definition

I found a pretty good definition of a Democrat while searching for an image (of no relation):

What Liberals Stand For

Republicans and conservatives have a standard chatter: They claim that Democrats are always whining, bereft of ideas, and don’t know what they stand for. Democrats, especially after they lost the presidency to George W Bush, often echo the Republicans on this. I’m here to state that this stereotype is wrong. Democrats have long been welded to liberalism, which, according to Paul Waldman, may be stated in one easily-articulated sentence:

"We are all in it together."

This is in stark contrast to what conservatives say:

"You are responsible for yourself."

While conservatives push the burden and responsibility and risks onto the shoulders of each individual, liberals - or as some call them, progressives - call for each of us to act in a way that is not only good for themselves personally but is also good for the country as a whole. Liberals believe that we are not alone, but part of a big society; that whatever each of us does affects the rest of us; that we are all in the same boat. We are part of a community.
Because liberals believe that "We are all in it together," they favor:
A MINIMUM WAGE - Helping poor workers will benefit other workers and improve our economy
UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE - Improving the health of each of us improves the health of all of us and of the economy of the country
ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT - Cleaning up our environment will improve the health and economic opportunities of each of us
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE - Reducing our dependence on foreign energy sources by developing sustainable sources of energy will make life easier for all of us and reduce our likelihood of getting involved in a foreign war
HELPING KATRINA VICTIMS - The government helps them now and we get into a position where the government may help any one of us (who knows whom or where or when) in the future

Of course, there are many other issues. But you get the picture.

Conservatives who believe in complete self-reliance will find fault with this liberal statement. Independents, however, may want to consider the value of our liberal belief that:

"We are all in it together."

If you are a Democrat, you should trumpet this phrase as your mantra.

A commenter made this rebuttal, which I think was a good definition of the Republican Party:

You only made one small mistake. Conservatives do espouse the philosophy you have attributed to them as a blanket belief. True Conservatives, of which there are very few in positions of power and influence, believe that we are responsible for our own actions. That we learn from the mistakes and successes of the past and build on the good while rejecting the bad.

True Conservatives also believe we are all in this together, just as you say the Liberals do. The only difference is Conservatives believe help and assistance is from individual to individual, not from government largesse. If you want a mantra for Conservatism, it could be:” Never believe the government should do for you what you can do for yourself, but do expect the government to help do what you can’t do.”

This means a limited, efficient, effective government that gives everyone an opportunity to achieve, but does not guarantee success.

This is a philosophy of government that I would like to see supported by a political force, and it's what the Republican Party ought to be working for, if only to keep Democrats from going nuts in their equally vital role of "progress".
Unfortunately, it is most patently not what the GOP works for now.