I’ll be honest: more than a few times this year, I’ve personally struggled to feel optimistic about our country’s future.

Many government leaders are letting us down: we have a president who acts like an authoritarian, a Supreme Court that rubber stamps his every move, and a Republican-led Congress that’s too busy making the rich richer (at our expense) to do their jobs as an equal branch of government.

And when the people in charge fail, the rest of us pay the price. The damage done over the past six months will take years to repair, leaving millions of people feeling unsafe, struggling to get by, and worried about what’s next.

After hearing from hundreds of Common Cause members, I know there are many of you who feel that way too – and are trying to see how we move forward. 

Our rights and our very survival are under attack from the people tasked with upholding justice and the rule of law. But what has always mattered, and will always matter most, is how you and I respond.

I’m thinking back to last month’s No Kings rallies, where millions of people joined in peaceful and powerful protest against Trump’s intimidation tactics and power grabs. I’m looking ahead to this summer’s People’s Promise mobilization – our largest-ever organizing effort outside of an election year.

And here at Common Cause, I want you to know our state teams across the country are laser-focused on this year’s legislative sessions and next year’s midterms – where we’re planning to do whatever it takes to ensure We The People have a voice as we choose our country’s direction.

That future won’t be decided by one man, or nine Supreme Court judges, or Big Tech billionaires. The America I’m choosing to celebrate today is all about people like you and me declaring our independence from tyranny and authoritarianism. We have the power to change what is happening to our country. 

That’s why my hope is that today can stand as a reminder that our nation – imperfect at its founding and still flawed for millions of us – is one where we resist apathy and despair and keep up our shared fight for our families and our communities. 

The road ahead won’t be easy. We’re up against radical forces who want to take our country backwards, who realize our democracy, our civil rights, and our rule of law don’t fit into their dreams of permanent minority rule – and who’ll stop at nothing to throw it all out.

But here’s what keeps me hopeful: We the People – who know America can and must finally keep its promises to all its people – will always outnumber the billionaires and special interests. Together, I know we can persevere to ensure we leave a better country for the next generation.

Today is a great reminder for me of why we are here and what our purpose is in this moment: to hold power accountable, to fight, and to win – with and for those who will be most impacted.

So this Independence Day, let’s double down on our commitment to a radically reimagined democracy that works for all of us.

In Common Cause,

Virginia Kase Solomón, President and CEO

and the team at Common Cause