Only to the Casual Viewer Are the Series, the Supes Polls Apart

The Fox television network has brought us the World Series, putting some of its most visionary people on the job. How do I know? Because, realizing that many people get bored watching baseball on TV, Fox has come up with a brilliant way to engage the audience.

At key moments during the game, a logo appears on screen, asking viewers to log on and address a pressing question. The first time I saw it, the question was:

“Should the manager remove the pitcher from the game?”

In baseball, few decisions are as weighty. My reaction was to panic and cry out: How the heck should I know? Give me more information!

Luckily, the country isn’t made up of people who are like me--out of sorts and without a home computer. Thousands of people no doubt went online to respond to the questions, and Fox then showed the results--sometimes even before the game situation had changed in such a way that the respondents’ opinion was irrelevant.

So yes, there’s a bug or two to work out.

More important, Fox empowered ordinary Americans to make vital decisions on the spot.

What a fabulous concept.

And if instant polling works at the World Series, why not expand it to something equally important, such as public policy? Is it really that big a leap from pulling the pitcher to spending tax dollars?

Let’s do Fox one better, though. Unlike at the World Series, let’s make the instant polling on public policy binding on officeholders.

That prospect is sure to tantalize anyone living in Orange County.

We take pride in knowing that no group is more forward-thinking than our Board of Supervisors, and that’s even with Jim Silva on the board. True, Orange County was the last major county in the state to televise its regular meetings. But once the supervisors hear about technology, look for them to act quickly.

Like Fox with its baseball audience, the supervisors know how bored people can get watching the action, whether live via home computer or by delayed television broadcasts.

Spicing Up the El Toro Telecasts

Imagine, then, how a few poll questions would have spiced the broadcast last month when board members considered a key vote on building a new airport at the former El Toro Marine base. Surely, the online interaction would have lightened the effect of several hours’ worth of public discussion.

As speaker after speaker paraded to the microphone, folks watching at home would eagerly await their chance.

For example, while listening to a Los Angeles resident complain that Orange County wasn’t sharing the burden of air-travel needs, this question could have flashed on the screen:

“Should Los Angeles residents be barred from Orange County supervisors meetings?”

If, let’s say, the instant poll indicated that 98% of those at home said yes and 2% said no, the board room would be cleared of Angelenos.

Later, as Supervisor Todd Spitzer delivered remarks to his colleagues, the public could weigh in on this question:

“Is Supervisor Todd Spitzer just a little too sure of himself?”

If a majority of people said yes, a behavior modification specialist would take Spitzer to an anteroom for 30 minutes of intensive counseling.

Or, let’s say a South County resident was poignantly arguing that as a “living monument” to our children, a giant park should be created at El Toro instead of building an airport.

As the speaker’s tears flowed, this question would appear on screen:

“Do you believe the tears are genuine?”

If, as expected, respondents voted 73% to 27% that the tears were the product of good acting, the speaker’s microphone would go dead.

We live in exciting technological times. The World Series ends this weekend, but instant polling need not.

To borrow from Fox’s favorite baseball question, can’t you imagine South County residents salivating over this one:

“Should Supervisors Smith, Coad and Silva be removed from the game?”

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Dana Parsons’ column appears Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Readers may reach Parsons by calling (714) 966-7821 or by writing to him at The Times’ Orange County edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, or by e-mail to dana.parsons@latimes.com.