We respectfully disagree with our colleagues. Having gone into our second caucus as undecideds, we emerged firmly decided: the caucus stinks. And we weren't even invested in any candidate this time around. The Slog's Erica Barnett makes a good case against it. We'll concede that it was nice to see some neighbors; however, we don't really care to meet our neighbors in this particular context. Block parties, barbeques, chats across the fence, and pleasantries exchanged while taking walks are far better community builders. Politics doesn't build community; it builds cliques. At best, caucuses are just echo chambers for them, like mega-churches in which people get caught up in the moment. At worst, they intimidate. more ›