Government is the most successful idea in the world, but for all its success and importance it is something imperfect. There is no ideal state. After… - Elmer Eric Schattschneider

Most of the organizational problems of the parties are unique. The party system is by a wide margin the largest mobilization of people in the country. The parties lack many of the qualities of smaller organizations, but they have one overwhelming asset of their own. They are the only organizations that can win elections.

The vice of the groupist theory is that it conceals the most significant aspects of the system. The flaw in the pluralist heaven is that the heavenly chorus sings with a strong upperclass accent. Probably about 90 per cent of the people cannot get into the pressure system.

In the nature of things a political conflict among special interests is never restricted to the groups most immediately interested.