Closed Doors: Interest Groups
What Happens Behind Closed Doors: Interest Groups and Their Agendas
Government and political entities are believed to be heroes of the people. They only do good, and have no vendetta for themselves. However, this utopian way of thinking is unrealistic, and not representative of the convoluted process of policy-making and forward motion. Interest groups are a key component of change, and using direct lobbying, they attempt to create reform every day. Tom Woods in his “Our Wise Overlords Are Just Here to Serve Us” speech, and the textbook, help us explain how lobbying from these groups can influence politics and be effective in its process.
Direct lobbying involves the process of directly speaking to politicians about the change the group wants.
As Tom Woods stated, the people in government “do not work in some dreamland” where their goal is already to work toward a certain goal despite the price. They need incentive, whether that be the research, people to work for them, or money. There are multiple ways to get the job done. Lobbyist can understate the cost, in a process called frontloading, and as Woods added, they can enact political engineering, a way of lobbying for a particular interest in which the money and jobs are spread “across many congressional districts”, to where no politician dares to shut down the project or idea. These sly ways of making sure an idea stays put is how many interest groups like Northrop corporation can keep business going with B-2 bombers, by proving that millions of people are dependant on this industry across the country, and ultimately moving the public to side with them.
The public's opinion is vital in creating change. If an issue is conflictual and split with opinions, the interest group is unlikely to get anywhere. As stated in the textbook, “in general, groups are going to have an easier time preventing a change than working to implement one.” (pg. 270). This mean that groups, like the National Rifle Association (NRA), can prevent policies that go against their ideals but will have more difficulty getting something to pass. That also leads to why interest groups thrive under very little public attention. The less attention means the less conflict, and the easier to pass/prevent something. Officials will follow what their constituents want, and if the people don’t want change, the change will not happen. Congress is the most susceptible this pressure. As Tom Woods explained there is a Washington Monument Syndrome in which groups will threaten to shut down government like the National Park Service with their budget cuts. Congress don’t want to have this problem and follow powerful groups. That is why lobbyists and groups mainly focus on changing their minds. Especially if both the politician and the group agree on the issue.
Government and political entities are believed to be heroes of the people. They only do good, and have no vendetta for themselves. However, this utopian way of thinking is unrealistic, and not representative of the convoluted process of policy-making and forward motion. Interest groups are a key component of change, and using direct lobbying, they attempt to create reform every day. Tom Woods in his “Our Wise Overlords Are Just Here to Serve Us” speech, and the textbook, help us explain how lobbying from these groups can influence politics and be effective in its process.
Direct lobbying involves the process of directly speaking to politicians about the change the group wants.
As Tom Woods stated, the people in government “do not work in some dreamland” where their goal is already to work toward a certain goal despite the price. They need incentive, whether that be the research, people to work for them, or money. There are multiple ways to get the job done. Lobbyist can understate the cost, in a process called frontloading, and as Woods added, they can enact political engineering, a way of lobbying for a particular interest in which the money and jobs are spread “across many congressional districts”, to where no politician dares to shut down the project or idea. These sly ways of making sure an idea stays put is how many interest groups like Northrop corporation can keep business going with B-2 bombers, by proving that millions of people are dependant on this industry across the country, and ultimately moving the public to side with them.
The public's opinion is vital in creating change. If an issue is conflictual and split with opinions, the interest group is unlikely to get anywhere. As stated in the textbook, “in general, groups are going to have an easier time preventing a change than working to implement one.” (pg. 270). This mean that groups, like the National Rifle Association (NRA), can prevent policies that go against their ideals but will have more difficulty getting something to pass. That also leads to why interest groups thrive under very little public attention. The less attention means the less conflict, and the easier to pass/prevent something. Officials will follow what their constituents want, and if the people don’t want change, the change will not happen. Congress is the most susceptible this pressure. As Tom Woods explained there is a Washington Monument Syndrome in which groups will threaten to shut down government like the National Park Service with their budget cuts. Congress don’t want to have this problem and follow powerful groups. That is why lobbyists and groups mainly focus on changing their minds. Especially if both the politician and the group agree on the issue.