Question

What factors have contributed to the influence of special interest groups in the United States compared to other democracies?

Answer 1

• Findings from the research is that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while mass-based interest groups and average citizens have little or no independent influence.
• Interest groups have a substantial impact on public policy. When mass-based and business-oriented interest groups oppose a policy, the probability of its being enacted is only 16%, rising to 47% when they’re strongly favorable.
• Interest groups were most frequently involved in policy changes in the environment and civil rights & liberties, where they were partially credited with more than two-thirds of policy changes.
• Interest groups like the American Farm Bureau and the Farmers Union were commonly credited with agriculture policy changes.
• Making America different from other democracies, that every one of them you could ever imagine, pro and con is here and they all are trying to influence the special interest politics that affect them. It's everyone talking at once.
• Other democracies will be amazed at how much state sponsored propaganda America allows to be broadcast in the conutry such is perhaps the true measure of the Constitutional form of government and commitment to freedom of speech.