What are the negative aspects of interest groups?
93581
The focus of an interest group can overshadow the voice of the common person and present a false image that an issue is of greater importance than it is to the general public.  The monies brought to bear on an issue by interest groups cannot be matched by individuals who may not be represented by a group.
376759
greed and corruption, lack of democracy, and the intolerable suppression of a people by their government\n\nOh, by the way, I'm talking about the United States
849989
National Interests overides any ethical issues im afraid. its how the game works if somebody can help you, no matter how bad they may be as long as the state acheives its aims, the means is of little consequence. Look at the current "friendship" with Pakistan. Look at how we have always supported Saudi Arabia. And with regards to Iraq we supported both Iran & Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war, where is the logic in that? the logic is all about the $ my friend its what this whole sorry affair is about.\n\nAnd if you havent seen it I advise you watch "loose Change" its available for free all over the internet you seem like someone who would take quite an interest in this Documentary.
115319
Poverty\nRacism\nGender bias\nPolitical apathy\nIncreased gap between wealth & poor\nWhite collar crime
428813
The Positive roles were too numerous to list here, every thing from faith based actions to the fall of the iron curtain. About the only negative ones were from the wackoes on the extreme ends of the bell curve. This current "war against terrorists" started in the twentieth century by a right-wing (as opposed to the left-wing atheists) bunch of religious fanatics that have trashed the Koran. At the same time, the "lefties" have trashed Christmas, Halloween, Easter, the sacrament of marriage,, etc. etc.
234151
In the US, there are only two main factions.  They are the Democrats and the Republicans.  The Democrats are more for the working folks and younger people.  The Republicans are more for the older and richer people.\n\nSpecial interest groups are very influential in American politics, they invest millions of dollars into the campaign of many politicians from the lowest level to the highest.  Their influence is to try to pass legislation that will benefit their industry.
287040
An issue or statement that envokes opposed feelings in different people that causes a conflict between them.
708946
"They give the politicians billions of bucks to represent us" lobbyists are bad not good, they do not "give the politicians bucks to represent us", they give the politicians money to represent whatever agenda the lobbyist is pushing, it's a subversion of the democratic process, you get government officials that are beholden to whomever pays them the most(to run a re-election campaign), not voters, lobbying should be abolished or outlawed IMO.
767886
What appeases the prurient interests of the masses is not necessarily what keep us going. There are many Engineers, Scientists and scholars, along with some real writers and journalists who have a marked impact on the direction our country takes. \n\nWith that, there are lots of beurocrats who make policy based on polls and special interests. These do things like sending us to war and spending our money. Unfortunately they do have too much impact on the projects that many of our Scientists and Engineers work on, but somehow the true leading thinkers are able to find funding for some of what's really important.\n\nMy hope for our country is that some day we'll realize that we're a part of the world, and not it's master.
777316
When you set up a site that encourages childish behavior (thumbs up, thumbs down, report abuse), you are guaranteed to see childish behavior.\n\nI'm pretty sure it crosses all party lines and might not even be politically motivated at all.
1000090
Ignorance and greed, in my opinion cause hatred.  I don't know where you are from, but I think most people are good at heart.  Fear is a negative thing too.  People fear what they don't understand.
775032
How is this an unhealthy facination? I think that interest (different to obsessions) is what motivates us to achieve. Facinations also encourage us to remain active (sport, hobbies and that sort of stuff). But if your interest cannot be useful to you or anyone else in a positive manner, and it bothers you (like... is it dictating your life?) then see someone about it.
463509
Bad: People want their students to get premium educations - but no one wants to pay for it.\n\nGood: Some students thrive and excel in the current system... and others... are scary.\n\nGood:  We strive towards the ideal that all people are created equally and are equally capable of succeeding in accomplishing their dreams.\n\nBad:  We deem failure when we don't meet the IDEAL... which is completely impractical anyway.\n\nBad: State testing... always wants to raise the bottom 50 percent to the top 50 percent.  Whoah... who taught the politicians their math? There will ALWAYS be a bottom 50 percent.
937399
That's why a lot of companies starting splitting their donations between the parties over the last 6 months.  Sad, but true.  Special interest aren't exactly gone from capital hill, although I doubt things could be any more unethical than in the last 2 years.
733423
There are pros and cons.
187103
Bad or good consequences?  I will list one of each:\n\nFeminism -  The Good:  bringing attention to women's issues that IS important to women like ovarian cancer   The Bad: some men and other women have been hurt or burned by radical feminists.  The Very Very Oogly:  the radicals tend to make the loudest farts :-/\n\nMulticulturalism - The Good:  diversity can help people understand each other better and in turn, burn away their fears   The Bad:  that _could_ lead to over-doing the political-correctness   The Very Very Oogly: gov'ts have to decide on how to treat everyone equally which can be very confusing for them at times to absolve issues (but I still say "on with it", I like the multiculturalism!)\n\nPolitical Correctness -  The Good: sometimes being PC can show others that we DO want to learn about their whatever (religion, race, nationality)   The Bad:  Must we walk on Eggshells 24/7 ???  Overdoing the PC can make me feel like I am walking on eggshells.   The Very Very Oogly: it can also show that person is not feeling "comfortable" around another with various differences. That can lead up to discomfort and loss of communication.  Especially when it comes to using human-labels when neccessary to use them.
1018127
ALWAYS conforming is very negative.\nSocieties have changed and progressed due to non conformists.