Representations of Interest

According to Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, an interest group is any association of individuals or organizations, usually formally organized, that, on the basis of one or more shared concerns, attempts to influence public policy in its favor. All interest groups share a desire to affect government policy to benefit themselves or their cause. It could be a policy that exclusively benefits group members or one segment of society or a policy that advances a broader public purpose. The interest groups spotlighted in this paper are ones that affect me on a personal level and routinely look to, to gain further knowledge about current issues. Educational funding is an issue that gains national attention of the public every year. Local, state, and federal agencies budget what they feel will be needed every year to run the school districts and in most cases, every year, school budgets are cut, which can result in schools not having the appropriate tools or materials in which are needed to teach our children. The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is an organization that operates both on local and national levels. The PTA is the nation’s original parent group in schools, influencing millions of parents, past and present, to get involved in their children’s education. They are a national, nonprofit organization; neither the organization nor its leaders receive any financial benefit from PTA activities. The PTA is composed of more than 5 million volunteers in 25,000 local units (PTA, 2008). They help schools, teachers, and parents get what they need to help children succeed in the academic curriculum as well as encourage parent involvement in their child’s future; from building and ensuring a safe environment for learning, nurturing the special needs of a child at school and at home, to the support of public schools.

Just as quality education is the desire of every parent for their child, so is keeping that child and the entire family healthy. Routine physicals, vaccinations, and wellness care for adults are a part of every family’s life, and for the families that do not have medical insurance, they struggle to cover the costs of doctor visits. Families USA is a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. Working at the national, state, and community levels, they have earned a national reputation as an effective voice for health care consumers for 25 years (Families USA, 2008).

With the upcoming Presidential election in November and with health costs rocketing skyward and growing numbers of uninsured Americans, voters are paying close attention to the proposals from each candidate on health care plans.

Eating healthy, breathing clean air and exercising aid in the reduction of health related problems thus minimal trips to the doctor’s office. The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA), is to protect human