Happy Birthday Freedom

Protecting Liberty For ALL

As we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, we are faced with government actors who threaten the freedoms that our Founders envisioned and generations before us have fought so hard to secure. What can we do to stand up against threats to freedom whether from tyranny, injustice, or the erosion of the rights that sustain our democracy?

Jay Lapeyere, Chair of the Cato Institute and Robert Levy, Chair Emeritus of the Cato Institute, challenged us to deeply consider this question in their October 20, 2025 presentation, Happy Birthday Freedom—Protecting Liberty for all. They discussed the founding documents and principles of the United States, as the core of shared values that could help overcome our current bitter divisions and foster recommitment to American Democracy.

Click to Watch the 10/20 Program

Lapeyre introduced the Free Society Coalition, an initiative aiming to engage people in civil discourse and independent thought using the founding principles of the Declaration of Independence, which emphasizes freedom, ethical responsibility, and the pursuit of truth. The goal of the initiative is to leverage the universal appeal of these ethical values to promote unity and bridging hyper-partisan divides by encouraging critical thinking and modern interpretations of freedom.

Levy highlighted the emphasis of the Declaration on unalienable rights and limited government, with the Constitution securing these rights through a system of checks and balances and the rule of law. Both speakers explored the balance between individualism and cooperation for the common good, with Bob emphasizing the benefits of individual liberty and Jay highlighting the importance of enabling individual choice for societal benefit.

How You Can Help Share the Work of the Coalition

1. Create opportunities for individuals and groups to read and discuss the Free Society Coalition study brochure; to read brochure click on this link https://www.freesocietycoalition.org/ and invite Lapeyre and Levy to speak.

2. Avoid political polarization in discussions by focusing on substantive issues and individual ideas rather than on the rhetoric of fear.

3. Seek to overcome young adults' indifference to these concerns through personal stories of one’s own journey to understanding and action to uphold democratic principles.

4. Use personal and organizational contacts to publicize the Freedom Coalition project and these ideas.

November 11th| 7-9:00 PM ET

Katherine Stewart, Author, Money, Lies and God.

The Interfaith Alliance of SWFL and Americans United for Separation of Church are sponsoring an in-person event with the author, Katherine Stewart, on Nov. 11, from 7-9pm ET, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Naples.

Seats are limited, so register early on Eventbrite to secure your seat and to access the livestream and recording on Floridians for Democracy's YouTube Channel.

Nov. 11 Eventbrite Registration

For more information or to donate to support this series of educational programs and ideas for how you can speak up and make a difference:

floridiansfordemocracy.org

Floridians for Democracy (FFD) is a 501(c)(4) organization, dedicated to preserving and protecting democracy. FFD does not support or oppose any candidates for political office. We envision a state of Florida where all elected leaders proactively implement laws ensuring all residents have equal opportunity, regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation as granted by democratic freedoms dictated in the constitution.