It's easy to blame politicians for the gridlock that has enveloped the Capitol and brought California to the edge of insolvency. As elected officers, they undoubtedly deserve the brunt of the public's scorn.

But behind the governor and each state lawmaker is an interest group – actually, scores of interest groups. These include unions, business groups, environmentalists, doctors, anti-tax activists, advocates for the poor and advocates for all kinds of causes.

For more than a decade, the clout of these interest groups has complicated the task of balancing California's spending with tax revenues. The strongest interest groups have effective veto power over any attempt to eliminate a pet program or raise revenues. During good times, they are adept at growing another branch on the cash tree of the state budget. During bad times, they are equally adept at guarding those branches.

All these interest groups have assembled campaign war chests that they use to reward friends, punish enemies or finance ballot initiatives to go around the legislative process. The revolving door spins constantly between the Capitol and the office suites of these lobbying associations. At times, it is hard to know who is working for whom – "Oh, you are with the Governor's Office now?" – and which group is in alliance with another.

The draconian term limits that voters approved in 1990 have only served to increase the influence of special interests, especially in the Assembly. With only six years before they are termed out, the power of the speaker is diminished, and lawmakers become increasingly reliant on lobbyists to write bills.

Interest group politics is an inevitable part of democracy. No one would suggest that coalitions of citizens – the very definition of "interest groups" – should be denied their right to lobby elected leaders. But what is clear from California's chronic budget crises is that the public has little knowledge of these interest groups, their leaders, their history and their methods of operation. And until more sunshine is cast on these groups that work in the shadows, it's unlikely that elected leaders will be brave enough to stand up to them and act in the state's best interests.

Over the next few days, we will be exploring some of the most powerful coalitions and groups that are influencing – and blocking resolution of – the state's $40 billion budget crisis. Although none of these groups is individually responsible for creating California's fiscal mess, collectively they are enforcing an intransigence that is leading the state to ruin.

So what can you do? As you read these editorials, we'd urge you to think about your role as a member of an interest group. Many, perhaps even most, Californians belong to an association or coalition of some kind.

If you a business owner, it is likely you belong to the Chamber of Commerce or some other business association. If you are a teacher or some other public employee, you likely are a member of a union that is lobbying this week in the halls of the Capitol.

Here are some questions you should ask yourself: Are the leaders of my association or union acting in the state's interest? Are they even acting in my interest? If I'm a supplier who contracts with the state, do I want a budget resolution delayed so my business coalition can press Democrats to waive environmental reviews of highway projects? If I'm a state worker, do I want my union leadership to reject any proposal for monthly furloughs if it leads to mass layoffs?

To this end, we have set up a special online forum – www.sacbee/forums – where Californians can discuss what kind of sacrifices they'd be willing to make to move the state beyond the present stalemate and prevent it from running out of money.

We urge you to use this forum not to deflect responsibility or to assign blame, but to send a message to lawmakers and the interest groups that influence them. They need to know what should be obvious by now – that only through shared sacrifice can a problem of this magnitude be solved.

In these circumstances, the best chance for change lies not with the governor or lawmakers and their special-interest masters inside the oxygen-deprived confines of the Capitol. The best chance lies with ordinary Californians.

Coming Monday The state's business interests undercut the governor they helped to elect.