Blog 11, 6/24: Interest Groups
“We found that committees should be small when you expect action and relatively large when you are looking for points of view.” This quote from “The Logic of Collective Action” explains that smaller groups are more effective at making decisions and getting things done than larger groups. Olson uses the example of meetings. He states that when meetings have too many people, decisions cannot be made ”promptly or carefully”; too many people are voicing their opinions, too stubborn to compromise. He also states that apathy concerning the issue being discussed develops in participants of large meetings because they feel their interests will not be heard or their efforts will not result in change. Studies have shown that smaller groups “act more decisively and use their resources more effectively.” This quote caught my attention because it helped me better understand why interest groups mainly influence Congress by targeting committees. As stated by Olson, state legislative power reside