Core Democratic Values - a reminder.

[Vilis Veritas]

"Fundamental Beliefs
Life: A person's right to life can't be violated except if your life or the lives of others is threatened.

Liberty: This includes personal freedom, political freedom, and economic freedom. This is the freedom for people to gather in groups. They have their own beliefs, ideas and opinions. People also have the right to express their opinions in public.

Personal Freedom - the right to think and act without government control.
Political Freedom - the right to participate in political process.
Economic Freedom - the right to buy, sell and trade private property and the right to employment without the government interfering.
The Pursuit of Happiness: As long as you don't interfere with others you have the right to seek happiness in your own way.

Common Good: Working together for the welfare of the community or the benefit of all.

Justice: All people should be treated fairly in both the benefits and the obligations of society. No individual or group should be favored over another person or group.

Equality: Everyone has the right to Political, Legal, Social and Economic Equality. Everyone has the right to the same treatment regardless of race, sex, religion, heritage, or economic status.

Diversity: The differences in culture, dress, language, heritage and religion are not just tolerated, but celebrated as a strength.

Truth: They should expect and demand that the government not lie to them and the government should disclose information to the people. The government and its people should not lie.

Popular Sovereignty: The power of the government comes from the people. The people are the ultimate authority over the government.

Patriotism: The people or citizens show a love and devotion for their country and the values. They can show this by words or by actions.

Constitutional Principles
Rule of Law: Both the people and the government must obey all laws.

Separation of Powers: The executive, legislative and judicial branches of the government should be separate institutions so no one branch has all of the power.

Representative Government: People have the right to elect others to represent them in the government.

Checks and Balances: The powers of the three branches of government, executive, legislative and judicial, should be balanced. No one branch should be dominate. Each branch should have powers to check the actions of the other branches.

Individual Rights: Each individual has the fundamental right to life, liberty, economic freedom and the pursuit of happiness. These rights are outlined in the Bill of Rights and the government should protect these rights and not place undo restrictions upon them.

Freedom of Religion: The right to practice any or no religion without persecution by the government.

Federalism: The states and the federal government share power as outlined by the Constitution.

Civilian Control of the Military: The people control the military to preserve democracy."

Link: http://www.classroomhelp.com/lessons/cdv/cdv_definition.html

The site has some great stuff.

I just thought I would pass this on to anyone who forgot what really unites the Democratic Party.

On edit: It was pointed out that these are not the CORE VALUES of the Democratic Party. They are the core values inherent in a democracy.

Peace

[rubberducky]

1. When you see the democratic agenda laid out like this,

how could you possibly want to be anything else?? Thanks for posting!

[Vilis Veritas]

3. Thank you. I did this to remind myself why I was a Democrat. nt.

[livvy]

2. Thanks for the link.

I'll put it to good use in my 4th grade classroom next year. I teach social studies to two classes, and this is one part of the curriculum along with state history.
One year I had a student really take it to heart. When her parents would not give her permission to do something she wanted, she told them they were interfering with her Pursuit of Happiness, and explained in detail just how they were violating her rights. Mom and Dad were impressed and quite amused.

[Vilis Veritas]

4. That is funny.

My son does the same thing to me all the time.

I keep exposing him to stuff and he takes it to heart and then I have to deal with it as a parent and sometimes I have to remind why being a parent is different from running a country...;-)

Peace

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

5. Do you realize that page is NOT about our party?

It's about our society - a democratic (small "d") society and what values our society is based upon.

On edit - I just want to make sure, because while those values are also why I'm a big "D" Democrat, that's not the purpose of the site and it's something of a common error.

[Vilis Veritas]

6. I do. But what does that matter?

Are they different?

On Edit: Removed some non-pertinent text.

Peace

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

9. They shouldn't be, which is why I'm a Democrat.

Of course, I'm sure if you asked a Republican, they'd say the same thing.

[Vilis Veritas]

11. I have perused the DNC...

and other sites and it seems that no where do they mention core democratic values as a starting point for their agendas.

This is the time to unite. Perhaps, if the DNC and other Democratic Party sites embraced these core values OPENLY, we would see a massive upswell of people joining/re-joining the party...

JMO...

Peace

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

12. It's not a bad idea.

It'd be a gimmick - make no mistake about that. But it would be a very good one and a very meaningful one at that.

[Vilis Veritas]

13. Thanks...

From the dictionary: Gimmick: An innovative stratagem or scheme employed especially to promote a project.

While there are other definitions, this is the context of which I am speaking, I bet you knew that...;-)

Peace.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

14. That's certainly the definition I was using. (nt)

[sampsonblk]

7. We have to stick to these principles

If we deviate from them for political gain, we deserve to lose.

I am going to email this to my congressman.

[Vilis Veritas]

8. Good idea. I will do the same.

It was pointed out to me by Vash that this is not about our party, but about the democracy.

Me? I see no difference. But then, I am just an averge guy...

Peace.

[sampsonblk]

10. I am with you

This is what we should be about - 100% of the time.