Includes bibliographical references (pages 299-308).

Opening argument : Reclaiming our birthright -- The making of an Independent. A natural-born Independent : Growing up in the middle in middle America ; My path to political independence : How thinking like an entrepreneur opened up a new political vision ; An Independent run : Campaigning for the Senate, fighting the Washington establishment -- A dysfunctional Duopoly. The new American crisis : The consequences of the failure of the two-party system ; Why Washington doesn't work : The structural changes that have led to gridlock ; Selling the party line (and dividing America) : How Republican and Democrats have brainwashed their bases ; The rise of weaponized partisanship : How D.C. dysfunction has polarized and paralyzed half of America -- Reinforcing the Duopoly. The triumph of crony capitalism : How special interests get their piece of the $4 trillion U.S. government pie ; The misinformation age : The way the media reinforces the false choices of the two-party system ; Rigging the game : How the political Duopoly avoids accountability and ensures its continued dominance over the American public -- An independent solution. It's not rocket science : An Independent approach to achieving common ground on guns, abortion, immigration, and a whole lot of other issues ; The Independents' difference : A common sense approach to transforming Washington -- Closing argument : Declare your independence! Thinking and voting like an Independent.

"In 2014, Greg Orman made headlines with his historic Independent run for the U.S. Senate in Kansas. Voters gravitated to Orman's campaign in unprecedented numbers, challenging the entrenched dominance of the two major parties over American politics. In 'A Declaration of Independents' Orman describes how hyper-partisanship, division, and a win-at-all-costs environment in Washington have created a toxic culture of self-interest that has left average Americans behind. Orman makes a persuasive case that without fundamental change, our standard of living, our status in the world, and the very existence of the middle class are at risk. His withering critique of our ruling partisan duopoly explains why voters are choosing unconventional candidates in increasing numbers -- from his own 2014 Senate race to the nation's 2016 presidential campaign. Taking direct aim at the corrupt practices that keep the two parties in power despite historically low approval ratings, Orman argues . . . that the system is rigged for the benefits of special interests who buy access to power. Drawing on his own journey to a political independence, Orman lays out a plan for taking back our government by rejecting party politics and embracing a new Independent approach." -- Dust jacket.