The existence of interest groups represents a fundamental
dilemma for the American political system. Interest
groups work to gain advantages for themselves at the
expense of the larger population. Indeed, Madison warned
that "factions" would go as far as to suppress the rights
of others to achieve their objectives. Yet interest
groups are a manifestation of liberty; curbing interest
groups means curbing freedom.
Interest groups do play many positive roles. Among other
things, they represent people before their government.
Yet a troubling aspect of interest group politics has to
do with the nature of this representation. Some segments
of society (particularly the wealthy, the well educated,
and businesses) are more likely to be represented by
lobbying organizations than other constituencies
are. This inequity is also manifested in the resources
available to groups.
In recent years we have observed an upsurge in the
numbers of interest groups. The most troubling aspect of
that growth is the increasingly significant role
political action committees, or PACs, play in
financing congressional elections. The greatest portion
of PAC contributions comes from corporate PACs. Critics
charge that PACs gain undue advantage from the access
they gain with contributions. They argue that PACs
exacerbate the inequities in American society. Defenders
respond that PACs are a way in which people can
participate in politics. Moreover, shouldn't people have
the freedom to join together with other like-minded
Americans to promote the candidates they believe in?
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