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Values

What makes the Democratic Party a robust and egalitarian institution is the fact that so many Americans from different backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs can come together animated by shared ideals and values. These values are the core of who we are as Democrats. They transcend momentary political and policy disagreements, uniting us as Democrats.

Justice: Central to everything we are as Democrats is a commitment to justice. We believe in the right of each person to be free, to have that freedom protected, and to demand justice when those freedoms are violated. We believe in the dignity and equality of every person, and the right of every person to be treated fairly by the institutions of our society and government. We condemn all forms of discrimination and bigotry, and, like our founding fathers and mothers, we are suspicious of inherited, wealth, or class-based privilege as a danger to our freedoms and the fair application of justice. We believe that our nation is strongest when all persons can be confident that justice and the rule of law prevail.

Equality of Opportunity: Every person is born equal, and we, therefore, believe that there is nothing more noxious to a free and just society than the establishment and perpetuations of systems of inequality that privilege some and limit the opportunities of others. We believe that equal opportunity can only be achieved when every citizen has affordable access to food, shelter, quality inclusive health care, a good education, and a fair criminal justice system. We believe that our economic system must be accessible, competitive, and treat all participants fairly, and we reject the de facto oligarchy of wealthy elites who seek to rig the system for their own personal gain. We believe that equal opportunity demands that we truthfully acknowledge and swiftly remedy past wrongs, and we reject efforts to perpetuate inequality for political, social, or economic gain.

Community: The sovereign right of community action is built into our system of government, for only by acting together does our democracy function properly. As such, we believe in the sovereign right of all Americans to select and petition their government, and we condemn efforts to limit that right through voter suppression, corruption, and gerrymandering. We believe that our strength comes from vibrant local communities and civic organizations. We believe in the right of people to associate with one another to achieve economic goals by starting a company or joining a union. We believe that every community has a right to defend their safety, protect the health of their citizens from polluters, and shield their unique local economies from exploitation and displacement. And we believe that only together can we tackle our most pressing challenges, including the existential crisis of climate change.