Yes, Dan Larimer has always wanted to build self-governance (and economy) into a blockchain. If one looks at bitshares, it is the only blockchain based economy with true separations of power and scalability along with the ability to even create and trade one’s own tokens on a blockchain based exchange that can scale similarly to how steem can.

He then toward the approach of steem, began talking about Mutual Aid Societies (MAS), which are meant to enable long term community members to push forward and gain more resources in the ecosystem over time. What you are saying is definitely part of it---finding a transparent and immutable way of finding and showing consensus. I believe Steem is the first of many MAS chains that will eventually exist.

Btw, I am fuzzy on steemit.chat ;)