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Some [[people]] prefer to work in [[politics|political parties]], while others prefer to work in [[interest group]]s.  Let’s compare the two.

Some [[people]] prefer to work in [[politics|political parties]], while others prefer to work in [[interest group]]s.  Let’s compare the two.

Political parties address all the [[issue]]s.  [[Worker]]s in [[political parties]] are part of the biggest [[gang]] in the [[United States]], typically either the [[Republican]] or [[Democratic Party]].  When someone in their [[party]] wins an [[election]], the [[worker]] can claim some [[credit]] and [[celebrate]].  This is true from the most obscure political [[job]] right up the [[presidency]].

Political parties address all the [[issue]]s.  Workers in [[political parties]] are part of the biggest [[gang]] in the [[United States]], typically either the [[Republican]] or [[Democratic Party]].  When someone in their [[party]] wins an [[election]], the worker can claim some credit and celebrate.  This is true from the most obscure political [[job]] right up the [[president|presidency]].

People [[donation|donate]] their [[time]] to political parties because they care about more than one [[issue]].  They feel it is important to address many issues, and [[elect]] [[official]]s to address [[future]] issues that have not yet arisen.

People donate their [[time]] to [[political parties]] because they care about more than one [[issue]].  They feel it is important to address many [[issue]]s, and [[election|elect]] [[official]]s to address [[future]] [[issue]]s that have not yet arisen.

For example, a year ago the public was not paying attention to [[Terri Schiavo|Terri Schiavo-Schindler]].  Yet people [[work]]ed very hard to elect [[Republican]] [[Jeb Bush]] [[governor]] of [[Florida]], and also to [[elect]] a [[Republican]] legislature.  Those who voted for [[Jeb Bush|Bush]] expected him to do the right thing on existing [[issue]]s, and unforeseeable [[issue]]s.  And he did: he recently signed a new [[law]] that saved Terri’s [[life]].   

For example, a year ago the public was not paying attention to [[Terri Schiavo|Terri Schiavo-Schindler]].  Yet people worked very hard to [[election|elect]] [[Republican]] [[Jeb Bush]] [[governor]] of [[Florida]], and also to [[election|elect]] a [[Republican]] [[legislature]].  Those who voted for [[Jeb Bush|Bush]] expected him to do the right thing on existing [[issue]]s, and unforeseeable [[issue]]s.  And he did: he recently signed a new [[law]] that saved [[Terri Schiavo|Terri's]] [[life]].   

[[Party]] [[loyalist]]s try to put [[people]] who think like them into [[office]] and then let them make the [[decision]]s.  Let the [[experts]] – the right experts – handle the [[issue]]s as they develop.  [[Work]] on placing the right people on the field, as in [[sport]]s, and then let them play the [[game]] as best they can.

[[Party]] [[loyalist]]s try to put [[people]] who think like them into office and then let them make the [[decision]]s.  Let the [[experts]] – the right [[expert]]s – handle the [[issue]]s as they develop.  Work on placing the right people on the field, as in [[sport]]s, and then let them play the [[game]] as best they can.

This approach takes a [[dim view]] of spending time trying to [[persuasion|persuade]] someone in an [[opposition|opposing political party]].  It is often a waste of [[time]].  You can spend [[hour]]s, [[day]]s or even weeks trying to persuade a [[member]] of a [[political party]] to do something, only to find him [[vote|voting]] as his [[leadership]] told him to.  It is unrealistic to think you can persuade a [[Democrat]]ic to support the [[Republican]] [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] in a public way.  Spend your limited [[time]] building your favorite [[party]] rather than trying to persuade likely [[opponent]]s.

This approach takes a dim view of spending [[time]] trying to persuade someone in an opposing [[political parties|political party]].  It is often a waste of [[time]].  You can spend [[hour]]s, [[day]]s or even [[week]]s trying to persuade a member of a [[political party]] to do something, only to find him [[vote|voting]] as his leadership told him to.  It is unrealistic to think you can persuade a [[Democrat]] to support the [[Republican]] [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] in a public way.  Spend your limited [[time]] building your favorite [[party]] rather than trying to persuade likely opponents.

[[Interest group]]s take a different approach.  They say that [[Republican]]s will be [[Republican]]s, and [[Democrat]]s will be [[Democrat]]s.  It’s been true for 140 [[year]]s, and could be true for another 140 [[year]]s.  They do not see one [[party]] winning over the other.  Instead, try to work with both parties on a particular [[issue]].

