falstaff From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 5671 posts, RR: 29 Posted (5 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 1582 times:
With the incident in Connecticut and some unrelated political events here in Michigan I have been hearing a lot about "Special Interest Groups" lately. I hear people on both sides of the political aisle claiming they want to fight a special interest group, but they do it with another special interest group. Some people don't even realize that they belong to a special interest group. Sometimes at work I will hear a fellow union member say "we need to eliminate special interest groups because they influence politicians" I will usually say something like "so I guess we need to disband the union". They get all worked up because they don't think of the union as a special interest group, because they agree with its politics. I don't want to get into a discussion about what you think of a particular special interest group; I just want to know which one(s) you belong to. People like to knock "special interests" but they tend to be made of regular people, industries or businesses groups who want their opinions heard.
The special interest groups I belong to;
National Rifle Association; Endowment member
National Education Association
Michigan Education Association
Southeast Michigan Automotive Teachers Association
American Automobile Club
I used to belong to the Service Technicians Society, but that folded up around 10 years ago.
tugger From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 4629 posts, RR: 7 Reply 1, posted (5 months 2 days ago) and read 1556 times:
I belong to the military industrial complex and to a very liberal church and I drive and I have kids and I am married... how many groups do I belong to? A lot.
Now if you are talking who do I pay money to? I do not contribute money to any "interest focused" organization beyond charities and my church (which have their own of course )
Tugg
I don’t know that I am unafraid to be myself, but it is hard to be somebody else. -W. Shatner
zrs70 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 2872 posts, RR: 10 Reply 2, posted (5 months 2 days ago) and read 1546 times:
I don't like the term "special interest group." Makes it sound like there are secret agendas. That said, I belong to/ financially support many organizations:
Association of Reform Zionists of America
AIPAC
Gay and Lesbian Center
Central Conference of American Rabbis
KPCC (Local Public Radio)
Multiple Synagogues
Union for Reform Judaism
Cancer Research
AIDS Research
Equality America
Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion
Interfaith Alliance
Rape Center
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38496 posts, RR: 80 Reply 4, posted (5 months 2 days ago) and read 1527 times:
Quoting zrs70 (Reply 2): KPCC (Local Public Radio)
I used to live right down the street from you on Sierra Bonita between Colorado bl. and Walnut st.
Just a 1 minute walk from the Jiffy Lube at the corner.
Another A.net member used to broadcast there back in the late 1970s.
I don't belong to any special interest groups at the moment but I do support a small handful.
PacNWJet From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 838 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (5 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1439 times:
Quoting SmittyOne (Reply 6): It seems that "special interest" is code for any interest that isn't that particular person's.
In the scholarly literature in political science it is not very common to see the term "special interest group." The term used most often is "interest group." They exist all over the world. Every country aside from the most totalitarian countries have interest groups. They are a regular feature of all democracies. The term "special interest group" seems to be an expression unique to the United States where it typically is used either by those individuals who are not aware that the generic term "interest group" is the standard phrase used by people who practice or study politics, or by those individuals whose goal is to smear those interest groups with which they disagree ("My interest group benefits everyone. Your special interest group benefits only a small group of people.")
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29350 posts, RR: 62 Reply 9, posted (5 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 1414 times:
I thibk there are several definitions of special interest groups. I am going to define them as grouos that have a significanr political lobbying effort in them.
Well i have a life membership in Alaska Flyfishers the local flyfishing club.
I think my membership in the Alaska Airmans Association also go me one with AOPA
And after about fifteen years i just got a new membership in the National Rifle Association. Yes it is a result of what happened in Conneticut.
I will say the AOPA and NRA have excellent magazines, well worth the dues!
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
dc9northwest From Romania, joined Feb 2007, 1735 posts, RR: 4 Reply 13, posted (5 months 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1377 times:
Quoting aerorobnz (Reply 11):
I'm part of the airliners.net lobby for more aeroplanes in our skies..
I'm part of the "Stop Designing Two (Under-Wing) Engine Jets" special interest group. This group militates for airplanes not to all look the same in our skies.
