By the People: Hard Times, Hard Choices Michigan Residents Deliberate

Outlines the concept of deliberative polling and presents results from a face-to-face statewide deliberative poll on Michigan's economy and budget issues, including taxes, spending and benefits, the environment, and options for state assistance.For the first time, a scientific random sample of the people of Michigan gathered together to deliberate about the hard choices facing the state's economic future. Results of Michigan's first Deliberative Poll show what the people of the state would think if they could all become more informed and discuss the issues in depth. Highly representative in both attitudes and demographics, a sample of 314 participants deliberated for a long weekend in Lansing, with both small group discussions and questions answered by competing experts in plenary sessions. The resulting changes of opinion in the final survey offer some dramatic recommendations for both policymakers and the public