Why are you a Democrat (if you are)?

[ulysses]

This isn't meant as bait - it's a reposting (with slight rephrase) of the first thread I posted to on DU, started by Crewleader.

Full disclosure - I was raised in a family of middle-class Democrats, and if nothing else I'm a Dem because I've *always* been a Dem. Very strongly considered declaring myself a Green in 2000. There are members of my family who probably won't ever accept my voting for RN.

For all the good it's done me in recent years, I'm a Democrat because I'm a liberal. I was brought up that way, and I've never seen anything like a compelling reason to change my mind. I believe in true equality of opportunity, I believe in equality of rights, I believe in public schools. I believe that government exists for a reason, I believe in the regulation of corporations in the public interest, I believe in the separation of church and state. I believe in the well-being of the community over the enrichment of the individual where those are in conflict - and I believe that they are often in conflict.

I am a Democrat because I believe these things. What about you?