[[Interest group]]s take a different approach.  They say that [[Republican]]s will be [[Republican]]s, and [[Democrat]]s will be [[Democrat]]s.  It’s been true for 140 [[year]]s, and could be true for another 140 [[year]]s.  They do not see one [[party]] winning over the other.  Instead, try to work with both [[political parties|parties]] on a particular [[issue]].

Also, [[interest group]]s [[focus]] on one or a few issues to [[maximize]] their [[impact]].  Many [[pro-life]]rs feel that [[abortion]] is by far the most important issue in [[U.S.A.|America]].  No other [[politics|political issue]] is even close.  They do not care if someone is [[Democrat]]ic or [[Republican]], [[Libertarian]] or [[Green]] ([[pro-environment]]).  What is his or her position on [[abortion]]?  That is the only [[question]] needed to be asked, some feel.

Also, [[interest group]]s [[focus]] on one or a few [[issue]]s to maximize their impact.  Many [[pro-life]]rs feel that [[abortion]] is by far the most important [[issue]] in [[U.S.A.|America]].  No other [[politics|political issue]] is even close.  They do not care if someone is [[Democrat]]ic or [[Republican]], [[Libertarian]] or [[Green]] (pro-[[environment]]).  What is his or her position on [[abortion]]?  That is the only [[question]] needed to be asked, some feel.

A [[party]] [[worker]], even a [[pro-life]] one, will tell you that all [[issue]]s are connected and often it is difficult to [[win]] on one [[issue]] without winning others.  For example, winning on the [[pro-life]] issue requires reestablishing respect for [[human being|human]] [[life]].  It may take changing what is taught in [[public schools]], where over 90% of Americans form their [[belief]]s.  If people think humans are just [[animal]] [[tissue]] because they were taught that in school, then they may not become pro-life.

A [[political|parties|party]] worker, even a [[pro-life]] one, will tell you that all [[issue]]s are connected and often it is difficult to win on one [[issue]] without winning others.  For example, winning on the [[pro-life]] [[issue]] requires reestablishing respect for [[human being|human]] [[life]].  It may take changing what is taught in [[public schools]], where over 90% of [[U.S.A.|America]]ns form their [[belief]]s.  If [[people]] think [[human being|human]]s are just [[animal]] [[tissue]] because they were taught that in [[public schools|school]], then they may not become [[pro-life]].

The interest groups will respond by saying that if a [[candidate]] is wrong on the [[pro-life]] issue, then that [[politician]] is usually [[wrong]] on everything else too.  [[Voter]]s don’t have the [[time]] or interest to find out where [[candidate]]s stand on numerous [[issue]]s.  Besides, [[candidates]] often [[lie]].  Find out where a candidate stands on the [[life issue]], and the rest is obvious.

The [[interest group]]s will respond by saying that if a [[candidate]] is wrong on the [[pro-life]] [[issue]], then that [[politician]] is usually wrong on everything else too.  [[Vote]]rs don’t have the [[time]] or interest to find out where [[candidate]]s stand on numerous [[issue]]s.  Besides, [[candidates]] often [[deceit|lie]].  Find out where a [[candidate]] stands on the [[pro-life|life issue]], and the rest is obvious.

Yes, [[party official]]s say, but at the [[end of the day]] [[candidate]]s are elected as a [[Republican]]s or [[Democrat]]s, and those persons make the [[decision]].  [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] signed the [[ban]] on [[partial birth abortion]] because the [[Republican Party]] has a [[pro-life]] [[platform]].  It took hard [[work]] to keep that [[platform]] pro-life, too.  The [[Republican]] [[National Coalition for Life]] puts enormous time and effort into this cause.

Yes, [[Political parties|party]] officials say, but at the end of the day [[candidate]]s are [[election|elect]]ed as a [[Republican]]s or [[Democrat]]s, and those persons make the [[decision]].  [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] signed the ban on [[partial birth abortion]] because the [[Republican Party]] has a [[pro-life]] [[platform]].  It took hard work to keep that [[platform]][[pro-life]], too.  The [[Republican]] [[National Right to Life Committee|National Coalition for Life]] puts enormous [[time]] and effort into this cause.

Where would you prefer to spend your time – working in a [[political party]] or in an [[interest group]]?

Where would you prefer to spend your [[time]] – working in a [[political parties|political party]] or in an [[interest group]]?

== [[Lobbyist]]s and PACs ==

== [[Lobbyist]]s and PACs ==