Listening forums are a good idea for grass roots campaigning.
I held a number of listening forums in the lead up to the last state election. It was great to listen 1:1 to people and discuss issues of concern. Unfortunately we were no competition for the big staged debates and the corporate media coverage. It was great to engage with local people in any event.
Sir, your post gave me pause for a lot of thought. How is it that most people prefer and accept as basis of fact and truth, the simple watered down versions or solutions? List ten reasons for a problem which you have come up with, removing the complex ones would be even better, and just list five. Better still, list 5 solutions and people buy it. Ask people to think, debate, share.. and you sit with a near-empty hall.
All the same, the folks you had contact with look like awesome folks who no doubt appreciated your good efforts.
There is a meanness in the electorate I have not seen before. A desire to hold a certain group or minority to account for everything that is wrong. It is a sentiment I could never entertain, but there are votes in it unfortunately.
Scapegoats provide an easy diagnosis and treatment. As long as it doesn't include taking some responsibility for oneself, people find it attractive.