The People First: A Populist Code of Ethics
For movements that serve, not rule
Preamble
We believe that power belongs to the people—not to elites, not to demagogues, and not to unaccountable systems. As populist organizers, our role is not to speak for “the people” while silencing them—but to organize alongside them, fight with them, and remain accountable to them.
This code affirms the values and practices that distinguish ethical populism from authoritarian mimicry. It is a compass for movements rooted in dignity, equity, and collective liberation.
I. Our Commitment to the People
1. We serve—not exploit—the people.
Populism begins with trust. We do not manufacture outrage or prey on pain for personal or political gain. We fight for material justice, collective power, and mutual dignity.
2. We tell the truth—even when it’s inconvenient.
We reject propaganda, disinformation, and conspiracy as tools of manipulation. Our strategy is persuasion—not deception.
3. We welcome disagreement as a sign of health.
A movement that cannot withstand critique cannot be democratic. We create space for dissent, dialogue, and evolution.
II. Our Commitment to Power and Process
4. We build power to share it.
Our goal is not to hoard influence but to transfer it—especially to those most historically silenced. Leadership is a role, not a throne.
5. We are transparent in our goals and accountable in our methods.
We name what we seek, how we’ll get there, and who is involved. We admit mistakes and adjust publicly.
6. We organize with consent, not coercion.
We do not exploit social pressure, guilt, or fear to compel participation. All people have the right to organize—or not—without shame.
III. Our Commitment to Ethics in Public Leadership
7. We do not confuse charisma with righteousness.
Charisma may open doors—but it must serve the cause, not eclipse it. No leader is beyond critique. No movement is defined by one person.
8. We don’t demand purity—we demand integrity.
People grow. Leaders evolve. We do not require flawlessness, but we do require honesty, accountability, and a willingness to repair harm.
9. We elevate values over vengeance.
We resist the lure of retribution or performative punishment. Justice, not humiliation, is our aim.
IV. Our Commitment to Long-Term Liberation
10. We are loyal to values—not factions or parties.
We work across ideological lines when it serves justice, but we do not compromise our core principles for proximity to power.
11. We do not perform for clicks—we organize for impact.
We value real-world change over social media spectacle. Our energy goes to base-building, capacity, and relationship.
12. We act in solidarity, not saviorhood.
We do not center ourselves in struggles that are not ours. We follow the lead of impacted communities and fight alongside them, not over them.