South Carolina laws aren’t written in your local legislator’s garage. They’re drafted in polished offices, funded by deep pockets, and steered by think tanks, organizations you didn’t elect.
These organizations aren’t elected or transparent, and yet they shape the laws we live under. The more you learn about their role, the more you realize most legislators are less like authors and more like couriers delivering someone else’s agenda.
Let’s take a closer look.
What is a think tank?
Answer - They call themselves nonpartisan policy experts. In reality, most think tanks are dressed-up advocacy machines, producing research tailored to whatever their donors want pushed through the legislature.
They publish white papers, build glossy websites, host forums with catered lunches and then package their solutions in ways that lawmakers barely have to think about. Corporations, law firms, global nonprofits, and activist networks fund them because it’s cheaper and cleaner than lobbying outright.
What’s the real role of think tanks in South Carolina?
Answer: Think tanks churn out research that turns into bills, but their funding reveals their bias. Bankrolled by deep-pocketed groups, their policies serve private interests, not the average South Carolinian. When a think tank pushes a policy, ask who benefits; rarely is it the public.
Are think tanks encouraging responsible legislating?
Answer - Responsible legislating requires careful thought, honest debate, and a deep understanding of the issues. It should be difficult and complex, anchored in the Constitution, and crafted to protect the rights of all people, including the few. Truthfully, legislation should lean more toward repealing laws than adding new ones. But that’s not what happens when think tanks step in. They strip the responsibility out of legislating, handing legislators pre-packaged policy papers and talking points, all biased to serve the think tank’s agenda.
Do think tanks help protect the rights of South Carolinians?
Answer - Think tanks don’t exist to protect your rights. They exist to influence policy. That’s not the same thing.
Some may argue their work supports liberty, free markets, or constitutional principles. But that’s a marketing pitch. Their real function is to shape the agenda quietly, strategically, and often with funding from interests that don’t live under the laws they help write.
They don’t answer to voters.
Do think tanks engage in lobbying activities?
Answer - Technically, think tanks may not be classified as traditional lobbyists, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t lobbying in practice. Just take a trip to the South Carolina Statehouse during session. Look around, and you’ll see think tank representatives lingering in the halls, waiting to take your legislator out to a nice dinner or invite them to a luxurious, all-you-can-eat-and-drink event where they’ll be handed an award for being the best legislator of the year. These social gatherings are calculated opportunities to influence lawmakers in a more informal setting, where policy discussions flow as freely as the wine.
This is where the lines between lobbying and “education” blur. While think tanks may not hand over cash, they invest in relationships. These relationships lead lawmakers to champion the policies the think tanks have crafted without reading the entire policy.
Are think tanks a Revolving Door for Legislators?
Answer - Absolutely, and this revolving door is one of the most concerning aspects of think tank influence. It’s not uncommon for legislators to leave public office only to resurface in a think tank, where they continue to push for the same policies they once advocated for in the legislature. Conversely, individuals from think tanks often find their way into government positions, bringing with them the agendas of the organizations they once worked for.
This revolving door creates a tight-knit relationship between think tanks and the legislative process. This cycle only reinforces think tanks’ influence over our laws, often to the detriment of genuine public interest.
How do think tanks bias the legislative process?
Answer - think tanks don’t stop at providing research; they take it a step further by crafting what amounts to a slick marketing campaign, complete with cheat sheets for legislators, condensed summaries, talking points, and even full speeches. These tools make it easy for lawmakers to push the think tank’s preferred policies without fully engaging with the details.
Here’s where the real problems start. First, these cheat sheets aren’t neutral. Worse, they encourage legislators to skip reading the bills they’re voting on. If that doesn’t raise red flags, try asking them about specific details in a bill they supported. More often than not, they’ll have no idea, promise to get back to you, or direct you to the think tank itself. These cheat sheets are carefully designed to reflect the think tank’s agenda, turning legislators into mouthpieces rather than independent decision-makers who represent you to protect your rights. This undermines the integrity of the legislative process and calls into question whether our elected officials represent the people or just echo the interests of a select few powerful groups.
It’s time to reevaluate the influence of think tanks.
It’s undeniable that think tanks hold significant sway over South Carolina’s legislation, but the nature of that influence is anything but benign. Supported by influential donors, these organizations champion their funders’ objectives over the individual liberties and constitutional protections belonging to the people. By pushing slanted policy papers, handing out ready-made talking points, and cozying up to lawmakers through strategic relationships, they make it easy to pass laws that serve those more interested in filling their wallets and egos than protecting personal rights.
South Carolinians deserve a legislative process that is transparent, balanced, and focused on protecting their rights. It’s time to take a closer look at how think tanks shape our laws and ask whether their influence is truly in the public’s best interest. After all, if our laws are being written by organizations that answer to special interests, we have to wonder, who is really looking out for us?
Learn More
To dive deeper into how think tanks wield significant influence over policy, take a look at Berletic’s article and companion YouTube video, both titled “Who Really Controls US Foreign Policy?” While his focus is on foreign policy, the same holds true for U.S. domestic policy.
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