California Vision Living Standards Framework

A Roadmap for National Prosperity and Dignity

An independent California must set a clear, measurable standard for what it means to live with dignity, participate fully in society, and build a stable future. The California Living Standards Framework provides that foundation. It defines four tiers of human well-being, guiding economic, social, and infrastructure policy toward a society where no one is left behind, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

This framework establishes the core responsibilities of government versus the role of individual ambition and private enterprise. It ensures public investment is focused where it creates the most social value while maintaining respect for individual freedom and achievement.

The Four Tiers of Living Standards

Tier 4 | Self-Actualization / Legacy / Impact

  • Private achievement
  • Innovation, leadership, legacy
  • Generational wealth, influence

Tier 3 | Thriving / Flourishing

  • Resilient middle class
  • Education, homeownership, small business
  • Upward mobility pathways

Tier 2 | Decent Living (Guaranteed)

  • Housing, healthcare, education
  • Basic financial stability
  • Personal and physical security
  • Digital access, civic participation

Tier 1 | Just Surviving (Eliminated)

  • Homelessness, hunger, total insecurity
  • No steady income or safety
  • No access to healthcare or education

Tier 1 — Just Surviving (Eliminated)

This is the baseline society must reject. Individuals in this tier lack reliable access to shelter, food, water, healthcare, or safety. Their existence is defined by constant vulnerability—homelessness, hunger, and exposure to harm.

Policy Directive: No person in California should be left in Tier 1. Eliminating this tier is a moral, economic, and social priority.

Tier 2 — Decent Living (Guaranteed)

This is the minimum standard that every Californian will have the right to expect. Decent Living means having:

  • Safe, stable housing with access to electricity, clean water, and sanitation
  • Nutritious food and reliable healthcare
  • Physical safety, personal rights, and legal protections
  • Digital access and communication tools
  • K-12 education, basic job skills, and civic knowledge
  • Stable financial resources meeting basic needs
  • Reliable transportation and access to essential services

Policy Directive: Independent California guarantees Tier 2 for every resident through universal services, infrastructure, and legal protections.

Tier 3 — Thriving / Flourishing (Enabled)

Tier 3 represents true prosperity—a resilient middle class and an economy driven by individual talent, entrepreneurship, and education. This is where Californians can:

  • Own homes or businesses
  • Access higher education, advanced job training, and lifelong learning
  • Build financial resilience, save for retirement, and invest
  • Participate fully in civic life and contribute to their communities
  • Access cultural, recreational, and creative outlets

Policy Directive: California will invest heavily in education, economic mobility, infrastructure, and opportunity systems to enable as many people as possible to move into Tier 3.

Tier 4 — Self-Actualization / Legacy (Individual Domain)

The highest tier is not a government guarantee. It reflects personal success, mastery, and the ability to create lasting impact:

  • Generational wealth, influence, or global leadership
  • Innovation, research, artistic or scientific contributions
  • Philanthropy and societal impact

Policy Directive: Government does not guarantee or strive to enable Tier 4. It does respect it, however, and preserves systems of fairness and freedom but leaves success in this tier to personal ambition and achievement.

Guiding Investment and Policy

The California Living Standards Framework provides clear priorities for independent California’s investments:

  1. Eliminate Tier 1: End homelessness, hunger, and lack of basic services through guaranteed universal programs.
  2. Guarantee Tier 2: Anchor the nation’s basic social contract—everyone has the essentials to live with dignity.
  3. Enable Tier 3: Focus economic development, infrastructure, and education policy on building a large, resilient middle class.
  4. Respect Tier 4: Allow room for personal achievement without attempting to engineer outcomes.

Accountability and Measurement

The Framework is also designed to create accountability. Government progress can be measured by:

  • Reducing the percentage of the population in Tier 1 to zero
  • Tracking the number of Californians stabilized in Tier 2
  • Measuring growth in Tier 3—homeownership, small business ownership, educational attainment
  • Monitoring equity, mobility, and resilience across regions and populations

A New Social Compact

The California Living Standards Framework establishes a clear social compact:

  • California guarantees the basics.
  • California enables opportunity.
  • California respects ambition.

This approach balances human dignity, economic pragmatism, and individual freedom—building a nation that is stable, prosperous, and free.

This section is part of the California Vision Guiding Principles.

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