Interest Groups

Does a system of strong and active interest groups increase or decrease the effectiveness of political parties? This is a question that can be answered in several different ways. However, there are also many factors to consider if one is going to answer the question adequately. It is without a doubt, the number of interest groups involved in politics today continues to rise. I believe this to be a good thing. In modern society, it seems that the primary goal of a political party is to take many and many diverse interests and issues and turn them into a campaign. The party then campaigns on these issues for months in hopes of turning their campaign into a political entity that can run a nation. Now, in the midst of all this, it seems to me that citizens cast their votes every four years or so, and have little influence in between election years. That being said, I believe that this particular problem is the strength of political interest groups. Interest groups provide opportunity for participation in the political system. It provides a chance for all issues, no matter how minority, to be addressed and heard throughout all times of the year. With this opportunity to have opinions weighed and counted, I believe it adds value to democracy; it enhances it. Democracy in a way is dependent on interest groups, because they bring all these chances and opportunities to the table. However freedom must be considered as an independent variable in this situation, because without the freedom to associate with whomever one so pleases, then interest groups could not exist thus not enhancing democracy. Interest groups also increase the quality of government, however some factors of this statement are dependent on other variables. For example, consultations with affected interest groups are a logical way to make decisions in the society that we live in. The information and advice from groups can improve government policy and legislation,

however the information must be accurate...