Who wields the power?

Who wields the power? Special interest groups. From Freddie Mac trying to quash a regulatory bill that would have limited its operations to the health industry fighting against health care reform in the early 1990s to the pharmaceutical industry getting involved in medicare reform which extended prescription drug benefits, special interest groups attempt to influence government policy in their favor. In pluralist theories of democracy, individual citizens do not have a direct influence on the policy making process. Instead government policies are influenced by special interest groups. Pluralist theory also holds that while all interest groups have some affect on policy, no one group totally sways the direction of public policy. Special interest groups with more financial resources have more power and may be able to diminish the voices of other groups. Some interest groups such as the National Organization of Women strive to address inequalities. Others simply exacerbate current political divisions. Most do not limit their activities to simply influencing elected officials. They may also engage in public relations campaigns in an effort to manipulate public opinion against or in favor of specific legislation. They help elect candidates by providing funding which is another way to influence the outcomes of policy votes in Congress. In this way the government is not directly influenced by the people but reacts to pressures from and bargains with special interest groups, who wield the power.