Interest
groups can be useful in bringing attention to an issue or focusing resources on solving a single
problem, but they have been used in the United States in ways that are more often bad than good
for American democracy.
For example, interest groups tend to focus on one
single issue to the exclusion of all else, such as fighting gun control at all costs or refusing
to condone any tax increases under any circumstances. This can distort the democratic process.
For example, small groups of people who come out and vote in a primary can ensure that the
candidate who backs their issue will be the candidate running for office for either the
Republican or Democratic Party in their district. This candidate may support a certain popular
issue but in many other ways not reflect the broad desires of his or her constituentsand yet he
may be elected on the basis of a single issue.
Being the candidate of a
special interest group can also tie the hands of a political office holder once he
is...
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