I’ve had a love-hate relationship with political science since 2012. On one hand, I find it an extremely interesting subject to read and theorize about, but on the other hand, I know that’s all I would ever do with it.

When I think of polisci, my mind immediately goes to the pioneers and greats of the subject: Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Edward Burke, Aristotle, and Alexis de Tocqueville! They all have some truly unique and crazy ideas that I’d love to see implemented in today’s society. A stew of their ideas would only benefit the country.

Well, I guess anything else than what we have now would be a huge benefit, but that’s another argument for another day.

Anyway, what do all those greats have in common?

They’re dead.

Now, you’re probably trying to think of people who some consider great in recent times. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, John McCain, or maybe even Ronald Reagan. But they’re all politicians, not political theorists.

Try to name one well-known political theorist alive today. It’s hard, huh? Well, I’m here to inform you about one such very person, and why he deserves to be known: James S. Fishkin.

Fishkin is the father of Deliberative Polling®. And yes, he has registered its name.

Now I’m sure you’re wondering, “what is Deliberative Polling®?” Fear no more; I should explain it briefly.

Deliberative Polling® is a process that uses public opinion in a way that is not traditionally done. It requires a random and representative sample of an area that is first polled on issues that the group conducting the polling wants covered. After the first poll, this sample group is then placed together (what normally is the course of a weekend) to discuss the issues that are to be covered.

The pollies engage with one and another, as well as politicians and experts relating to the topics being polled on, in small groups lead by a trained moderator. The group's goal is to create useful questions relating to the issues that they were polled on.

After all this is completed, everyone is then re-polled with the same questions as the first time, and it’s the changes in opinion that Deliberative Polling® aims to reach as it represents the ideas and thoughts citizens would have if they were given the opportunity to become more informed and familiar with the issues being presented. Essentially, this is enabling the everyday person and giving them a chance be a well-informed voter and have a more active role in democracy.

My favorite part about Deliberative Polling® is how much knowledge a citizen can gain, which makes them a good voter. Far too often I feel that with the amount of influence that the media holds (by means of TV ads, radio ads, websites, exedra), it is hard to really get a good idea of what something is. We mostly see “Vote this, not that!”

type of ads, versus honest versions that tell the whole tale of what is really going on.

Deliberative Polling® changes things.