Macro N Cheese Ep 338 - Can Deliberation Cure the Ills of Democracy? with James Fishkin
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Jul 26, 2025 
James Fishkin, a Stanford professor and the mind behind Deliberative Polling, dives into the transformative potential of deliberative democracy. He argues that structured conversations can help break through polarization by encouraging informed dialogue. Fishkin shares inspiring examples from Texas, where community discussions spurred a major shift toward renewable energy, and highlights a successful democratic reform initiative in Mongolia. He challenges the notion that our current political divides are insurmountable, advocating for a more engaged and deliberative public.
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Deliberative Polling Basics
- Deliberative polling uses random representative samples to facilitate fact-based, civil discussion on important issues.
- It transforms vague and polarized opinions into informed views by weighing trade-offs and understanding multiple perspectives.
Deliberation Reduces Polarization
- Deliberation often leads people to move away from extreme polarized opinions toward moderate positions.
- Exposure to civil discussion with diverse views fosters empathy and reduces hostility among participants.
Provide Balanced Information
- Ensure briefing materials are balanced and vetted by diverse stakeholders to provide accurate, fact-based information.
- Avoid embedding ideological biases in questions to prevent misinformation from influencing deliberation outcomes.
