¶ … Erin Brockovich

Perhaps the most potent source of negative power in the film "Erin Brockovich" (2000) is not the sheer power of money itself, but the power of the 'big lie.' Because no one can believe that the government and a major California power company would or could ignore the deadly health consequences of polluting water with toxins, the company is allowed to continue its noxious and toxic practices. People do not connect the dots between the health problems suffered by the community and the actions of the industry. The presumption that government will uphold its protective function for its citizens and ignore powerful lobbying groups psychologically conceals the damage better than even good public relations or 'spin.'

As noted by Lowery, & Brasher (2004), organized interest groups have a great deal of invisible influence upon the policies of the American government. Interest groups are not democratically elected, but they influence democratically elected politicians. They often speak for fictional persons like corporations, not for real, human individuals. Of course, some might argue that the logical 'answer' is for a 'little person' like Erin Brockovich to join such an interest group and to do her own lobbying. Unfortunately, as noted by Thomas Dye (2002), the relative power of interest groups in Washington D.C. is not determined by the sheer numbers of the members, but upon the social makeup of the interest group. Interest groups made up of the elite members of society, with the 'right' education and professional connections have more influence with more powerful politicians.

One of the most transgressive aspects of Erin's persona is that she is not from the right social class, does not have a law degree, and is a single mother. Through shining a light on the largely ignored health concerns of powerless people like the heartbreaking, sickened family she visits in a trailer, she also exposes how unknown and politically unaccountable interest groups have a profound influence in hampering the traditional responsibilities of elected officials to protect their constituents.

Works Cited

Erin Brockovich." (2000). Starring Julia Roberts.

Dye, T.R. (2002). Who's running America? The Bush restoration. (7th Ed.).

Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Lowery, D. & Brasher, H. (2004). Organized interests and American government.

New York: McGraw Hill.