Organizational Power and Lobbying Analysis

First, read Charles Lane?s article in the Washington Post and then read the excerpts from Olson?s The Logic of Collective Action. Use the following questions to guide your analysis in an essay-style response. Do not answer the prompt questions one-by-one.? Why is it uncommon for groups of individuals who have a common interest to work together to achieve that common interest (e.g., if everyone benefits from government services, why don?t people voluntarily pay taxes)? ? Why are businesses better able to organize to represent their interests than other groups? ? How do groups solve the problem of getting individuals to work together to achieve a common goal? Why, therefore, does Olson consider political power a ?by-product? of other activities? What are Olson?s examples of groups where political power is a by-product of their normal activities? ? Using Google, Wikipedia, or other internet resources, identify an organization that lobbies the government to represent the interests of the office of Dianne Feinstein. You can choose an organization that the office of Dianne Feinstein has had contact with rather than one that represents your interests. Using the organization?s website, Google News, Wikipedia or other internet resources, find an example of this organization lobbying the government on behalf of your industry or its workers (e.g. donating money to a political campaign, testifying before Congress, promoting its own agenda in a public relations campaign). ? Describe the organization you identified. What is Senator Dianne Feinstein’s relationship to that organization? ? What is the organization trying to accomplish through its lobbying efforts in the example you identified? Has it succeeded or failed yet?