Food on the table

The need: No child in the richest country on earth should go hungry.

The fix: Free school meals for all kids and strong food assistance, as peer nations run.

"Not the government's job."

1 in 5 US children lives in a food-insecure household. USDA

Where school meals are free for all, research links them to better attendance, test scores, and health. Eight states already do it. FRAC

Already in place: California, Minnesota, Sweden, Finland

05 Fair taxes, no dodging

The need: The list only gets funded if money is raised fairly.

The fix: Progressive taxes and hard limits on offshore hiding. Standard in peer nations.

"That punishes success."

The IRS estimates roughly $600 billion in owed taxes goes unpaid every year — most of it at the top. Collecting what's already owed funds a lot of floor. IRS

Already in place: Massachusetts, Norway, OECD global minimum tax, 150+ countries (CRS)

03 — Accountability

What electeds sign up for

Candidates who run under this banner make plain promises — and we hold them to it.

The pledge

  • Put the list first, above every other fight.
  • Vote yes on fixes that meet the list; no on what blocks it.
  • State their position on each need, publicly.
  • Refuse money that would turn them against the list.
  • Report back, in plain language, every quarter.

The enforcement

  • Public scorecard. Every relevant vote, tracked and posted.
  • Signed pledge. In writing, before we back anyone.
  • Recall rule. Break the pledge, lose our support.
  • No dark money. Hidden funding means you're out.
  • Check-ins. Missed reports count against the scorecard.

Our support is a loan, not a gift. Keep the promise, keep the support.

04 — Legislation

Ready-to-file bills

Lawmakers shouldn't start from a blank page. Model bills in progress — full text coming soon.

  • Cover Everyone Act

    Universal health coverage, modeled on Massachusetts.

  • Fair Rent & More Homes Act

    Caps sudden rent hikes; clears the way to build.

  • Resident Dividend Act

    An annual check to every resident from shared public wealth.

  • Living Wage Act

    A wage tied to local costs.

  • No Hungry Kids Act

    Free school meals for every student. No forms, no shame.

  • Fair Share Tax Act

    Progressive rates so top earners pay fairly.

  • No Hiding Money Act

    Closes the loopholes used to dodge taxes.

  • Open Books Pledge

    A model pledge for electeds to disclose all funding.

05 — Action

Get involved

No expertise or title required. Pick one:

  1. Say it out loud. Tell one person, face to face, that you're for this list. Opinions that stay private don't count as votes for anything.
  2. Ambush politely. Candidates hold events because they want people to show up. Show up. Ask "Will you fight for this list — yes or no?" and record the answer.
  3. Recruit your opposite. Next time politics breaks out at dinner, skip the fight and ask: "Do we both want kids fed?" That's a teammate, not an opponent.
  4. Adopt a bill. Pick one sample bill and email it to a city council member by name. Bills die of loneliness; be one bill's person.
  5. Run. If no one near you will carry the list, congratulations — you've just met the candidate.