BigPulse Media Releases

Sleeper Issues Surface

Sydney April 18 2001 - This new Internet-based opinion poll site BigPulse.com is turning polling on its head and expected to produce a few surprises in the process.

In a regional test launch the people in the NSW Deniliquin region recently discovered that financial support for palliative care was their leading community issue. Ironically the first results from this new online poll is a call for help from those least able to vote online.

This is just one of many surprise sleepers that BigPulse founder Ralph McKay thinks will surface in coming months.

It's a polling process that reflects the true opinions of the people. It is free from pollster bias because it works automatically without a pollster. More intriguing, it uses no questions or annoying surveys. Yet BigPulse gives voice to all issues and ranks them fairly.

Organic polling - real issues shine

It's a compelling idea known as "organic" polling. Anyone can use the website to submit an opinion on any issue in the form of a "placard". The website sets up a competitive environment between placards with all placards competing daily for votes. The leaders quickly surface.

A fully transparent poll that automatically detects and ranks the full spectrum of issues in each region down to post code. Results are emailed daily to interested politicians, candidates and the media.

This totally open, "sunshine", approach draws out the real issues. Those with a view, strong opinion, grievance can always submit a placard and vote.

The people set the agenda

It is a difficult concept to fault. It is a type of reverse poll that lets the people set the agenda, not a pollster or vested interests. People vote when they want, for precisely what they want - no waiting to be asked.

It is a fully transparent poll. Everyone has equal and immediate access to real time voting statistics.

"People often complain that their voice is not heard - well now they can really roar," said McKay.

It's a fairer representation

It's like a virtual picket line with all pickets competing for attention. But it's fairer than physical placards and pickets.

Those who are too busy, shy, less eloquent or disabled have the same advantage as the more confident, vocal and well connected - all can vote once a day for up to ten placards.

The palliative care workers for example cannot leave the sick; a small business manager is already over committed. But most can manage a few minutes a day at the keyboard to vote at BigPulse.com. People not online can vote at work, on a friend's PC, at a library or Internet caf� or increasingly the BigPulse voting booth at their local paper.