Community Think Tanks [Grassroots, Public Participation Movement]

People are direct participants in the guidance of their society.
People are central players in the outcome of their society.
People are actively engaged in the diverse functionings of their society.

As opposed to the current manifestation of democracy which is prevalent,
where the majority of people feel :

1. Electing government officials is sufficient participation in the governing process, after which further participation is a bonus. After all, elected officials' "job" is to govern the society, they should be able to do so on their own.
2. The wealthy and those in power are untouchable. Everyday people cannot do anything to affect much change in their society. Normal people are subject to the whims of the wealthy and there is little that can be done about it.
   
3. Societal problems are too massive and overwhelming to contemplate without succumbing to insanity. Best to just take it one day at a time and live day by day. Thinking too much about things outside of one's control makes life intolerable.

Community Think Tanks is a tool to address these feelings of helplessness and indifference by creating an environment well-suited to contemplation of difficult problems without losing sight of the need for comfort. One could call it : comfortable contemplation.