Tip O'Neill, the former Speaker of the House and iconic Democratic political figure of the 1980s, said, "All politics is local." It's one of those things that you hear politicians repeat over and over again like a mantra. Everyone knows it's right, or that it's a statement with power, but what the hell does it really mean? Does it mean all politics comes down to making sure people's trash gets picked up on time? Does it mean that a Tupperware party is the best way to indoctrinate people in party ideology? Does it mean you should be a successful local politician before you graduate on to a higher calling?