The Fairness Test is the first of many tools that will be provided by the Fairness Coalition to help ordinary Americans understand whether politicians are acting in good faith. This test can be applied to any position, party or ideology. The ultimate goal is to help the electorate decide issues for themselves rather than being dependent on confusing rhetoric or deliberate propaganda.

2. An Introduction Fairness can be subjective – but it also appeals to common sense – so it can be tested . We test whether situations are fair in our everyday lives constantly, yet we are not applying those tests as often when judging political positions or actions. Why is that? Perhaps it’s because we feel our evaluations no longer matter – that no one is paying is attention - or perhaps it’s because politicians do everything they can to avoid having their positions and actions tested. In the past, we relied on the media to help perform this role – but year by year they have slowly shifted from impartial observers to paid advocates.

3. Politics is more than a popularity contest – it is the mechanism which defines the nature of our society. The ability to measure the truth and Fairness of political positions and action is the key towards ensuring that politics remains honest and accountable to us.

8. Patriotism starts with the knowledge that the United States is the sum of its people – we’re not just fighting for ideals – we’re fighting for our own rights and freedoms which those ideals serve.