Interesting article on how a town smashed the stranglehold of the political parties and got locals engaged.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... c-of-frome
The Independents did not need a party machine to bring them together or a party whip to keep them in line, but are "held together by a codified way of working that acknowledged the inevitability of disagreement"
The key is getting people with different backgrounds, different interests and different personalities working together for the good of their community. You don't always have to agree or even like each other - but you need to learn when to let someone you do not entirely agree with have some support. One day when you feel passionate about something they might support you.