Frequently Asked Questions

Autonomism is a political philosophy built on one core principle: your autonomy ends where another person's begins.

This means:

• Every person is sovereign over their own body, mind, labor, and property
• No one — not government, not corporations, not mobs — may violate that sovereignty
• Freedom and accountability are inseparable: you are free to act, and responsible for the consequences
• Government exists only to protect autonomy and enforce accountability — nothing more

It's not libertarianism (we believe in strong safety nets). It's not conservatism (we're secular and reject theocracy). It's not progressivism (we reject identity politics and collective guilt). It's something new — or rather, something very old, finally articulated clearly.

No. Autonomism is explicitly secular. Our principles are grounded in reason and the observable reality of human existence — not theology.

We welcome people of all faiths (and none). Many religious traditions align with autonomist principles — the dignity of the individual, personal responsibility, the sanctity of life. But we do not derive our positions from scripture, and we oppose any law based purely on religious doctrine.

You can be a devout Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, atheist, or anything else and be an Autonomist — as long as you don't try to impose your beliefs on others through force of law.

Libertarianism often treats freedom as the only value and government as always the enemy. We disagree on both counts.

Key differences:

• Safety nets: We believe in robust support for those who need it — but designed as "a ladder out, not a trap within." Libertarians often oppose welfare entirely.
• Corporate power: We recognize that corporations can violate autonomy just as governments can. We're not anarcho-capitalists.
• Life protection: We believe abortion takes a human life and support strong (though not criminalized) protections for the unborn. Many libertarians are pro-choice absolutists.
• Practical governance: We want a government that works — small, transparent, accountable — not no government at all.

Think of it as libertarianism that grew up and had kids.

We take positions from both — and reject dogma from both:

From traditional conservatism, we take:

• Respect for life (including the unborn)
• Personal responsibility
• Skepticism of unchecked government power
• Recognition that some traditions exist for good reasons

From progressivism, we take:

• Separation of church and state
• Support for safety nets that actually work
• Recognition that corporations can be as dangerous as governments
• Commitment to equal treatment under law

We reject:

• Conservative theocracy and culture-war obsession
• Progressive identity politics and collective guilt
• Both parties' addiction to deficit spending
• Both parties' acceptance of corporate capture

We are the World Autonomist Project because autonomy is a universal human principle — but we start with the United States for practical reasons:

1. The USA was founded on autonomy. The Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the entire American experiment was an attempt to build a society where individuals are sovereign. No other nation has this as deeply embedded in its founding DNA. The infrastructure is already there — it just needs to be reclaimed and completed.
2. America has the influence to lead. When America changes, the world notices. The original Constitution inspired revolutions and reforms across the globe. A renewed American commitment to autonomy would do the same.
3. It's broken but fixable. The United States has drifted far from its founding principles — captured by corporations, polarized by tribalism, drowning in debt, surveilled by its own government. But the bones are good. The Constitution can be amended. The people still believe in freedom, even if they've forgotten what it means.
4. We have to start somewhere. You can't reform the world abstractly. You reform one nation, prove the model works, and let others adopt what succeeds. America is the best laboratory.

If autonomy works here, it can work anywhere. And once it works here, other nations will adapt these principles to their own contexts. The "World" in our name is the destination. America is the starting point.

Absolutely. The core principles — sovereignty of the individual, accountability, transparent government, economic freedom, protection of life — are universal. They don't depend on American history or culture.

But implementation must be local. A constitution for France would look different than one for Brazil or Japan. Each nation has its own history, its own institutions, its own path to autonomy.

We hope that as the Autonomist Project grows, citizens of other nations will take these principles and adapt them. We're not here to impose American solutions on the world — we're here to demonstrate that a society built on autonomy is possible, and invite others to build their own.

The Founders expected it. Jefferson believed each generation should have its own constitution. Article V exists precisely because they knew the document would need updating.

What's extreme is pretending a document written for 4 million people in an agrarian society perfectly governs 330 million people in a digital economy. What's extreme is a $34 trillion debt. What's extreme is a surveillance state that would have made King George blush.

We're not throwing out the Constitution — we're completing it. The principles remain. The architecture is updated for the world we actually live in.

Through the legal process the Founders provided: Article V.

There are two paths:

1. Congressional proposal: Two-thirds of both houses propose amendments, then three-fourths of state legislatures ratify.
2. Convention of States: Two-thirds of state legislatures call for a convention to propose amendments, then three-fourths ratify.

Both are deliberately difficult — as they should be. We're not looking for shortcuts. We're building a movement that can achieve supermajority support because the ideas are right.

This is a generational project. We're planting trees whose shade we may never sit in.

We believe abortion takes a human life. We say this clearly, without euphemism.

We also believe criminalizing desperate women doesn't save babies — it kills mothers.

Our position:

• Morally opposed — abortion ends a human life
• Legally available — but regulated, not celebrated
• Fully informed — women must view ultrasound, watch educational video of the procedure, learn about all options
• Massively supported — we fund prenatal care, housing, adoption, childcare so choosing life is actually possible

We don't shame. We don't hide. We show. And then we support.

Read our full position on life and abortion →

"Shall not be infringed" means what it says.

The right to self-defense is fundamental to autonomy. A person who cannot defend themselves is not truly sovereign.

We oppose restrictions on law-abiding citizens. We support strong enforcement against those who use weapons to harm others. The problem isn't guns — it's violence. Address the causes of violence; don't disarm the innocent.

Read our full position on arms →

The Digital Dollar replaces the entire tax system with a single transaction fee.

The core insight: In a closed-loop economy where every transaction (including government spending) pays a fee, the math always balances.

• No income tax — keep 100% of what you earn
• No sales tax, property tax, capital gains tax
• One simple fee when you spend (adjustable, transparent)
• Privacy by default, accountability with warrant
• Fixed supply — no more printing money

The fee rate becomes a single dial: turn it up for more services, turn it down for less. The debate becomes honest.

Read the full Digital Dollar white paper →

We're building out our positions over time. The core framework:

• Does this policy protect autonomy or violate it?
• Does it enforce accountability or enable harm?
• Is it transparent and simple or hidden and complex?
• Does it treat people as adults capable of making their own decisions?

Apply these principles consistently and most policy questions answer themselves.

Have a specific question? Join the conversation and help us develop positions.

Not yet. We're a project — a set of ideas, documents, and a growing community.

Political parties require ballot access, fundraising infrastructure, candidates, and organization. That may come. For now, we're focused on developing the ideas and building the coalition.

You can be a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, independent, or unregistered and still be an Autonomist. The ideas matter more than the label.

Start by reading. Then:

• Join the mailing list — stay informed as we develop
• Share the ideas — talk to people, share the site, start conversations
• Contribute — we need writers, designers, developers, organizers, and thinkers
• Give feedback — these documents are living drafts; your input shapes them

Join us →

Citizens. People who are tired of choosing between two broken parties, tired of debt and surveillance and dysfunction, tired of being told that this is as good as it gets.

We're not funded by billionaires or corporations. We're not a front for any existing political organization. We're just people who believe that a society built on autonomy is possible — and worth building.

The American Revolution seemed idealistic. The abolition of slavery seemed idealistic. Women's suffrage seemed idealistic. Every major advance in human freedom started with people who refused to accept that the status quo was inevitable.

We're not naive. We know this is hard. We know it will take decades. We know we'll face opposition from everyone who benefits from the current system.

But we also know that ideas matter. That the right idea, clearly articulated, can change everything. That's what we're building.