Our Beliefs

Texas Democrats believe government can be as good as the people. We have faith that democracy, built on the honored values of family, privacy, freedom, and fairness, can afford every Texan, without exception, the opportunity to achieve their inherent potential.

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We believe democratic government exists to achieve as a community, state, and nation what we cannot achieve as individuals; it must not serve only a powerful few.

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We believe every Texan has inalienable rights that a majority may not take away—the right to vote, the right to fair and open participation and representation in the democratic process, and the right to privacy.

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We believe in freedom from government interference in our private lives and personal decisions, to exercise civil and human rights, of religion and individual conscience, and that government may not establish or favor a religion or prohibit the free exercise of religion.

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We believe in responsibility that religion and individual conscience can never serve to excuse hatred and discrimination, that people are responsible for their actions, that we, who have benefited so greatly from our state and country, have a responsibility to support and give back to our communities and public institutions, and that corporations are not people and should not be used to shield individuals from the responsibilities of their actions.

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We believe in equal rights guaranteed in Section III of the Texas Bill of Rights, and equality under the law guaranteed in Section 3(a) of the Texas Bill of Rights, and that no state may deny any person equal protection of the laws or due process under the law as guaranteed in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

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We believe in equal opportunity for all Texans to receive a quality public education at all levels, to have access to affordable, quality health care, to find a good job, to buy or rent a good home in a safe community, to breathe clean air and drink clean water, and to have our voices heard and not be drowned out by the power of unlimited money to influence or buy elections and legislation.

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We believe a growing economy should benefit all Texans that the people who work in business are as important as those who invest in it, that every person should be paid a living wage, that no person who works full time should be paid a wage below the poverty level, that good business offers a fair deal for customers, that regulation of unfair practices and rates is necessary, that the burden of taxes should be fairly distributed, and that government policy should not favor corporations that seek offshore tax shelters, exploit workers, or pollute our environment.

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We believe that our lives, homes, communities and country are made secure by appropriately staffed and trained law enforcement and emergency personnel, by retirement and pension security, by encouraging job security where it is possible and providing appropriate assistance and retraining when it is not, by the preservation of our precious natural resources and quality of life, by compassionate policy that offers a safety net for those most vulnerable and in need, and that family values are promoted through policies that value all our families.

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We believe in a United States made stronger by the men and women who put their lives on the line when it is necessary to engage our military to secure our nation, that holds our elected officials accountable to doing the same through honoring our 'sacred trust' to our veterans, active-duty personnel and their family members, and made more secure by competent diplomatic leadership that uses the moral, ethical, economic assets of a powerful, free nation to avoid unnecessary military conflict.

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We believe in a Texas made stronger by the contributions of our diverse population and by including all people equitably, blessed with economic opportunities provided by agriculture, 'old' and 'new' energy sources, renowned medical and research institutions, small businesses, innovative entrepreneurs and high-tech industries, and we believe in an honest, ethical state government that serves the public interest, not the special interests of those who 'pay to play.'