... issues to reach the political agenda thereby facilitating social progress and preventing social stagnation. Consultation with affected groups is surely a rational way to make decisions in a free society enabling intensity of feeling on issues to be gauged. However there are many problems with pressure groups that could lead us to conclude that they undermine democratic government. Firstly they advance minority interests against those of society as a whole thus distorting the political process; Secondly they entrench political inequality by strengthening the voice of the wealthy and privileged as the rich upper class are better placed to promote their cause. There is also 'unequal competition' between business and labour groups the former enjoying control of economic resources, a public status and level of access to government that the latter cannot match. The idea that influences commensurate with the size of the group is seriously flawed as small, tightly knit associations, for ...

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