The voice of the people public opinion and democracy

Part 1 Introduction: "magic town"; who speaks for me?; out of the cave? Part 2 Who speaks for the people?: new beginnings; a voice from Rhode Island; what should representatives do?; "the most natural and simple idea"; counting people equally ; deliberation - thinking through the issues together; participation; avoiding tyranny - the energy that reforges democracy; small scale democracy; the Founders' vision; the anti-Federalist dissent. Part 3 How "public opinion" became the voice of the people: "like a burglar" - informal processes of reform; Bryce's prophecy - government by public opinion; Gallup's answer; opinions and pseudo-opinions in the echo chamber; a rational public?; a machine that transforms itself. Part 4 Who are the people?: whose declaration of independence?; all men?; from Douglass to Lincoln versus Douglas; from paper rights to voting rights; the quest for voting equality; the declaration of sentiments; whose America?; how do we come to support it? Part 5 Giving the people voice?: the "town" meeting of the air"; towards civic engagement; airing the people's agenda; bringing deliberation to democracy. Appendix: the first deliberative poll - some summary results.