Special Interest Groups: The Original Barrel of Monkeys That Nothing is More Fun Than Summary and Analysis

The chapter opens with a section entitled "Among the Compassion Fascists: The National March for Housing Now!" While generally critical of special interest groups, O'Rourke reluctantly admits that they play a vital role in politics. He explains that SIGs are comprised of people with similar interests, such as farmers or veterans, who, for whatever reason, expect special treatment from the government. O'Rourke's concern, however, is when SIGs take on the guise of altruism.

O'Rourke describes a DC rally for "Housing Now!" characterizing most of the demonstrators in stereotypical terms: hippies, bohos, Marxists. O'Rourke condemns their arguments as spurious, implying that their interests are unworkable and self-serving. He suggests that past programs of such "perennially indignant...