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The rules have changed
Democrats’ greatest weakness is our commitment to good government
The reason I’m a Democrat is that I believe in the value of each individual person, and that government can play a role in empowering them to benefit from that value.
There are some specific ideas that flow from that basic commitment. I believe in the right of people to make their own decisions regarding their most fundamental concerns, such as religion or family. I believe in a process that protects the rights of all of us. And most importantly, I believe that the most powerful do not need the protection of government.
I think most Democrats believe some variation on this theme. The result is that when we have power, we treat everyone fairly, respecting the rights of those out of power and in the minority to express their opinion, and taking those opinions seriously. The ultimate expression of this commitment occurred when Democrats controlled all the levers of power in the wake of Obama’s election to the Presidency. Rather than forcing through multiple pieces of legislation, we took our time passing a health care reform bill, holding dozens of hearings to give people the opportunity to express their opinions and making changes based upon that input.
