By establishing this relationship, interest groups indirectly help executive agencies obtain their funds, and in return the interest groups obtain favorable regulations and contracts from these agencies. (429) Although some critics argue that interest groups can lead to corruption, as in the case of Jack Abramoff (438), demosclerosis that slows the functions of government (439), and inequality that tilts democracy in favor of the rich and of the powerful since they are the ones who can afford lobbying services (440), I believe that interest groups are positive for democracy. We define democracy as a government in which the people govern and make decisions for themselves and, through interest groups, the people are given the opportunity to be better represented and to be actively involved in the decision-making process. Interest groups represent people, especially minorities, are likely to broaden the range of perspectives heard by government officials, facilitate two-way communication between people and government by conveying citizens' opinions to government officials and providing information about government activities to people, they encourage