Our future as a State and nation depends upon the daily assumption of personal responsibility by millions of Americans from all walks of life -- for the religious faiths they follow, the ethics they practice, the values they instill, the pride they take in their work, and the families they build. We Democrats strongly support the American family and policies that strengthen it.

A family - whether it has one or more caregivers - raises children, not the government. Parents and caregivers have a responsibility to raise those children responsibly and teach them values, motivation, and discipline. To that end, we as Democrats pledge our steadfast commitment to improving the lives of children and families. These efforts includes measures to reduce teenage pregnancy, infant mortality, and domestic violence; to create and sustain a safe, nurturing and stable child care system accessible to more families; to encourage adoption and foster child programs; to improve youth advocacy in our courts and in our communities; and, to promote responsible parenting and family preservation programs.

We believe Social Security is not just a contract for our senior citizens; it is also a safety net for our families, particularly dependent children, widows, widowers, and the disabled. That contract should never be compromised. We oppose privatization and the diversion of Social Security funds for other purposes.