What Democrats believe

Democrats are a diverse group of people.  We regard our diversity as a strength, not a weakness.  Nevertheless we share many fundamental convictions.  Here's a short list of some of our most important shared convictions.

Democrats believe ...

• In equal opportunity for all citizens.
• In rewarding honest, hard work with a living wage and in a tax system that is fair.
• In family values that are more than a political slogan.
• In quality education that gives all citizens the opportunity to reach their potential.
• In freedom from government interference in our private lives and personal decisions.
• That individual strengths in our diverse population are a benefit.
• In security in our homes and safety on our streets.  Criminals should face swift and certain punishment.
• In separation of Church and State to preserve the freedom to pursue our beliefs.
• In a strong United States - morally, economically, and militarily.
• In common-sense reforms that give us cleaner, safer air and water.

Sometimes it's more helpful to focus on key values that unite us rather than the details of specific programs.  Here's a list of three values that Democrats affirm. 

Three key values ...

• Community  Working together we are fundamentally better off than working on our own.  We understand that none of us made it on our own without the support of the community.
• Investment  We know that the state and community that we enjoy today were created by the generations that preceded us.  We will invest now, so that the generations that follow us will benefit as we have done.
• Optimism  We believe that the world will be better tomorrow than it is today.  We believe it's our duty to make it so.  A better world is within our control.

Despite our occasional differences on specific issues, our shared values draw us together--and set us apart from the increasingly extreme and doctrinaire Republicans.