Local America's mission: -- Harnessing data for a better community.

The ultimate source of democracy is the public. But the public is slowly but relentlessly being squeezed out of how democracy works by the triad of government, experts and interest groups. Local America is a platform designed to re-integrate the public in democracy -- on the local level, where it ought to begin. level. We do it through our Web platform where communities, through a combination of data and feedback, rate themselves on their livability. The ratings give the community a credible baseline to decide what's working and what needs to be fixed. Information becomes knowledge, which leads to understanding, which is the basis for smarter action. The end result is the public gains back its central role in the meaning, mission and practice of democracy.

The attached Local America demo (see URL) shows what we can offer in just one community -- Historic Anacostia, in the District of Columbia. We can present the same platform in every community in the U.S.