http://feeds.cato.org/CatoEventPodcasts http://www.cato.org/realaudio/audiopages.html Event Podcast from the Cato Institute webmaster@cato.org (Cato Webmaster) en-us Copyright 2007, Cato Institute, All Rights Reserved Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST Podcast of policy and book forums, Capitol Hill briefings and other events from the Cato Institute Individual Liberty, Limited Government, Free Markets, and Peace The Cato Institute Cato,Institute,Events,Policy,Forums,Book,Forums,Conferences,Capitol,Hill,Briefings http://www.cato.org/images/subscriptions/catologo_podcast_100x100.jpg http://www.cato.org/realaudio/audiopages.html Cato Logo 100 100 webmaster@cato.org Cato no http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5657 President-elect Obama and other politicians are urging a massive expansion in government spending, ostensibly to help the economy recover. This Keynesian endeavor is supposed to boost growth by "priming the pump" by means of circulating extra money through the economy. Yet the notion that bigger government leads to more growth is theoretically suspect: any money that the government "injects" into the economy with new spending (or tax rebates) must first be borrowed and diverted from private use. The economic pie gets sliced differently, but it is not any bigger. The real-world evidence is similarly unfavorable to Keynesianism. Huge increases in government spending under both Hoover and Roosevelt did not help the economy during the 1930s, and more recent Keynesian initiatives—Gerald Ford's rebates in the mid-1970s, Japan's stimulus efforts in the 1990s, and President Bush's rebates in 2001 and 2008—do not seem to have generated positive results. Please join Dan Mitchell of the Cato Institute and Steve Entin of the Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation to review the theoretical arguments and empirical evidence regarding economic stimulus proposals. Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hba-12-18-08.mp3 Featuring [Daniel J. Mitchell], Senior Fellow, Cato Institute; and [Stephen J. Entin], President and Executive Director, Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation; ... President-elect Obama and other politicians are urging a massive expansion in government spending, ostensibly to help the economy recover. This Keynesian endeavor is supposed to boost growth by "priming the pump" by means of circulating extra money through the economy. Yet the notion that bigger government leads to more growth is theoretically suspect: any money that the government "injects" into the economy with new spending (or tax rebates) must first be borrowed and diverted from private use. The economic pie gets sliced differently, but it is not any bigger. The real-world evidence is similarly unfavorable to Keynesianism. Huge increases in government spending under both Hoover and Roosevelt did not help the economy during the 1930s, and more recent Keynesian initiatives—Gerald Ford's rebates in the mid-1970s, Japan's stimulus efforts in the 1990s, and President Bush's rebates in 2001 and 2008—do not seem to have generated positive results. Please join Dan Mitchell of the Cato Institute and Steve Entin of the Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation to review the theoretical arguments and empirical evidence regarding economic stimulus proposals. 01:00:35 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5609 President-elect Obama rode to victory on a promise of change. But how is he likely to change U.S. national security policy, and will these changes make us more or less secure? Will Obama embrace a different counterterrorism strategy than his predecessor, and how quickly will he remove U.S. forces from Iraq? Is his planned expansion of the Army and Marine Corps a good idea? What other changes in military spending is Obama likely to support? And should the United States continue being the world's policeman, or can we shed some burdens without reducing our security? Please join Cato scholars Christopher Preble and Benjamin Friedman to discuss how current policies fall short and how an alternative strategy of restraint can advance U.S. security at more reasonable costs. Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hba-12-17-08.mp3 Featuring [Christopher Preble],Director of Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute; and [Benjamin Friedman], Research Fellow in Defense and Homeland Security Studies, Cato Institute;... President-elect Obama rode to victory on a promise of change. But how is he likely to change U.S. national security policy, and will these changes make us more or less secure? Will Obama embrace a different counterterrorism strategy than his predecessor, and how quickly will he remove U.S. forces from Iraq? Is his planned expansion of the Army and Marine Corps a good idea? What other changes in military spending is Obama likely to support? And should the United States continue being the world's policeman, or can we shed some burdens without reducing our security? Please join Cato scholars Christopher Preble and Benjamin Friedman to discuss how current policies fall short and how an alternative strategy of restraint can advance U.S. security at more reasonable costs. 00:58:42 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5583 Seven years after the invasion of Afghanistan, coalition troops are no closer to winning the war against the Taliban. With security getting worse and a violent insurgency raging in western Pakistan, can the "war on terror’s" central front be won? Will a heavier combat presence, endorsed by President-elect Barack Obama, provide a solution or contribute to the widening problem? Please join us for an in-depth discussion on this critical and turbulent region, and what the next administration can do to save this deteriorating mission. Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-12-11-08.mp3 Featuring The Honorable [Said T. Jawad], Ambassador of Afghanistan to the United States; [Akbar Ahmed], Professor of Islamic Studies at American University; [Caroline Wadhams], Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for American Progress; [Ted Gal... Seven years after the invasion of Afghanistan, coalition troops are no closer to winning the war against the Taliban. With security getting worse and a violent insurgency raging in western Pakistan, can the "war on terror’s" central front be won? Will a heavier combat presence, endorsed by President-elect Barack Obama, provide a solution or contribute to the widening problem? Please join us for an in-depth discussion on this critical and turbulent region, and what the next administration can do to save this deteriorating mission. 01:36:24 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5475 For all the change information technology has brought to society, the government sector lags behind in part because access to good data is lacking. A stable of private, non-profit, and volunteer efforts promise revolutionary change once they can access standardized, structured, and open government data. President-Elect Barack Obama made transparency a signature issue in the Senate, and talk of a "chief technology officer" in his administration often turns to whether that role might be as much a "chief transparency officer" What are the possibilities for open government data? What are the needs of the data user community? And what are the impediments to getting the data out there so that revolutionary change can get underway Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-12-10-08.mp3 Featuring [Ed Felten], Professor of Computer Science and Public Affairs and Director of the Center for Information Technology Policy, Princeton University; [Gary D. Bass], Founder and Executive Director, OMB Watch; [Jerry Brito], Senior Researc... For all the change information technology has brought to society, the government sector lags behind in part because access to good data is lacking. A stable of private, non-profit, and volunteer efforts promise revolutionary change once they can access standardized, structured, and open government data. President-Elect Barack Obama made transparency a signature issue in the Senate, and talk of a "chief technology officer" in his administration often turns to whether that role might be as much a "chief transparency officer" What are the possibilities for open government data? What are the needs of the data user community? And what are the impediments to getting the data out there so that revolutionary change can get underway 01:30:41 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5575 Americans spend far more per capita than other nations on medical care. Defenders of America's health sector, such as Rudy Giuliani, claim it delivers superior health outcomes, such as longer cancer survival rates. Detractors claim that other nations systems' deliver equal or better health outcomes such as longer life expectancy and better infant mortality rates. Who is correct? Our speakers will look at what the evidence says about different health care sectors’ contributions to population health, and the implications for health care reform. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-12-05-08-1.mp3 Featuring [Glen Whitman], Associate Professor of Economics, California State University-Northridge; [Ezra Klein], Associate editor, The American Prospect; Moderator [Michael F. Cannon], Cato Institute ... Americans spend far more per capita than other nations on medical care. Defenders of America's health sector, such as Rudy Giuliani, claim it delivers superior health outcomes, such as longer cancer survival rates. Detractors claim that other nations systems' deliver equal or better health outcomes such as longer life expectancy and better infant mortality rates. Who is correct? Our speakers will look at what the evidence says about different health care sectors’ contributions to population health, and the implications for health care reform. 01:11:27 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5256 On December 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, thus ending our nation’s failed experiment with Prohibition. Organized crime flourished during Prohibition, but what were the other effects of the national ban on alcohol? How and why was it repealed? Please join the Cato Institute for a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition and a discussion of its legacy and continuing impact on America. Drinks will be served following the discussion. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-12-05-08-2.mp3 Featuring [Michael Lerner], author of Dry Manhattan: Prohibition in New York City; [Glen Whitman], author of Strange Brew: Alcohol and Government Monopoly; [Asheesh Agarwal], Former Assistant Director of the Federal Trade Commission's Office of ... On December 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, thus ending our nation’s failed experiment with Prohibition. Organized crime flourished during Prohibition, but what were the other effects of the national ban on alcohol? How and why was it repealed? Please join the Cato Institute for a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition and a discussion of its legacy and continuing impact on America. Drinks will be served following the discussion. 