Being a Democrat is more than just not being a Republican.
liberalism: n, a political or social philosophy advocating the freedom of the individual, and governmental guarantees of individual rights and civil liberties.
conservatism: n, the disposition to preserve what is established and to resist change.
The Democratic Party, like all political parties, is changing. It's clear that no party can remain static and viable. The issues of the 21st century will, in many respects, be different from those of the 20th century. So, it's not surprising that both parties are now taking positions different from their prior stands. While there are several principles that Democrats and Republicans share, like the need for a strong defense and fiscal responsibility, there remain some huge differences between the parties in their political, economic and social viewpoints.
All Democrats may not share all of the following principles, because the party isn't a dictatorship of one, and political correctness is not measured by the crack of the Speaker's Whip. The following set of fifteen (15) political principles, adopted in 1995 by the National Democratic Congressional Committee, are shared by most Democrats and provide guidance that can be applied to the specific issues of the day.
3. Separation of Church and State. 10. Fiscal Responsibility/Balanced Budget. 13. Strong International Participation. 14. Sensible and Progressive Tax System. 15. Immigrants Should not be Disadvantaged. *As adopted in 1995 by the National Democratic Congressional Committee
1. We are all Created Equal.
9. Fair Competition/Protection of Consumer Rights.
1. We are all Created Equal. All people are created equal, regardless of gender, age, race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. A political party should be a party of inclusion and not one of exclusion. The most important tradition of the Democratic party is that the purpose of politics and government is to ensure that all citizens have an equal opportunity to achieve a decent and productive life. The gains of the civil rights and women's movements have benefited all Americans and must not be lost. Furthermore, America must continue to address the persistence of racial and gender inequality. Instead of viewing America's diversity as a strength, Republicans resorted to race-baiting as a tool to divide Americans against themselves.
2. A Woman's Right to Choose. No issue has divided Americans more in the past twenty years than the abortion issue. Like all Americans, Democrats seek to reduce the number of abortions. This should be accomplished by improved education, family planning, and contraception--not by making criminals of women who face an unwanted pregnancy. Ultimately, the decision of whether to obtain an abortion is the woman's to make alone. Republicans have zealously and wrongfully attacked these principles. Choice, is a fundamental right.
3. Separation of Church and State. The place for organized prayer is not in the public schools. Religion is an independent choice and government should not corrupt it with intervention. Republicans refuse to recognize America's religious diversity. By seeking to enact the agenda of religious zealots, Republicans would only serve to divide Americans along religious lines, as they have done with race and gender.
4. Protection of the Environment. It's society's obligation to preserve the environment for coming generations. The future of the United States, the health of our economy, our resources and our people are directly linked to how well we protect our water, air and other natural resources. After twenty years of bi-partisan effort, swimmers have returned to the rivers of America and fish have returned to Lake Erie. The Republican Congress has tried to gut the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, labeling them "too burdensome" on the businesses that must comply. While all regulations must pass a "common sense" test, Democrats believe in keeping America environmentally safe and preserving the gains of the past two decades.
5. A Caring Society. Society has an obligation to take care of those who are truly in need. A society is best measured by how it treats its most disadvantaged citizens. While the present welfare system is in need of serious reform, efforts to punish poor women and their children are not the answer. No child should suffer for being born into an impoverished family. The objective of any reform program must be to move people from welfare to jobs. Welfare reform must include opportunity for adequate child care, education, training, and employment.
6. Strong Defense. We believe in a strong national defense that is second to none. The principal role of government is the protection of its citizens. Democrats believe in an adequate defense commensurate with the economic and social needs of our citizens. America doesn't need to finance unwanted, unnecessary, and unworkable weapon systems, such as "Star Wars." These only drain money from other, worthier, defense programs. Republicans seem to have forgotten that it's the Defense Department that determines what military systems need funding, not the contractors vying to build them.
