Guiding Principles

A thriving USA requires public officials and citizens at all levels committed to basic human decency.

Basic human decency is patriotic. It is not ideological, partisan, or sectarian.

‘Basic human decency’ means striving to:

Treat all people with respect and dignity.
Be honest and honor commitments (large and small).
Consider the impact of one’s actions on others.
Never take advantage of or mistreat others, especially those who are weaker.
Never engage in or tolerate cruelty, humiliation, or intentional harm toward others.
Admit mistakes and take reasonable steps to address any harm caused by them.
Be self-aware and work to improve personal habits or tendencies that negatively impact others.
Support fair accountability grounded in evidence and due process, rather than personal animus or retribution.
Support equal and impartial application of the law to all people, consistent with constitutional protections and due process.

We are committed to learning and will remain open to evolving our understanding of basic human decency.

While it is idealistic to expect every public official to fully meet these standards, it is not idealistic to encourage, recognize, and increase decency wherever possible, improving governance, public trust, and community well-being.

Decency does not require:

Perfection.
Selflessness or lack of ambition.
Deprioritizing family or loved ones.
Any specific religious beliefs.
Alignment with any political party or ideology.
Quietly tolerating acts that are not decent.

AMERICANS FOR DECENCY IN GOVERNMENT

A Nonpartisan Nonprofit

Americas for Decency in Government

Guiding Principles

A thriving USA requires public officials and citizens at all levels committed to basic human decency.

‘Basic human decency’ means striving to:

Treat all people with respect and dignity.

Be honest and honor commitments (large and small).

Consider the impact of one’s actions on others.

Never take advantage of or mistreat others, especially those who are weaker.

Never engage in or tolerate cruelty, humiliation, or intentional harm toward others.

Admit mistakes and take reasonable steps to address any harm caused by them.

Be self-aware and work to improve personal habits or tendencies that negatively impact others.

Support fair accountability grounded in evidence and due process, rather than personal animus or retribution.

Support equal and impartial application of the law to all people, consistent with constitutional protections and due process.

We are committed to learning and will remain open to evolving our understanding of basic human decency.

Decency does not require:

Perfection.

Selflessness or lack of ambition.

Deprioritizing family or loved ones.

Any specific religious beliefs.

Alignment with any political party or ideology.

Quietly tolerating acts that are not decent.