The Logic Of Collective Action: Public Goods And The Theory Of Groups

Throughout history, many groups have tried to influence politics for countless numbers of reasons. Many of whom are fed up with the system either because they find that the system that is bias and supports the rich, or it goes against their personal values and ideals, upon other reasons. This led to people wanting to shape politics through elections, interest groups, and social movements.
The United States pride itself on giving its citizens the right to choose their representatives and leaders. However, under the electoral college and the two-party system, many people questioned whether or not they actually hold the power, or is true that the government is controlled by the elite.
Greenberg argues that election does not work. It gives
According to Olson, there seem to be a disconnect between what people want and how far they are willing to go to achieve their goals. He explains that even though many people of the same or similar social class may have the same goal, they don’t always act on it. In order to pull off a successful strike, people must be willing to make personal sacrifices for the greater good, but most of them might not have the time or money to be a part of these movements (Olson 226). He argues that social movements may work in some cases, but larger groups will have a problem. Large groups are more likely to have free rider problems. These are the individuals who will benefit from the sacrifices of others. It creates this mentality where people do not want to put in the effort because others are doing it. If it was a successful strike, free riders will reap in those benefits as well, but if it fails, they won’t have anything to