This article is part of our Principles Matter series . Does principle matter more than policy? In a democracy, it does.  "Always vote for principle . . . and you may cherish the sweet reflection that your vote is never lost." — John Quincy Adams Our country is unique. We are not defined by a common nationality, race, religion, or culture. Instead, we are held together — across our differences — by powerful ideas. "Sacred principles of the laws of nature," like unity, democrac