What, in your opinion, are the core beliefs of the democratic party?

[Guy Fawkes]

[amber dog democrat]

1. The Ends Don't Justify the Means

first and foremost.

[Heddi]

2. Tolerance, respect, compassion, understanding,

helping those in need, helping the downtrodden, the sick, hungry, poor, minorities, abused, etc.

[Shoeempress]

3. That all "men" are created equal, and have an obligation to take

care of those with problems.

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. offend nobody

hope 50.0001% of the country votes for us.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

5. In general,

I'd say the core of the modern Democratic Party has always been a Center-Left philosophy, commited to civil rights, civil liberties, economic security, and a rational foreign policy that is pro-defense but only goes to war as a last resort. Essentially, I think maost mainstream Dems believe that the government should do what its supposed to do (defending the homeland, protecting rights, helping people who can't help themselves, etc) and nothing more.

[Warpy]

6. If we ever get rid of the DLC and the

Blue Dog Democrats, perhaps we'll be able to define them in such a way as to win elections.

Until then, they're GOP-lite, better on social issues and not quite as profligate as the GOP when it comes to overspending. There's enough of a difference to support them nationally, but progressives are voting Green at the local and state level, just to get progressives and even old line liberals into the political pipeline.

[2Design]

7. We are all in this together so lets work together for the greater good

[Lindacooks]

8. Protect people, protect the environment,

guard privacy and our rights according to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, give everyone good health care, support public education, and especially protect the 'least among us', those who are most vulnerable in the world.

Exactly the opposite of Repukes; they stand for:

butting their nose into anybody's private business, destroying the environment, taking away as many rights and privacies as possible, giving only the rich good health care, trying to tear down public education, and assisting the most fortunate and powerful among us.

[Inbetween]

9. Aren't these a rather tall order?

"care of those with problems."

"helping people who can't help themselves, etc"


Seems like if this was your priority, it would be all consuming. If you give people the choice, not being able to "help themselves with their problems" would be a the number one national pasttime.


Do you all really view the Democratic party as a gateway to using the government as a more effective charity? I can understand instituting programs to prevent need, in a broad sense. But "helping" is really wide open.