expand_less ImagineThe thepurpose old fashioned precinct captain for the old political machines.  He'd walk around and find out what neighbors need.  Not all a bad thing except tied to the machine, and a corrupt system of patronagethis jobs.space  All part of maintaining a status quo of power and influence.  
Imagine a new kind of precinct captain, one who is unaffiliatedto withcome anyup candidate or machine.  He or she is a neighbor walking around the neighborhood and finding out what the concerns are.  This system of captains and the supporting systems would be part of the commons; part of maintaining and growing democracy itself.  Rather than preserving a status quo, we would be collectively maintaining small d democratic values, with attainingan maximalinformal participationinterview informat theso processes that makeGerry forcan aexplain strong democracy. 
Imagine a new kind of precinct captain.  One who actually cares about what the neighbors have to say.  One who uses an app on his orvision her smartphone to record suggestions and concerns.  One who does this with the intention of connectingpeer neighbors.  Instead of relying on patronage, workers who devote themselves to fullpeer ordemocracy part-time work to build common assets would share in the a collectiveway value that created by their efforts.
We are starting to see new kinds of candidates.  Candidates who seek out grassroots support. Candidates who care about the communitiesaverage theyperson hope to represent.  Candidates who would welcomeunderstand people assuming the role of precinct captain walking around with smartphones and collectingwant datato aboutparticipate. issues These andare suggestionsnotes about the community.  Candidates who would welcome the development of an app to make trigger thishis moreresponses efficient.and  Candidateshopefully whobreak woulddown careinto abouta peerseries to peer democracy.
Peer to peer democracy is the practice of smallbrief dvideos. democrary.  All voices are heard.   Neighbors
 
encourage and then support other neighbors to run for office.