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16812 posts, RR: 57 Reply 15, posted (5 months 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1334 times:
Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 13): I'm part of the "Stop Designing Two (Under-Wing) Engine Jets" special interest group. This group militates for airplanes not to all look the same in our skies.
Not a very effective group, are you?
I forgot to mention that I am a card-carrying member of the Flat-Earth Society.
SmittyOne From United States of America, joined Feb 2012, 898 posts, RR: 2 Reply 16, posted (5 months 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1320 times:
Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 13): Furthermore, I militate for "self-driving cars" and "self-shooting guns". Because guns and cars don't kill people, people kill people.
ER757 From Cayman Islands, joined May 2005, 2222 posts, RR: 8 Reply 17, posted (5 months 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1316 times:
Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 13): I'm part of the "Stop Designing Two (Under-Wing) Engine Jets" special interest group. This group militates for airplanes not to all look the same in our skies.
Now that's one I'd love to join!
Mine:
AARP (Yeah, I'm old, so what?)
Washington Trails Association
That's about it unless my subscription to National Geographic Society (so I get the magazine) counts.
n229nw From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 1850 posts, RR: 36 Reply 18, posted (5 months 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1298 times:
Quoting steffenbn (Reply 7): Danish Defence League.
Stop Islamation of Europe.
you know, this helps explain so much about that other thread about the birds and the bees and reality and all...
Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 13): Also, I'm part of the NMBATOA one. "No more toddlers and babies on airplanes" is our motto.
You guys need a better acronym. One that has its letters in the same order as the words they stand for. Otherwise, you might also be a member of DAM (Mothers against dyslexia)...
I forgot to mention that I am a card-carrying member of the Flat-Earth Society.
No, we are not
Care to help with a small donation of just $69.99? Please send it to my address: PO Box 419, Lagos, Nigeria. We will send you a miniature kit of our best designs so far.
Well, the Earth is basically flat, at any point, locally.
Quoting n229nw (Reply 18): You guys need a better acronym. One that has its letters in the same order as the words they stand for. Otherwise, you might also be a member of DAM (Mothers against dyslexia)...
Damn! Is that why we don't get more new members? Gotta change that!
I am an honorary member of MAD. Every time I deal with the TSA...
76794p From United States of America, joined Apr 2008, 341 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (5 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 1218 times:
NRA- Just renewed for three years
CCA- Coastal Conservation Association, they and Texas parks and wildlife, brought back the redfish in the gulf coast, after a certain cajun chef, who shall remain nameless, almost single handedly wiped them out. He made a seasoning that gave the same addictive properties as crack, he made them taste really freakin good.
steffenbn From Denmark, joined Apr 2010, 263 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (5 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1215 times:
Quoting n229nw (Reply 18): you know, this helps explain so much about that other thread about the birds and the bees and reality and all...
I guess I shot my self in the head with that thread....
A330, A319, 737,738,752,763,763ER,764ER,777-200LR
25 WestJet747: Very interesting topic! But I'm not sure what you mean by "belong". I associate with several special interest groups, but none that I support financia
26 RussianJet: Oh Lord..... As for myself, only a trade union and the Russian Orthodox Church. I do make regular donations to a couple of charities, notably the Orb
27 Revelation: I consider myself to be a member of a.net's Enginistas special interest group. We like to think about what happens when the temperature and pressure
28 FlyDeltaJets: AAA - American Automobile Association Also do unions count as special interest groups?
29 connies4ever: If a political party counts as a "special interest group", and I think it would, since it has a particular world view, then I do: Liberal Federation o
30 Pyrex: Speaking of which - congratulations! I heard Michigan, of all places, finally passed a right to work law and so being a "part of a special interest g
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From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 5671 posts, 
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From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38496 posts, 
From Denmark, joined Apr 2010, 263 posts, 
From Rwanda, joined Feb 2001, 6325 posts, 
From Romania, joined Feb 2007, 1735 posts, 
From Cayman Islands, joined May 2005, 2222 posts, 
you know, this helps explain so much about that other thread about the birds and the bees and reality and all...
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