PRIORITY: MEMO TO DEAN, KERRY, GEPHARDT, et al.

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Does this sound far-fetched: People who want better playgrounds for their kids shifting the direction of American politics? Well, Jim Hightower tells a story (see page 82) from Colorado Springs, which is headquarters to literally dozens of conservative political organizations. You couldn't find a more right-wing place this side of Generalissimo Franco's Spain. But a group of local citizens decided they needed more parks, trails, and open space -- a proposal that was openly ridiculed as socialistic by some city council members. In the end, after an outpouring of support from ordinary people, the park activists got what they wanted. If it can happen in Colorado Springs, it can happen anywhere -- and everywhere.

As much as I crave happy endings, let me add that we are far from one at this point. Many Democrats don't have much better records on these issues than the Bush administration. For Democrats to become the "community party," in sharp contrast to Republicans' "corporate party," they must articulate a sincere new set of principles and loosen some of their own cozy ties to corporations and big-time funders.

That will take guts, knowing that Bush sits on top of a half-billion-dollar war chest. But in any battle of money vs. money, Democrats will find themselves outgunned by the GOP's limitless firepower. But advocating a pro-community platform, and then linking it to larger issues of environmental protection and economic fairness, allows Democrats to pursue a more powerful political strategy, based on voters' genuine enthusiasm rather than contributors' big donations.

That would be the best sort of happily ever after, for "small-d" democrats as well as the Democratic Party.

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