principles

Commitment to the Common Good

America has always been at its best when we ask not "what's in it for me," but instead "what can I do to give back?"  In recent years, political leaders in Washington have focused on materialism and personal gain and have lost that ethic of service and sacrifice for the country we love.  A culture of greed and materialism is undermining the strength of our economy, the health of our democracy, and the ability of parents to raise children with the right values.  We need a renewed commitment to understanding the common good as the ultimate goal of public service.

Promoting the common good, a central tenet of many faiths, is the cherished idea that we have a calling to serve a purpose larger than ourselves and a responsibility to leave this world better than we found it.
 
Tax breaks that help only the wealthy; trade policies that exploit domestic and foreign workers to reward CEOs and big business; environmental policies that ignore science and mortgage our children's future; go-it-alone foreign policies that alienate our friends and sow the seeds for future terrorism - these are not policies that promote the common good. 

America is stronger when we all pitch in to ensure that we have vibrant public schools, clean air and clean water, access to affordable health care, and a social security program that we can rely on when we are in our old age. 

Promoting Human Dignity

We must do all we can to ensure human dignity for every single American, no matter how young or old they may be.  People are more important than things and the greatness of our nation will be measured by whether we protect and respect the well-being and dignity of all of our citizens. 

That is why we must strive for an economy that serves people, not the other way around.  Work should be more than just a way to make a living— it should be a source of dignity and pride.  If the dignity of work is to be honored, then we must raise the minimum wage, create good-paying jobs, respect the basic rights of workers, and support trade policies that value Americans’ hard work.

We must create a society that understands the importance of supporting new mothers and giving parents access to the tools they need to raise children with strong values.  If our children are going to continue America’s proud tradition of leadership in the world, they must be provided with a solid education, grow up in decent housing, and have access to quality health care.

Principled Leadership

We need leaders with a bold vision for how to move our country forward-- leaders who are willing to stand on principle for what they know to be right and true.  Sherrod Brown has always stood by his convictions to do what is best for Ohio and for our nation.  He fought bad trade deals that hurt the people of Ohio, even when they were backed by the leaders of his own party.  He voted against the war in Iraq, even when it was unpopular.  And when our country went to war, he successfully lobbied for body armor for our brave soldiers placed in harm's way.

Our country needs courageous, principled leadership to address the pressing moral issues of our time.  And that is why, as your next Senator, Sherrod Brown will never back down in his fight for jobs with dignity for working Americans.  He will continue to fight to make health care affordable to all, to stop the scandal of corruption in government, and to make our nation more prosperous and secure.  As someone who understands what it means to be a "public servant," Sherrod Brown will pledge to serve the interests of everyday hardworking Ohioans and to do what is right.