Pretty much
Is that a yes or no?
Is that a yes or no?
Yes, it is a yes or no.
The extent to which the reports and publications of the CFR influence law, politics, and government policies could be debatable. If it doesn't have any influence, then I guess membership doesn't much matter; If it does have any influence then I sure hope that conservatives are taking part in the discussion, debate, and report generation so that conservative ideas are part of that influence.
As another poster -- who has professed on this thread to be a former member -- has stated, it is a essentially debate society. As with any debate society or think tank, its output may have some influence with various officials and thus may influence law, policies, etc. On the other hand, that influence could simply be to the extent that the output agrees with the existing position of said officials. As an organization, the CFR has no authority and no power to influence or change anything in regards to law, politics, government policies, etc. However, the extent to which you accept this information might depend on your own preconceived ideas about what the CFR is and is not.
“”So the CFR just basically sits around and debates, with nothing ever changing, with no power, or influence to change anything in regards to law, politics, government policies etc?
Pretty much
Is that a yes or no?””
They occasionally have some influence, depending on the quality of the reports they put out, and the willingness of people in positions of real authority to heed what they say. Let’s say they are a provider of advice, you can either take that advice, or not take it, it’s up to you.
As far as any real, legal, authority in terms of law or any kind of binding actions. Nope. They don’t. Some members might be in positions of power that DO have influence, so in theory they could be swayed by a position paper or some such, but the CFR is not the “Decider”
Given that every SecDef has been a member, since it was founded, at a minimum (there are other cabinet post which have likewise been filled exclusively by CFR members, or members of spinoff groups), I'd say they have/have had a heck of a lot of power and influence over law, politics, and govermnet policies over the last several decades. Much more than could be considered healthy by anyone with a modicum of brain cells...
the infowarrior