Several days ago when I walked into the break room at work there was a box sitting on one of our folding tables. It was for a canned food drive for the local food bank. This is a great cause as no one should ever have to go hungry. In these moments I often reflect on the notion that something like this has to be necessary in the wealthier country on the planet. As a social democrat, I believe there’s no reason anyone in this country should have to go hungry and that it is the moral imperative of society to make sure no one does.

Social democrats believe a lot of things, but we aren’t communists per se. I am unashamed in admitting communism is a great idea in theory, but isn’t practical in its implementation. Therefore within the framework we have now, I believe in a capitalistic market, but with heavy consumer and worker protections. I believe every set of workers should have the right to organize and collectively bargain for better work conditions.

I believe no one in this country should have to choose between their health and putting a roof over their head. I also believe there should be no profit motive in healthcare. As a result, most social democrats would tell you they’re in favor of single-payer or universal healthcare. This would be done most easily by expanding the already overwhelmingly popular Medicare program to everyone in the country. Price gouging for medication would also be a crime and advertising for prescription medication should be eliminated as well.

I believe strong public education is the bedrock for an informed society and that voucher programs for schools are detrimental to the education of our children. Every family should have access to universal pre-kindergarten and no one should have to skip on a four-year degree because it is too expensive to go. We should also be providing for the elderly and no family should have to struggle to help pay for their loved ones’ care.

I believe in taxing the extremely wealthy for the betterment of average Americans through programs which help the less well-off. If this sounds like redistribution of wealth, then you’d be correct. The wealthy can continue to live lavish lives while at the same time contributing fairly to society. I also believe in bringing back laws which separate investment banking and consumer banking to avoid financial collapse and predatory practices.

Of course, in 500 words it is hard to write out an entire ideological manifesto. The basic philosophy behind these beliefs is the idea that many of our ills could be fixed if we worked together collectively. Certain things like food should be guarantees and institutions like health and incarceration should not be for profit. Untethered capitalism is designed to push people down and while movement is not always bad, there should be a certain floor under which no one should be allowed to fall.