What are the core values that we Democrats all share?

[Skinner]

Sometimes here on DU, it seems like we spend a disproportionate time talking about our differences rather than the things we have in common. I think that's to be expected. But I also think it is useful for us to remind ourselves that we are all on the same side, and that we share many of the same core values.

Since the election, the DU Admins have been focusing on what we can do to improve DU, to make our community more effective, more relevant, and more welcoming. We have recently unveiled a number of software improvements to the site, and we are hoping to unveil a lot more improvements before the new year. But we also want to see if there is anything we can do to direct the energy and the mood of the community as a whole, to make this a more positive and welcoming place. With this in mind, we are eventually going to ask you to help us write a mission statement for this community, to give us all a clearer sense of purpose. But before we do that, we need to figure out what we have in common. What core values do we all share?

My impression is that we have vastly differing opinions about policies and means-to-ends. But we consider ourselves Democrats because we share some broad values.

For example, we probably do not all support the idea of single-payer government-run health care. But I suspect that the vast majority of DU members -- and Democrats generally -- share the belief that all Americans should have access to quality health care, regardless of ability to pay. We have differing views on standardized testing, school vouchers, and No Child Left Behind, but we probably all share the belief that education is key to expanding opportunity for all Americans, and government has a obligation to provide a quality education to all Americans. We may not agree on what happened in Ohio and Florida during the 2004 election, but we agree that law-abiding American citizens have the right to vote and the right to have their vote accurately counted.

What are your thoughts? What core values do we all share?

Feel free to approach this like an open brainstorming exercise. Your ideas do not have to be fully formed to be posted here. And if you disagree with what someone suggests, please explain why and make an effort to find the common ground.