PeopleCount is not a new way of polling. It has nothing to do with surveys. The data collected is even different. A bright friend of mine confused for years on this. Let’s clear it up.

Yes, on PeopleCount, one thing you’ll do is answer multiple-choice questions. This is similar to answering a survey, but only on the surface. There are many other significant parts of PeopleCount.

Surveys ask a random sample of people what they think about an issue.

PeopleCount will not survey random people. On PeopleCount, citizens who care will make their desires known. Who cares what the others think? If you don’t care about something, I assure you, your politicians don’t care.

Should the Federal Reserve exist? Or should we have a national bank? Most people don’t care because they don’t know the issues involved. Who cares what they think while they’re uninformed?

Pollsters try to make a survey that won’t influence voters.

A question should not be biased. But the goal of PeopleCount is to influence citizens to be responsible and informed citizens. Since surveys ask random people, surveys don’t make you responsible. Knowing your vote matters does.

On many questions, I add interesting answers rarely seen in the media. Probably the members of Congress considered some of them, but they don’t publicize them. Why? They think you’re uninformed and uninterested. And they’re right- our opinion means nothing right now. Why should we be learn about issues?

That’s where PeopleCount is different. These are real issues. Most of us understand real solutions about real issues. PeopleCount’s promise: We make your opinions matter. A real issue that matters- you can understand that. And you get to vote on it, then hold your politicians accountable.

Surveying doesn’t let the answers change the questions.

A survey is a single set of questions that are answered once. Occasionally they’re answered yearly by different people. When they have their answer, they report it and are done.

PeopleCount will add questions and/or answers as an issue evolves. If people mostly favor two answers, maybe we’ll then split those into five which involve more tradeoffs. You can say how desirable each one is. Maybe a compromise is the best solution.

Surveys report what interrupted, surprised, uninformed people thought once

I hate when pollsters call. A few years ago I answered most of them, but then I got busy. In fact, fewer and fewer people are accepting their calls and that’s leading to less accuracy.

They refuse to tell me how many questions there are. I’ve asked them to send me the questions and they say no. Or, “Will you please call me back in two hours?” They say no. I’ve asked for a five-minute break so I can look up something and they say no.

PeopleCount lets you answer whenever you want. You can skip a question and come back later. You can talk to your friends first. Or answer a question and later change it. You can do whatever you want to express yourself well. If Congress is set to vote on it, so there’s a deadline, we’ll tell you. We empower you.

Surveys open up NO communication between people and politicians

Most surveys are national, so they tell your representative nothing about your district and your senators nothing about your state. Partly, this is because they’re expensive. It takes 1-3,000 answers to have some accuracy. To do that in 435 districts is expensive. They can guess that your district will be the same, but do you believe them? You’ll believe a vote.

Survey results are hidden from you

To find survey results, you have to search for them- they don’t even send you a link to them in gratitude for your participation! PeopleCount is designed to be your dashboard to an issue. It’ll have results right there as well as links to information about an issue and reports from your politicians. Being organized and searchable, you’ll easily find what you need.

It’ll show you the results for your district and state so you know what your representatives should be pulling for. It’ll show you the results for the country, so you can set your expectations.

PeopleCount and surveys are complete different

The bottom line: Polls are for people who want to know people’s simple thoughts and opinions. They’re a private, often commercial tool for making money, winning elections and manipulating voters.

PeopleCount is different. PeopleCount is for you to guide your government and hold it accountable. Plus to communicate with your fellow citizens so we can all steer government together. Answering questions is just part of the communication. But it’s not polling.