My new neighbor is very clever.

[JDPriestly]

41. Thanks. Great post.

First, we should congratulate good parents. It's a tough job. Nobody is sure how to do it really, really right, and every child is different. It's good to share brilliant ideas like your neighbor's.

Second, your story illustrates the importance of community. And community forms around common interests and activities.

The religious right relies on the existing communities of churches to provide the political equivalent of your neighbor's basketball game -- a gathering place for people who think like you and want to do what you want to do.

Democrats have to find this same kind of thing.

There are drinking liberally and reading liberally groups, but we Democrats haven't done much beyond that. This is why we have such a tough time uniting when elections come around.

Again. Great post. I'm looking forward to the discussion on this topic.