How should we improve the NHS?
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Democracy works better when we understand each other. Vote on the questions defining our era — then see where people genuinely agree, where they divide, and which ideas can bridge the gap and inform better decisions.
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8 themes. At least 56 policy statements to start — more added as participants contribute. Vote on the issues that define our era, then see where humanity agrees, where it divides, and what might bridge the gap.
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Our machine learning finds patterns across thousands of votes — surfacing three kinds of insight you won't find anywhere else.
"Access to reliable, unbiased news is essential for a functioning democracy."
This statement was agreed by participants across all political clusters.
"Politicians of all parties have failed to honestly explain the trade-offs of their policies to voters."
Bridge ideas resonate strongly across groups that otherwise disagree — rare common ground.
"The state should guarantee a minimum income for every citizen, regardless of employment status."
Genuine divisions show where deeper democratic deliberation is needed — not just counting votes.
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Three steps. Takes under five minutes to start.
Browse discussions on news topics, or take the Big Questions Journey — at least 56 statements across 8 themes, growing as participants contribute their own.
Agree, Disagree, or Unsure on each statement. Add your reasoning if you want. Respectful by design — and anonymous if you prefer.
See consensus, bridge ideas and genuine divisions. Then share the results with the communities, organisations, or policymakers who need to hear them.
Vote on the day’s question. Read the day’s news. Pressure-test your own ideas in a five-minute game.
One carefully chosen question every day. Vote, share your reasoning, then see how others responded. Over time, this creates a longitudinal view of how public opinion evolves.
"France should significantly reduce the maximum term length for local elected officials to prevent entrenched local political oligarchies."
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You're in charge. A crisis lands on your desk — and every path forward costs something real. Cut spending and lose public trust. Borrow now and burden the next generation. Build fast and fracture communities. Five turns to govern. What kind of leader do you become?
The Energy Price Shock
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News/Analysis Podcast Bias ratings from AllSides | See all 140+ sources
"The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is that it is robbing the human race — those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it."
Philosopher, On Liberty, 1859
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
Cultural Anthropologist
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Give specific details of what could be done and how? Give examples of what is not working with proposed solutions. How could we leverage technology whilst also ensuring privacy?
Why are chocolate-covered shortbread and plain shortbread taxed differently? The UK’s VAT system is full of bizarre inconsistencies that make it complex, inefficient, and unfair. In this episode, we dive into how VAT works, why economists tend to love it in theory, and why the UK’s version falls short in practice. We explore zero and reduced rates, exemptions, myths about regressivity, and discuss how simplifying VAT could make it fairer and less distortionary. In the fourth and final episode of our tax mini-series, Helen, Ben and Stuart look at how to fix one of the UK’s most important and misunderstood taxes. Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membership Find out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information
Global investors remain unfazed by Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai’s 20-year prison sentence
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