Our statement of principles briefly and powerfully outlines what the JOVD stands for and how we, as young liberals, view society. At the core are the three fundamental values of liberalism – freedom, responsibility, and tolerance.
Freedom is the central value of liberalism. For optimal individual development, both immaterial and material freedom are essential. Everyone must have the right to form and express an opinion, to adhere to a belief system, and to act as they see fit. Respect for personal privacy and bodily integrity is of great importance in this regard. Furthermore, everyone should be free to acquire, own, and use goods according to their own judgment and preferences. Finally, society must be organized in such a way that social forces and processes are left as free as possible. This allows for a high degree of spontaneity and dynamism, giving individuals maximum freedom of choice and development opportunities.
However, the central value of freedom can only exist in conjunction with the values of tolerance and responsibility.
Every individual is equal in worth. Equal in worth, however, does not mean identical. Nature and the individual’s environment give rise to mutual differences. Striving to eliminate or ignore these human differences is a denial of human dignity. The equal worth of individuals means that one person’s freedom is limited by the freedom of another. Although humans are independent beings, they live in community with others. Thus, freedom exists within connection. Sufficient space must be given to those who think differently to allow them to be different—without hindering or restricting their experience of freedom. This tolerance forms the foundation of a truly free society.
The individual is responsible, both now and in the future, for their own existence and the consequences of their actions, as well as for the well-being of others in society. One has the responsibility to care for those who cannot provide for a dignified minimum standard of living themselves. For children of school age, this responsibility also includes offering sufficient quality education in the form of compulsory schooling. This ensures that those in need are not entirely deprived of the prospect of experiencing individual freedom, and that equality of opportunity is safeguarded.