Are interset groups effective in influencing public policy? Why?

Question

I need a better answer,, give some more opinions

Answer 1

VERY effective.............at ruining good countries for their own gain! These groups have killed liberty and place fear into action. They usually have little thought and freedom is their enemy! In some cases, interest groups try to fight other interest groups to try to regain freedom but usually fail due to the fact that many people with freedom don't understand they have to fight for it! It is really sad to know that people have such high hopes for special interest groups which use government force! These groups are not your friends. They have real life consequences that can damage even the best of people and prosperity! Trade unions have driven business out as well as taxes. Censorship groups have controlled our TV and give little faith to parents over their children. These special interest groups almost always ask for government action, and in most cases, these people have different ideals of what will happen with them!

Answer 2

Not all special interest groups have such sinister objectives though !!

Take for instance the group MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) They have lobbied for, & gotten action to reduce the legal threshhold for DWI in most states over the last decade or so .

While personally I think the new limit is a bit too low, it is undeniable that the death & injuries sustained because of folks driving impaired is not tolerable, & if this action reduces the carnage it is a good thing overall.

Another issue that has really taken off is barring smoking in restaurants & bars in more & more of our cities. This is deemed a public health issue, but clearly removes a benefit from one group, & gives benefit to another special interest (non smokers)

The lines are often blurred when we refer to special interest groups....many only think of them as business related or otherwise providing financial benefit to the interest group, when often (as above) that is not the case.