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Special Interest Groups

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Special Interest Groups
Special Interest Groups
Special interest groups although, a definite element in today 's politics seem to pollute political water ways with unjust policies and excessive spending. An interest group is more or less an organized group of individuals that seek political advantages through lobbyist tactics. Although, special interest groups can be righteous it is becoming more and more rare to find an honest group despite an increasing number of groups. With nearly thousands of different groups with nearly unlimited funds all trying harder than the last to wow people in political power, it can be challenging for even the truest politician to not be tempted.
There are many ways that the groups can influence politics. The increase in interest group activity has separated political parties into little pockets of debates and have often belittled the power of political parties with these pockets (Wikipedia). Special interest groups also give money to incumbents, which means that incumbents can gather large reelection funds that discourages potential challengers. This causes most incumbents to win because they have the ability to outspend their challengers (Waldrough p.24).

These are some numbers to demonstrate how corrupt things have become. The Heritage Foundation has sprung from nothing to command an annual budget of $11 million. The budget of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has grown from $975,000 ten years ago to $8.6 million today. Over a somewhat longer period the endowment of the Hoover
Institution has increased from $2 million to $70 million. At least twenty-five other noteworthy public-policy groups have been formed or dramatically expanded through the decade (Waldrough p.128-132).
Conservatives are one of the big groups that influence politics. Conservative thinking has spread throughout our political and daily lives and stands poised to become the dominant party in American public policy.
While the political rising



Cited: 1. Waldrough, Justin. Special Interest Groups. New York, 2005: Paradise Press. 2. Anonymous: Interest Group. December, 2005. Wikipedia. December 9, 2006 http://en. 3. Anonymous: Lobbyist. April, 2004. December 11, 2006

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