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  Page: Op-Ed Contributor - Town Halls by Invitation - NYTimes.com

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  These deliberative polls may, on the surface, look a lot like the current town halls — a lawmaker and constituents sharing their positions and asking each other questions. But a lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes. First, a survey identifies the range of attitudes and demographics in the district, before inviting a randomly selected, representative sample of constituents to attend. A random sample cannot be captured by people with intense interests volunteering themselves. Second, to facilitate discussion, participants are sent balanced briefing materials about the issues to be discussed ahead of time.
  any comments on this approach? Seems expensive? Seems artificial? People are wired to read people. If the pollsters succeed in acting and dressing and speaking (accent) and controlling boddy language so that they are perceived to be neutral, that is a new situation for the citizens selected for the poll and so they will act differently as well?
  
  No?

  mygarten (1)
  Tue Aug 18 15:27:56 +0000 2009

  

  e.the.people
  e-thepeople.org
  
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    The whole thing looks like a gimmick to me. Select people who you know will ask the questions and give the answers you want to bolster your political agenda. Manipulation!!

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    Durable 51 (3) Tue Aug 18 15:32:59 +0000 2009

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