In a bid to foster a deeper understanding of political issues and bridge partisan divides, Gov. Josh Shapiro addressed a gathering of nearly 200 participants Thursday night at the Sheraton hotel in Center City Philadelphia.
The gathering was part of the America in One Room initiative, a nonpartisan project developed by Helena and Stanford University’s Deliberative Democracy Lab.
During his speech, Shapiro emphasized the importance of ordinary Americans in shaping the nation’s history, rather than solely relying on politicians.
He stated, “Every chapter of our American story over the last 250 years hasn’t been written by people with titles next to their names, but by ordinary Americans who decided to take up that same spirit that we found on the streets of Philadelphia and the taverns of Philadelphia, the town squares of Philadelphia, 250 years ago.”
The America in One Room initiative employs deliberative polling techniques aimed at engaging voters through civil discourse on complex and often controversial issues.
Developed in the 1990s by Stanford professor James Fishkin, deliberative polling aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of public opinion by giving participants the opportunity to deliberate on issues after accessing balanced information and engaging in discussions.
Unlike traditional polling, which captures superficial opinions, deliberative polling allows citizens to explore their thoughts in depth, analyzing their opinions both before and after the deliberative process.
Fishkin’s methodology has been implemented in various countries across the globe on a spectrum of issues, with the aim of restoring trust in democratic processes through informed dialogue.
Despite its advantages, the technique has faced criticism for being costly and time-consuming, as seen in the Philadelphia gathering, where America in One Room covered participants’ transportation and accommodation costs, as well as compensating them for their time.
Critics also point out that the event only reaches a small fraction of the population, with around 200 participants selected from Pennsylvania’s 13 million residents.
Nevertheless, supporters of deliberative polling emphasize its potential to enhance civic engagement and policymaking, providing valuable insights for elected officials on their constituents’ views.
In a motivating address, Fishkin highlighted the importance of public engagement in political issues and argued against the notion of inherent divisions among the public.
“Some of my colleagues in political science have written enormous numbers of things about how we’re so divided, that the divisions are so intractable and the people are not capable of deliberating about policy,” he noted.
He countered this perception, stating, “I say otherwise, and we now have 160 experiments around the world, many in the U.S., many in other countries that show that the public is ultimately very smart if you engage them in the issues.”
This weekend’s gathering at the Sheraton marks the first instance where the America in One Room initiative has focused on a single state, a strategic choice given Pennsylvania’s prominent role in national politics.
The event will feature large group sessions and breakouts, with participants discussing various issues, allowing for a more structured dialogue aimed at finding common ground.
State House Speaker Joanna McClinton is also scheduled to participate in the discussions on Saturday.
Shapiro further remarked on the importance of cooperation in governance, stating, “My job is to solve problems every day, and literally the only way I can solve a problem and pass a bill is with Republican votes and Democratic votes.”
He likened the gathering to the challenges faced in Harrisburg, where collaboration is essential to progress.
Patrick Dooley, a participant from the local community, expressed his enthusiasm for engaging with people holding differing views, emphasizing the value of human connection.
“If you see people as human and see their pain a little bit and see where they’re coming from, that’ll give you the opportunity to see things from a different perspective,” he shared.
He hopes that through such interactions, he and his fellow participants can foster understanding and find common ground, despite political differences.
As the event unfolds over the weekend, the hope remains that the deliberative process can illuminate diverse perspectives and contribute to constructive dialogue in an increasingly polarized political landscape.
image source from：https://whyy.org/articles/deliberative-polling-america-in-one-room-pennsylvania/