7. Affordable Health Care. All people have the right to affordable health care. Our present system is broken. We spend more and more on health care every year and get less and less in return. Any health care reform program must establish a balance between private insurance companies and government programs that will offer universal coverage for all Americans. Greater efforts must be made to reduce health care costs through preventative medicine.
8. Quality Public Education. The information society of the 21st century will require all Americans to have access to a high quality public education through high school. An educated society is a productive one. Public education has been instrumental in providing equal opportunity for all Americans regardless of economic position. Republican efforts to create a voucher system would gut the public education system and serve to divide Americans between those who can afford a quality education and those who cannot. Democrats are firm in their belief that strengthening public education is necessary for the nation's economic future.
9. Fair Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights. Government should enable fair competition, a stable business cycle, minimize unemployment, and protect consumer rights. A strong economy depends upon vigorous competition and a level playing field. Republicans are mounting a misguided effort to eliminate sensible regulations that ensure fair competition and protect the health and safety of all Americans. Democrats seek to reduce the burden imposed by unnecessary regulations, but in a way that strengthens the economy and maintains consumer protection and health.
10. Fiscal Responsibility; Balanced Budget. Democrats believe in fiscal responsibility and in a reduction in the size of Government necessary to balance the Federal Budget. No nation can long prosper by robbing our children's income. The time has come to finally bring 28 years of deficits to a close. Deficit reduction should, however, not be accomplished by further burdening those who can least afford it. Initiatives such as Vice President Al Gore's "Reinventing Government" program have already reversed decades of Federal Government growth. Further progress must be made, and programs that have outlived their usefulness must be eliminated.
11. Reasonable Gun Control. Many Democrats are avid hunters, and believe the right to bear arms is a conditional right that must be balanced with society's need for safety. The founding fathers never intended the Second Amendment to include assault weapons and "cop-killer" bullets. Democrats join with the overwhelming majority of America's law enforcement officers in supporting measures that curb the rampant spread of gun violence, while at the same time preserve Americans' right to bear arms.
12. Protection from Crime. It is an essential role of Government to ensure the protection of its citizens from crime. Crime prevention and criminal punishment are both essential elements of that responsibility. The former can only be achieved through comprehensive job training, education, and the provision of opportunity. The support Republicans have received from the NRA prevent them from supporting any efforts to scale back the proliferation of guns in America. Through NRA support, the Republican Congress has pursued policies of big guns and bigger prisons. Democrats believe a better way is to deal with crime at the source by strengthening families and providing opportunity.
13. Strong International Participation. American prosperity depends on our integration into the world economy. Today, there are no national economic borders. Instead, America is the largest producer and market in a global economy. Most industries, ranging from information technology to securities to pharmaceuticals are integrated into the major economies of the world. We must therefore remain a key participant in the international community, and should strengthen international bodies. The Republican isolationist movement is misguided. A strictly inwardly focused nation deprives itself of the opportunity to influence global economic, social, and environmental events. America should continue to play a key role in the world's order, and not simply stand by to face the repercussions.
14. Sensible and Progressive Tax System. We believe in a sensible and progressive tax system that burdens citizens to the minimum extent possible to achieve legitimate government objectives. Under Republican proposals for a regressive "flat tax," America's wealthiest citizens would see a significant tax cut, while most Americans would pay more. Democrats propose tax reforms that would make the system simpler, eliminate loopholes, and ensure an equitable distribution of the tax burden.
15. Immigrants Should Not Be Disadvantaged. America is a nation built upon and strengthened by the diversity of immigrants. We condemn the bashing of immigrants by public officials. While Democrats strongly support strengthening border patrols and other efforts to restrict the flow of illegal immigration, we do not believe in creating a second-class citizenship among immigrants who reside in this country legally. Republican attempts to disadvantage legally admitted immigrants constitute a reversal of policy that has greatly enriched our nation over the past century. Almost all Americans trace their roots to some foreign land. Imagine what our nation would have become if our ancestors had been subject to some of the mean-spirited hurdles proposed by the Republican Congress.
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