The Mandate for Understanding

Building from the ground up for a better future

The era of misinformation and limited education has left much of our populace unprepared to elect leaders with a clear understanding of who or what they are voting for. As citizens, we must grasp how our government and society function, so that we can make informed decisions that shape a future we can all believe in and benefit from.

Too often, the words of our leaders are laced with empty promises, accompanied by the unspoken hope that we, the people, remain unaware of how our system truly operates.

Recent surveys show a troubling lack of understanding about the workings of our government. According to the 2020 Annenberg Public Policy Center Report, 24% of Americans could not name a single branch of government, and only 39% could identify all three branches (executive, legislative, and judicial). The 2023 Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey revealed that when asked to identify the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment, only 77% could name freedom of speech, and even fewer recognized other rights like freedom of religion (40%) and freedom of the press (28%).

This is just the tip of the iceberg. If so many are unaware of the basic principles of this nation, how can we trust them to vote in their best interest or elect officials who will advocate for those interests? Unfortunately, the reality is often the opposite.

It’s time for change.

At The Common Threads, we’re focused on one goal: helping you understand how government works, shining a light on key issues from a non-partisan perspective, and encouraging informed civic engagement. We’re all about finding the common threads that run through society and across political ideologies—because the truth is, there’s so much more that connects us than divides us.

We are not here to promote any one political ideology. Instead, we are here to restore and preserve the core principles upon which this country was founded:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." — The Declaration of Independence, 1776

In a society where civic ignorance is widespread, the fundamental rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness will remain out of reach. Without understanding how government works and how laws are made, citizens cannot effectively exercise their rights, hold leaders accountable, or make informed decisions about who should lead and how policies should evolve.

Ignorance is lethal.

Civic education empowers all individuals to engage meaningfully in society, ensuring that these unalienable rights are not just lofty ideals, but living principles that guide and protect us all.

So, let’s get started.