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7.1 – The Good Old Boys? Lobbying, Consulting and Interest Groups

7.1 – The Good Old Boys? Lobbying, Consulting and Interest Groups. “Unfortunately, you can’t vote the bastards out because you never voted them in in the first place.” -Noam Chomsky “Most problems do not get solved. They get supersededby other concerns.” -Thomas Sowell.

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7.1 – The Good Old Boys? Lobbying, Consulting and Interest Groups

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  1. 7.1 – The Good Old Boys?Lobbying, Consulting and Interest Groups “Unfortunately, you can’t vote the bastards out because you never voted them in in the first place.” -Noam Chomsky “Most problems do not get solved. They get supersededbyother concerns.” -Thomas Sowell

  2. What is an interest group? • Represents the interests in the political process of.. • group of people pays to support the organization • Group united by activism • Deliberately limited or narrow scope of interests or constituencies. • Never directly nominates candidates for office. • Can fulfill four niches: • Electorate organization • Electoral activism • Formal organization • Government

  3. Organizing the Electorate • Free Rider Problem • Finding a Cause • Single interest voting • Able to collect money • Regional/Local/National • Legislator Harassment • Threatening A Primary • Jamie Radtke • Rallies and Visibility • Million Man March

  4. Electoral Activism • Free Rider Problem • Finding a Tactic • PAC/527 Advertising • Voter mobilization • PAC Fundraising • Primary Threats • General Election Threats • 2008 Presidential Election • The AARP ‘Wild Card’ • Finding the Right Politico

  5. Formal Organization • Free Rider Problem • Organizing Your Members • Long-Distance or Close • Connected to Activism • The Membership Question • Balancing Size and Organization • Family Research Council • Council on Foreign Relations • National Rifle Association • Olson’s Law of Large Groups – Your problem • Iron Law of Organization – Your other problem

  6. Interests in Government • Free Rider Problem • The K Street Solution • Policy Expertise • ‘Rolodex Agency’ • Think Tanks and Research • What do Politicos Need? • What can my group offer? • Revolving Door Problem

  7. Seeking Membership • Solidarity Motive • Hanging together • Importance of using social commonalities and motives • Desire to further a social identity group. • Material Motive • Can be genuinely public – belief a policy would benefit everyone. • Often specific to the needs and wants of your membership. • Ideological Motive • Brings together likeminded people regardless of other motives. • Highly reliable, low number

  8. The Free Rider Problem • Public Benefits • Join, but don’t pay… • …Benefit, don’t join • Private Benefits • Prohibitive bars to entry can help. • Exclusive benefits that aren’t political • Political exclusivity • Popular Causes • Best way to overcome low recruitment. • High % of free riders.

  9. The Iron Triangle: Interest Group Home Run Low Barriers, Revolving Door, Support for money requests Policy execution, revolving door, data and options for government goals. Revolving door, friendly legislation and hearings

  10. Direct-Contact Lobbying • The Lobbyist • Fundraising ‘Bundlers’ • Legislative advisors • Connection-Makers • Deploying PACs • Lobbyists connect and coordinate donations. • Lobbying firms are full of specialized lawyers. • Writing the Rules • Direct contacts within congress or bureaucracy.

  11. Legal Activism • ‘Special Interest Lawyers’ • Extremely effective when deployed correctly. • Court System • Federal Agency Courts • Federal Courts • State Systems • Committees • Bringing Expert Testimony • Making EnforcementHappen • End-Runs Around

  12. Grassroots Organizing • ‘The Radical With A Bullhorn’ • Focuses on organizing large groups of people. • Immediate + direct electoral pressure on politicians • Large-scale fundraising opportunities • High percentages of free riders – very difficult to stop. • Requires broad issue with mass popular appeal

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