Who decides what will be decided? The power to decide what will be a policy issue is crucial to the policy making process. Deciding what will be the problems is even more important than deciding what will be the solutions. Many civics textbooks imply that agenda setting just "happens." It is sometimes argued that in an open plural society such as ours, channels of access and communication to government are always open, so that any problem can be discussed and placed on the agenda of national decision making. Individuals and groups, it is said, can organize themselves to assume the tasks of defining problem and suggesting solutions. People can define their own interests, organize themselves, persuade others to support their cause, gain access to government officials,influence decision making, and watch over the implementation of government policies and programs. Indeed, it is sometimes argued that the absence of political activity such as this is an indicator of satisfaction. But, in reality, policy issues do not just "happen." Creating as issue, dramatizing it, calling attention to it, and pressuring government to do something about it are important political tactics. These tactics are employed by influential individuals, organized interest groups, policy-planning organizations, political