New Democrat Declaration
With new ideas as our tools, Colorado Democrats will craft a positive, progressive agenda that will reclaim the future for our children and restore the American Dream for the forgotten middle class and disadvantaged. We pledge to overcome the rigidity and orthodoxies of the traditional left and hard right that prevent Colorado from moving forward. The old politics of the past must give way to the new realities of the Information Age. The political ideas and passions of the 1930s and 1960s can no longer guide us in the 21st century. While our approaches will meet the challenges of our times, our values endure.
In keeping with the Democratic Party's grand tradition, we share Jefferson's belief in individual liberty and responsibility. We endorse Jackson's credo of equal opportunity for all, and special privileges for none. We embrace Roosevelt's thirst for innovation and Truman's faith in the common sense of America's men and women. We carry on Kennedy's summons to civic responsibility and public service, along with Johnson's passion for social justice and Carter's commitment to human rights.
Our agenda is based on common sense. We will wipe the slate clean. No program or policy will be above review. We will weigh competing demands, reject those that are not worthy or essential, set clear priorities and have the courage to stick to them.
We advocate providing opportunity for all Coloradans, demanding responsibility from every citizen, rebuilding our communities and making government perform better at less cost. With this Declaration, we take our case for change to the people.
Opportunity: We believe the Democratic Party's fundamental mission is to expand opportunity, not government. We believe that economic growth is the prerequisite to expanding opportunity for everyone. The free market, regulated in the public's best interest, is the best engine of prosperity.
We believe the correct way to rebuild economic security is to invest in the skills and ingenuity of our people; to expand trade, not restrict it; and to give every Coloradan who works hard the chance to get ahead. The struggling middle-class must be united with those trying to get there. We will not let outdated and ineffective policies merely favor those who already have it made.
We believe in the politics of inclusion. Our party has historically been the means by which aspiring Americans from every background have achieved equal rights and full citizenship.
As a basic component of a just society, we believe equal opportunity should be the promise of Colorado. Equality and integration must never be forgotten as we continue the march toward social justice. We will maintain the broad movement of all Americans into our state's economic and cultural mainstream, rather than racial, gender, or ethnic separation.
Personal Responsibility: We believe that citizenship entails responsibilities as well as rights. True patriotism is citizens giving something back to their communities and state, not just flag-waving. Our call for reciprocal responsibility is in direct contrast with entitlement-driven politics, as well as the neglectful mentality of "every man for himself."
We believe in the moral and cultural values that most Coloradans share: individual liberty, personal responsibility, tolerance of difference, the imperative of work, the need for faith, and the importance of family. We also believe that government should stay out of our private lives and personal decisions.
Community: We will pull this state together, rather than dividing and conquering the electorate by income, race or region. We believe Coloradans are in this together.
We believe in community, in repairing the torn fabric of our country at its most fragile point. There are thousands of children being robbed of their childhoods. We will ask all citizens to choose public responsibilities and put the common good ahead of self-interest.
We believe in preventing crime and punishing criminals, not explaining away their behavior. Criminals will be held accountable for their deeds and punished, with compensation to their victims.
We believe the purpose of public assistance is to provide a safety net and bring the poor into the state's economic mainstream in a meaningful way. Welfare must become a second chance, not a way of life.
We believe government should protect the environment. The state should be the caretaker of our natural resources and protect Colorado's high quality of life for future generations. In addition to enforcing existing laws and regulations, market-oriented solutions must also be implemented.
Making Government Work: We believe that government has a role to play in Colorado's future and we will reinvent it so that it is more responsive to those it serves and more accountable to taxpayers who pay the bills. We will emphasize non-bureaucratic approaches to governing, eliminating unneeded layers of bureaucracy and giving citizens more choices in public services.
This is what we want for Colorado - an opportunity to serve, a duty to learn and new paths to prosperity, in a society that is safe and free. We invite the people of this state to join our cause and help us build a better and stronger Colorado for the 21st century.