Declaration of Independence from Quixtar

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the business bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to pursue these rights, businesses are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the partners. That whenever any form of business becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the partners to alter or to resign from it, and to institute new business, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their prosperity and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that businesses long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such business partner, and to provide new guards for their future security.

Such has been the patient sufferance of these business owners; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of business. The history of the present leadship of Quixtar is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these business owners. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

They have refused to keep the cost of goods sold at a reasonable and competitive level.

They have changed the contract under which partners operate without the consent of the business owners affected by it, nor without redress other than resignation and loss of income.

They have continually and repeatedly ignored the vote of the ADA and IBOAI board in regards to several issues, including pricing and the name change to Amway.

They have shown their control over the IBOAI by threatening to nonrenewal of its contract.

They have, in several instances around the world, taken over sales and marketing training, a topic of which they have very little experience.

They have maligned, belittled and slandered those who request peaceful separation.

They have shown that they are more concerned about their hefty profits for the DeVos and VanAndel families than the plight of the business owners, especially the newest business owners, without which there would be no growth.

They have shown signs of possibly selling directly to the public, skirting around the business owners entirely.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A business, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the partner of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our Quixtar brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their rules to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our business. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the TEAM, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of this business, solemnly publish and declare, that these united business owners are, and of right ought to be free and independent business owners; that they are absolved from all allegiance to Quixtar, and that all business connection between them and Quixtar, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent business owners, they have full power to contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent business owners may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.