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Cato Scholar Comments on Fred Thompson and Ronald Reagan

Friday 07 September 2007

Chris Edwards, director of tax policy studies:

The New York Times is right that Fred Thompson's strong support of federalism makes him an intellectual heir of Ronald Reagan. Central to Reagan's campaign for president was his belief that the federal government was too big and that there should be an "orderly transfer" of federal activities back to the states and the people.

Kudos to Thompson for injecting federalism back into public discussion. Thompson is right that federalism "is a tool to promote freedom."

All the Republican candidates should do less griping about "pork" spending, and put their efforts into plans for abolishing major agencies and reviving the federalist structure of American government.

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