PBS Report on Michigan Deliberative Poll
Terrific coverage on the American PBS network's flagship Newshour With Jim Lehrer (carried free-2-air by SBS Australia) of a Deliberative Poll (DP) conducted in Michigan in November 2009. The three-part broadcast illustrates very well how a deliberative process works and the good work it does. With the Deliberative Poll format you also get statistical evidence of the change in attitudes that occurs when a random selection of people inform themselves broadly about an issue, rather than cocooning themselves in their usual circles and informing themselves (if they did) through limited media channels. Entitled "Hard Times, Hard Choices", this public deliberation focussed on how the government and people of Michigan can get out of their economic and social crisis due to the GFC, closure of the auto industry and other causes. Against all popular polls, their deliberation led them to recommend raising sales and income taxes to pay for services and public investments that are specifically targeted to lift the place out of its mess.
I am thoroughly impressed with the production values of this video. They followed two tables of participants over the weekend event. During table conversation, one camera was on the speaker and two other cameras recorded the reactions of listeners. You can actually see participants affirm their own beliefs, awaken to new and different perspectives, and appreciate the impact of situations (eg. poverty) on others. Participants holding extreme views (eg. racism) were rebutted by others in a firm, civil manner—the ideas were challenged, not the individuals. At the end, so many of their comments about the deliberative process and how they behaved echoed what we witnessed at our Australian Citizens' Parliament. Such processes work, people can make sense and politicians should listen.
This isn't entertainment news—watching it requires effort. That's why its on PBS/SBS and not on commercial TV. Only politico-geeks like me would care to pay attention. So for all of Jim Fishkin's terrific efforts in organising DPs, the benefits of a deliberative approach are only given a small nudge towards the mainstream.
The event was sponsored by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.
Published under a Creative Commons License
