Conor Friedersdorf features some fascinating insights from a reader in Ohio. Among them, a lovely anecdote.
The greatest thing about knocking on strangers' doors is the reaffirmation of neighborliness. Of course, most of the people I meet are opposed to most of the things I strongly believe in -- women's reproductive rights, marriage equality, the belief that government can play a positive roll in people's lives, climate change, a strong separation of church and state, a wide and inclusive social compact, etc. -- boilerplate progressive stuff. Still, they are my neighbors and they act like neighbors. They offer me water, ask where my kids go to school, which parish I belong to, tell me to have a nice day and keep out of the sun.