Arizona Democratic Party Platform

Arizona Democrats: Our Vision for Tomorrow

Responsibility. Justice. Community.

These ideals embody who we are and what we value as Arizona Democrats. They spring from a deep love of country and our state, our determination that equality and opportunity apply to all without exception, and our belief that we are responsible not just for ourselves but for the world we are building and will leave to future generations.

Arizona Democrats hold an unshakeable faith in the goodness of individuals to act compassionately and to care about others. We dedicate ourselves to the application of common sense, common decency, and common purpose in the cause of the common good. We are patriots: parents, children, veterans, teachers, doctors, nurses, union workers, business owners, ranchers, retirees, and more from all walks of life, ethnicities, religions, and cultures who proudly call ourselves Arizona Democrats because we care about all people.

We value individuals’ differences of ideas, knowing that this blend of beliefs will lead to purposeful action. We put forth this platform in celebration of our diversity, united in support of the common good. This platform embodies our guiding principles of Responsibility, Justice, and Community.

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RESPONSIBILITY
JUSTICE
COMMUNITY
MOVING FORWARD

RESPONSIBILITY

Arizona Democrats believe that Responsibility requires a commitment from each one of us to exercise our best personal and collective judgment in making choices and taking action. This concept is embodied in the preamble of the U.S. Constitution that says we the people of the United States promote the general welfare. We must act with compassion and awareness that everything we do affects others. We as individuals and as a society share a responsibility in aiding and supporting our neighbors, both in good times and in bad. Arizona Democrats believe that we are indeed our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.

Our responsibility includes stewardship — taking care of the environmental, economic, and human resources entrusted to us. Arizona Democrats will remain vigilant in protecting our resources to benefit current and future generations.

We face an urgent need to make smart changes in the ways we develop land, use water, and generate and consume energy. We are committed to making responsible decisions, using sustainable practices to protect our dwindling natural resources, and to promote the health of Arizonans with improved air and water quality.

Stewardship extends beyond our environment and into education. A well-educated citizenry is the foundation of democracy and critical to the state’s economic security. Our children and young adults are among our greatest resources. As Arizona Democrats, we serve as stewards to invest in their education, from pre-kindergarten through postsecondary opportunities. We believe in accountability in education: that government retains its obligation to properly fund our public education system without diverting public funds to private schools, and that public schools and universities in their turn must be held accountable for results.

Integrity, competence, and transparency are crucial to democratic government and governance. As voters, we must elect qualified officials who will ethically serve all the people all the time. As Arizona Democrats, we hold our government accountable for transparency with open meetings and negotiations, clear financial records, fair elections, and accurate vote counting.

JUSTICE

Justice represents the balance between one person’s freedoms and another’s rights. Justice requires that the laws apply to all equally and without discrimination, which is the essence of the rule of law. Arizona Democrats insist upon enforcement of equal protection under the law as an indisputable right, and support prosecution of illegal acts.

Arizona Democrats support the right to privacy. If justice balances freedoms and rights, justice also protects the principle that the rights of one do not extend into the privacy of others. We believe that privacy includes the right of individuals to have dominion over their own bodies, including decisions regarding reproduction, medical treatments, and end-of-life issues.

As Arizona Democrats, we believe that justice and adherence to law is not a pliable concept but an indisputable right. An individual’s civil rights enjoy well-established protection under the laws of our state and nation. Significant among these is an individual’s right to vote. People should have the ability to pursue justice without fear or repercussion because of religion, race, age, cultural or ethnic heritage, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, political party, income level, or social status.

Extending this principle, we believe that equal opportunity in business, employment, education, and housing must exist for all. Arizona Democrats condemn intolerance and unfairness in our personal and professional lives. We acknowledge instead that in the fabric of our society, diversity allows us to weave together all these threads to create a more vivid and strong material that represents who we are as a society. Equal opportunity creates competition — a rallying cry for many when it comes to education and business — and we celebrate the higher level of achievement available to all when opportunities are equal.

COMMUNITY

Community connotes a sense of belonging, a sense of kinship, a sense of foundation, a sense of shared values. Within a community, peace and security are the highest ideals we can support and protect, and that includes within one’s own home. Just as we have a right to privacy, we should enjoy a right to peace, to freedom from strife. At the same time, we value the courage and strength to defend our community.

We support preserving the historical openness of our communities, of our society, and understand that our security requires boundaries to be established and enforced. Arizona Democrats urge our federal government to commit adequate resources to homeland security and to develop comprehensive immigration reform.

Security extends beyond physical safety. Security and prosperity come from stability: stable health, stable finances, stable homes. A healthy Arizona benefits us all and strengthens our economy. For this reason, affordable and available health care for all is paramount to Arizona’s security.

As a community, we have a vital interest in growing our economy for the betterment of individuals, families, and businesses. A stable economy is a secure economy, one that invests in growth and innovation. We support the right of workers to a safe and secure workplace and to be compensated with a fair, living wage. All workers should be able to negotiate with their employers in collective bargaining to create greater security, which in turn creates greater productivity.

In an economically secure community, more people can afford housing, health care, advanced education, and more. This produces healthier people who bolster a healthier economy. We recognize that a strong, viable economy enhances the welfare of families and children. Arizona Democrats strongly support our children by supporting access to vital pre- and post-natal care, quality preschool programs, comprehensive and rigorous public schools, and after-school programs to help our children learn and grow into responsible citizens.

Responsible citizens deserve a responsible government. Arizona Democrats value a government that is efficient and effective. We value public servants who understand their role is to serve everyone, not just select segments of the community.

MOVING FORWARD

As Arizona Democrats, we know that a secure, healthy populace today means a brighter future for our state and our people tomorrow. We envision that being exemplary stewards and citizens will lead to viable, comprehensive solutions to challenges we face in health care, education, environment, infrastructure, immigration, and more — solutions that move Arizona forward without leaving the disadvantaged behind. We envision an open and transparent government responsive to the needs of our state and people. And we envision a state where all citizens accept responsibility not only for themselves and their families, but also for supporting and acting in the best interest of the community in which we live as Arizonans.

We strongly believe in the principles of Responsibility, Justice, and Community. We care about all individuals, we care about opportunities for people and business alike, we care about leaving our state and our world a better place for those generations who will follow. We will protect the rights and security of all. We are Arizona Democrats.