The US is on the cusp of a major milestone: the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Amidst the celebrations, a call to action has emerged,urging policymakers to reinterpret the historic promise of the Declaration to include a government responsibility to guarantee basic economic rights.

The $30 million promise

Every week in the law school eviction clinic, we watch parents arrive from work still dressed in fast-food wrappers and home-uniforms, desperate to keep their families from sleeping in cars. Seniors and people with disabilities stand on the brink of eviction after spending rent on life-saving prescriptions. Their plight is a stark reminder that the promise of the Declaration of Independence - the unalienable right to "pursuit of happiness" - remains unfulfilled for many Americans.

Law professor and dean Linda Keller's extensive research into eighteenth-century political thought concludes that the phrase "pursuit of happiness" was never meant as a purely abstract ideal; it carried an economic dimension that required the state to secure the material conditions necessary for individuals to thrive. In her words, the "plain and ordinary meaning" of happiness in the 1700s could not be separated from material well-being - without food,shelter or basic medical care, the right to pursue happiness becomes a hollow promise for the poor.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

The United States has long failed to codify these obligations at the international level. Unlike the wealthier nations that have ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and built robust safety-net programs, the U.S. remains outside the treaty, leaving many citizens without guaranteed access to essential services. This omission is not merely symbolic; it translates into real-world consequences - higher rates of homelessness, medical debt and food insecurity compared with peer nations.

Throughout American history, leaders have reiterated that liberty and democracy cannot flourish without first meeting basic human needs. The COVID-19 pandemic , rising housing costs and a stagnant wage floor have only sharpened the urgency of this lesson.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

Only then can the country move from rhetorical commitment to concrete reality, ensuring that the right to pursue happiness is accessible to all, not just a privileged few. Amid this broader policy conversation, the independent media outlet Common Dreams serves as a reminder of the power of principled journalism to drive change. Founded thirty years ago by a husband-wife team committed to a profit-free model, the organization has operated without corporate ads or sponsors, relying instead on reader contributions.

Its mission - to inform , inspire and ignite action for the common good - positions it at the forefront of reporting on the very issues discussed here:corporate greed, fossil-fuel exploitation, Big Tech lobbying and the influence of ultra-wealthy oligarchs on democracy. The outlet's continued existence underscores an essential truth: when confronting entrenched economic power, a well-informed public,supported by independent media, becomes the most effective bulwark.

What's next for the US?

As the nation reflects on a histoirc charter that once sparked a revolution, the call to action is clear. by embracing the original spirit of the Declaration and extending its guarantees to include economic security, America can finally deliver on the promise that has guided it since 1776.