The Napolitan Institute, in partnership with Jigsaw, a tech incubator within Google, released the groundbreaking results from its inaugural We the People initiative on the topic of Freedom and Equality. The first-of-its-kind program brought together 5 people from every congressional district in the country (over 2,400 Americans in total) to share opinions, interact, and define their core beliefs, yielding truly unique insights into the founding principles, nearly 250 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The interactive report, found at freedom.wethepeople-250.org, allows viewers to take a deep dive into the conversation, which spanned a combined 2,700 participant hours and generated over 1.6 million words, demonstrating a level of engagement and representation far beyond traditional polling methods. A remarkable 94% of respondents reported feeling represented in the conversation, with 89% believing that a process like this ensures more American voices can be heard and understood.
Scott Rasmussen, founder of the Napolitan Institute, commented: "We the People has allowed us to look into the values of the American people at a level never experienced before. Americans don't talk like Thomas Jefferson anymore, but the same core ideals expressed in the Declaration are still seen in the voices of 21st century Americans."
The insights submitted covered a wide range of opinions, even including a small minority who reject the founding ideals of freedom and equality. However, more broadly, The Napolitan Institute found that even with the vast array of experiences and perspectives, the majority of participants were aligned on the value and importance of freedom and equality in our nation today.
The We the People initiative is part of The Napolitan Institute's mission to amplify the voice of the people so loudly that it cannot be ignored in the halls of power. The initial conversation on Freedom and Equality is just the start. An additional conversation on American values will be held in early 2026, in preparation for the nation's 250th birthday in July.
Click here for Jigsaw's insights on the technical aspects of the conversation.
To learn more about We the People and how to support the initiative, please visit wethepeople-250.org.
Media Contact:
media@wethepeople-250.org
