With Jared Golden's exit, a wake-up call for Democrats

Representative Jared Golden of Maine and I have been living together in Washington for five years. We’re great roommates and close friends. We both have young families in New England, we both serve in Congress, we both have an infantry Marine’s style of — call it rustic — furnishing. (Jared still uses his Marine Corps-issued blanket.)

To say we agree or disagree doesn’t quite capture it. Of course both things happen, but mostly it’s about perspective. I’ve learned how to look at any issue from his angle. The substance of the issue may not change much, but I can see it better. And seeing helps understanding, helps communicating, helps legislating. Democrats govern better with a broad perspective, instead of wearing ideological blinder