Democrats 101: A Primer for Us is a book title written by J.M. “Jim” Purvis. Democrats 101 is also a national movement and a website. Democrats 101 happened because of Jim’s concern over the vast changes underway in this country, the challenges it faces, and the role our party must play. This concern has been shared by the wide variety of Democrats who helped him with the writing, and then with the growing campaign to turn our party back to values. These same Democrats are from every wing, status, and philosophy of our party, and their ranks are growing. We face great challenges in the coming years.
Jim waited patiently for someone else to write about it, to produce something in the vein of Common Sense, but no one did. And so Democrats 101 and THE CREED were born …
The Democratic organizations that have adopted THE CREED numbers twenty two. They are spread over the states of Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The Democratic Creed
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We Believe
All people are created equal, that this is America’s fundamental ideal.
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We Believe
That America is a democracy, by and for the people: ruled by the Constitution and its interpretations, protected by the Bill of Rights, and inspired by the Declaration of Independence.
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We Believe
These founding documents demand Freedom, Justice, and Opportunity for all Americans, in full and equal measure — regardless of who you are, what you believe or where you live.
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We Believe
That the Duty of government is to strive endlessly to make the ideals of Freedom, Justice, and Opportunity a reality for all.
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We Believe
That the Purpose of government is to protect our nation, defend our democracy, and to endlessly promote the welfare of each and every one of us.
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We Believe
That fighting for these ideals is our purpose as a political party.
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MORE ABOUT THE CREED
Freedom means
The right of every citizen to shape their own life, and their beliefs, so long as it does not infringe on the rights or safety of others.
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The free flow of information and movement.
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The right to privacy.
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Free and fair elections, at every level, in every place in America:
Elections that are fully transparent.
Elections that are free of the role of wealth and the wealthy.
Elections that guarantee unlimited and easy access to voting for every American citizen.
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Justice means
A society where every citizen is safe in their person and their home, and their day-to-day lives.
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A society where every citizen is treated with dignity, regardless of race, creed, or personal difference of any kind.
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A society where every citizen is treated equally before the law, and by the law.
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A society where racism is wrong, where discrimination is wrong, where the government intervenes when racism or discrimination threatens a person’s basic rights.
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Opportunity means
Every American deserves an equal chance to pursue their dreams, to be judged on their ability and their effort alone.
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Every American, child and adult alike, deserves the education that gives them that chance.
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Every American adult deserves the chance to earn a living wage, and to work with dignity; a job where pay, working conditions, and treatment are suitable reward for the effort and skill put in.
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Every American deserves to live without fear of hunger or homelessness or lack of medical care. These things are not only rights, they are America’s moral duty to provide.
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Every American deserves to live in a healthy environment that includes clean air, clean water, and safe food.
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Every American deserves the chance to move forward: no one left out by change, and no one left behind … no matter who they are or where they live.
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We further believe that American democracy depends on:
A free and independent press, dedicated to truth and objectivity.
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An educated citizenry with free and easy access to information.
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A nation that accepts and embraces diversity.
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Full financial transparency in election campaigns, in political office, and in government transactions.
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An American economy based on Free Enterprise, and protected by the government from the baser instincts of large corporations and the financially powerful.
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The continued existence of a strong military, free of political involvement and financial corruption, and dedicated to protecting us against all enemies foreign and domestic.
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Educators and law enforcement officers being treated as among the most important parts of society, highly paid and stringently selected, and meeting exacting national standards of professionalism, ethics and psychological motivation.
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American citizens who care. Without this, nothing is possible.
This is what we believe.
[for more about THE CREED and Democrats 101 visit the website dems101.org]
[the two posters depicting the starting and ending of THE CREED are from a set of six produced by the Huron County Democratic Party in Ohio, which they make freely available]
