Single Issue Groups in United States Government, Influencing Policy?

Question

Hello,
I am in a debate proving that single issue groups DO have too much influence in public policy making.

*Does anyone know any recent occurences in the U.S. when a single issue group influenced public policy (election, a vote, campainging, etc.) because they have too much influence?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Answer 1

Much of the influence is on issues that attract little public attention. Here is an article on how medicare payments for equipment was changed by a group.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/30/business/30golden.html?hp
Of the well known groups the pro gun people have been the most successful

Answer 2

What an excellent question.

I dont have a direct answer but I still wanted to comment on the negative impact of single issue groups and single or pet issue voters.

The problem with pet issue voters and the influence of single issue lobbies is that the election is more slanted to produce a candidate of appeasement as opposed to the most competent and strong figurehead possible.

Consider this years election. As far as Im concerned, theres Mitt Romney, and then theres everyone else. Heres a man whose Magnum *** Laude everything (law school, mba, etc.), former governor of Mass., and founder of two separate successful multi-million dollar business. No other resume evern comes close, keeping in mind, experience as a governor is considered substantially better than any post in DC short of president.

So what are the major objections to Romeny? You guessed it...a couple of pet issues. Ask someone why they dont like Romeny, and they will say something like "I cant vote for anyone who thinks X" or "his stand on X was X, and that wont cut it".

Notice how these pet issue monkeys never look to the bigger picture...getting the most competent, most skilled, strongest figurehead who is most capable of steering the ship.

Answer 3

Sadly pretty much all of them do when their bleeding heart liberal lobbyists step in enforcing the worthless theory that the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many.

I hope I'm barking in the right direction if this is what you were referring to.

Now, keep in mind, just because they are a single issue group does not mean they are weak and need special attention. Most of these groups are MILLIONS strong and have a ridiculous about of influence based souly on the fact that these are MILLIONS of voters. Just look at the NRA memberships...wow right...

http://www.csuchico.edu/~kfountain/

That link is a good reference for some of the leading single interest groups.