COMMON GOOD: Members of a community work together in the best interest of the community or society as a whole.
INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: The rights which every citizen has that may not be taken from them, either by other individuals or by the government. Individual rights may be divided into three forms as stated in the U.S. Declaration of Independence: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
DIVERSITY: Variety in cultural and ethnic background, race, lifestyle and belief is not only permissible, but necessary and beneficial, in a democratic society.
EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY: No citizen should be denied rights or opportunities, nor get undue favoritism, based on political, legal, social status or racial/ethnic group membership.
JUSTICE: Fair treatment in the distribution of benefits and burdens of society; expectations that wrongs and injuries to individuals will be corrected; individuals cannot be punished without ‘due process of law.’
TRUTH: Citizens can demand truthtelling and full disclosure from their government, since trust constitutes an essential element in the bond between governments and the governed. However, citizens should not always expect complete truthtelling by the government as it may be against the common good in some cases (e.g., national security issues).
REASONED LOYALTY TO ONE’S COUNTRY (PATRIOTISM): Thoughtful devotion to one’s country, including the values and principles upon which it depends.