How do public-interest groups differ from other interest groups?

Answer 1

Public-interest groups work for the benefit of all citizens.

Answer 2

public-interest groups work for the bnefits of all citizens.

Answer 3

This answer is not a DingoBot issue. Nothing given here is repetitive.

Generally speaking, there is a world of difference between a public interest group and other groups. They do have one thing in common however, and this example will display a major difference. The domestic petroleum industry will find a representative to lobby Congress for lower taxes on domestic energy derived from oil wells, for example. Now in a manner of speaking, lower taxes on anything can be a good thing. However in this case, the public interest group private lobby group has a focused goal, increase profits and provide an incentive to drill for more domestic oil.

Since whatever may be accomplished by lower taxes on domestic oil, which may be increased employment in the industry and perhaps lower prices on domestic oil, the same benefit can be accomplished by lower taxes on propane gas. (it is recognized that both oil & propane gas can be produced in "energy companies" )

Thus the public interest group i.e. the petroleum lobby is different from other public interest groups who also may lobby Congress. This type of public interest group lobbies not for the purpose of the petroleum, but for a policy geared to help the general public.

Example here is lobbying for adding more Federal land to protected Natural Resources such as trees & wildlife. In this example the goal is for the general public so that Federal parks are increased and wildlife preserved. Yes Forest rangers will like this but the main purpose is not to increase the number of forest rangers...

So presented here are two different types of public interest groups.