We believe a government should have the following attributes:
- A mixed economy, consisting mainly of private enterprise but with government owned or subsidized programs of education, healthcare, child care etc for all citizens.
- Regulatory systems over private enterprise in the interests of workers, consumers and fair competition.
- Advocacy of fair trade over free trade.
- An extensive system of social security, notably to counteract the effects of poverty and to insure the citizens against loss of income following illness, unemployment or retirement.
- Moderate to high levels of taxation (through a progressive taxation system) to fund government expenditure.
- Environmental protection laws, such as combating global warming and increasing alternative energy funding.
- Immigration and interculturalism.
- A secular and progressive social policy: Support for gay marriage, abortion rights and a liberal drug policy.
- A foreign policy supporting the promotion of democracy, the protection of person (rather than human) rights and where possible, effective multilateralism.
- As well as person (rather than human) rights, support for social rights, civil rights and civil liberties.