By OBBM Network Editorial Staff

Derived from an episode of Feds For Freedom.

America’s founding promise is being re‑imagined by a new kind of grassroots movement that refuses to let families choose between safety and liberty.

Who is Behind Spirit of 1776?

Co‑founders Danielle Lasher and Sophia Karstens bring distinct experiences to the table. Lasher, a childbirth educator, runs the largest natural‑birth community on Facebook—a group she’s cultivated for 13 years. She also serves as president of Informed Choice Maryland, a 501(c)(4) that lobbies for informed‑consent and parental‑rights legislation. Karstens, the treasurer of Decentralized America, coordinates state and federal legislative, judicial and activist efforts aimed at embedding liberty‑focused policies across multiple levels of government.

Why an Alternative Network Is Needed

Both women describe a post‑pandemic landscape where traditional institutions—public schools, health agencies and even smart‑home devices—often force families into a one‑size‑fits‑all model. Lasher explains, “If I want to take my kids out of the system… the public school system, that’s the easy part for a lot of people,” but the real challenge lies in finding reliable, values‑aligned alternatives for everything from curriculum to health care.

The goal is not to create a new, isolated society but to “help put them on the map to accelerate their growth, form food co‑ops, get them into farmers markets… we don’t want to reinvent wheels.” The organization seeks to link existing community assets—farmers, educators, media creators—so that families can draw on a ready‑made support structure instead of starting from scratch.

Fortifying Existing Rights Against Technological Intrusion

Spirit of 1776’s website features a “constitution” and a “bill of rights” that deliberately overlap current constitutional protections. The intent is to create a “fortress” where existing rights cover each other’s gaps, especially against emerging technological threats. Lasher warns that biometric monitoring at airports, smart devices that listen in homes, and future self‑driving‑car insurance algorithms all represent new ways the state can erode personal autonomy.

“Your bodily rights… are being interfered with by technology that harvests DNA, genome data and even thoughts.” By educating families about these risks and providing tools to opt out, the organization hopes to keep liberty intact while still engaging with modern conveniences.

Practical Resources for Families

The group’s approach is hands‑on. They offer curated lists of homeschooling curricula tailored to special‑needs children, connections to local farms for food‑security partnerships, and guidance on navigating health‑care decisions without surrendering consent. One guest shared, “We’re not trying to be communist… this is an economic structure… true free market capitalism.” This underscores a commitment to market‑based solutions rather than state‑run alternatives.

By acting as a conduit—matching a family needing a specific curriculum with a teacher who has already developed it, or linking a small farm to a regional market—the network reduces duplication of effort and amplifies each participant’s impact.

Broader Significance

Spirit of 1776 illustrates a growing sentiment among Americans who value personal freedom but do not wish to retreat into isolated homesteads. By leveraging existing community infrastructure and reinforcing constitutional rights, the organization offers a scalable model for protecting liberty in an increasingly regulated world. As more families adopt these tools, the movement could reshape how civil society organizes around education, health and economic opportunity—creating a modern, decentralized embodiment of the nation’s founding ideals.

The full episode of Feds For Freedom is available on OBBM Network TV.