01:53:49 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5539 Purchase at Amazon George Will writes in Newsweek, "Improbable as it might seem, perhaps the most important fact for a voter or politician to know is: No one can make a pencil. That truth is the essence of a novella that is, remarkably, both didactic and romantic. Even more remarkable, its author is an economist. If you read Russell Roberts's The Price of Everything: A Parable of Possibility and Prosperity, you will see the world afresh-unless you already understand Friedrich Hayek's idea of spontaneous order. Roberts sets his story in the Bay Area, where some Stanford students are indignant because a Big Box store doubled its prices after an earthquake. A student leader plans to protest Stanford's acceptance of a large gift from Big Box. The student's economics professor, Ruth, rather than attempting to dissuade him, begins leading him and his classmates to an understanding of prices, markets and the marvel of social cooperation." Roberts will discuss his novel way of teaching economics at a Cato Book Forum, with comments by Nick Gillespie, a literature Ph.D. who is surely the only journalist to have interviewed both Ozzy Osbourne and the 2002 Nobel laureate in economics, Vernon Smith. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-12-01-08.mp3 Featuring the author [Russell Roberts], Professor of Economics, George Mason University; with comments by [Nick Gillespie], Editor, Reason.tv and Reason.com ... Purchase at Amazon George Will writes in Newsweek, "Improbable as it might seem, perhaps the most important fact for a voter or politician to know is: No one can make a pencil. That truth is the essence of a novella that is, remarkably, both didactic and romantic. Even more remarkable, its author is an economist. If you read Russell Roberts's The Price of Everything: A Parable of Possibility and Prosperity, you will see the world afresh-unless you already understand Friedrich Hayek's idea of spontaneous order. Roberts sets his story in the Bay Area, where some Stanford students are indignant because a Big Box store doubled its prices after an earthquake. A student leader plans to protest Stanford's acceptance of a large gift from Big Box. The student's economics professor, Ruth, rather than attempting to dissuade him, begins leading him and his classmates to an understanding of prices, markets and the marvel of social cooperation." Roberts will discuss his novel way of teaching economics at a Cato Book Forum, with comments by Nick Gillespie, a literature Ph.D. who is surely the only journalist to have interviewed both Ozzy Osbourne and the 2002 Nobel laureate in economics, Vernon Smith. 01:14:30 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5328 Purchase at Catostore Economic freedom around the world continues to increase, though there are notable cases of decline, including the United States. James Gwartney and Robert Lawson will discuss those cases, describe trends in economic reform and present new findings on the effect of economic freedom and global poverty reduction. Simeon Djankov will explain how eliminating regulatory bureaucracy is impacting growth in developing countries. He will present new research on the political and other characteristics of countries most likely to reform. Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-11-24-08-1.mp3 Featuring [James Gwartney], and [Robert Lawson], Coauthors of, Economic Freedom of the World:2008 Annual Report (Fraser Institute and Cato Institute, 2008); with [Simeon Djankov], Creator, "Doing Business" (World Bank, 2008); moderated by [Ian V... Purchase at Catostore Economic freedom around the world continues to increase, though there are notable cases of decline, including the United States. James Gwartney and Robert Lawson will discuss those cases, describe trends in economic reform and present new findings on the effect of economic freedom and global poverty reduction. Simeon Djankov will explain how eliminating regulatory bureaucracy is impacting growth in developing countries. He will present new research on the political and other characteristics of countries most likely to reform. 01:19:08 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5333 Purchase at Amazon Last June, the Supreme Court had its first opportunity in seven decades to address one of America's most impassioned constitutional debates: Does the right to possess firearms, as stated in the Second Amendment, apply to individuals? Yes, the Court ruled, it does. And, with that decision, the District of Columbia's handgun ban-one of the most controversial in the nation-was ended. In Gun Control on Trial, journalist Brian Doherty tells the full story behind the landmark District of Columbia v. Heller ruling. With exclusive, behind-the-scenes access throughout the case, Doherty's new book takes readers on a remarkable journey-through the legal, scientific, and historical debates; the political battles; and the myths about gun control that have become widespread. How is the District's new registration process working? How will the Heller precedent impact the firearm regulations in other American cities? Join us for a discussion of the Heller case and its impact. Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-11-24-08-2.mp3 Featuring the author, [Brian Doherty], Senior Editor, Reason Magazine, with comments by [Christopher Rhee], Partner, Arnold & Porter. Moderated by [Tim Lynch], Director, Project on Criminal Justice, Cato Institute ... Purchase at Amazon Last June, the Supreme Court had its first opportunity in seven decades to address one of America's most impassioned constitutional debates: Does the right to possess firearms, as stated in the Second Amendment, apply to individuals? Yes, the Court ruled, it does. And, with that decision, the District of Columbia's handgun ban-one of the most controversial in the nation-was ended. In Gun Control on Trial, journalist Brian Doherty tells the full story behind the landmark District of Columbia v. Heller ruling. With exclusive, behind-the-scenes access throughout the case, Doherty's new book takes readers on a remarkable journey-through the legal, scientific, and historical debates; the political battles; and the myths about gun control that have become widespread. How is the District's new registration process working? How will the Heller precedent impact the firearm regulations in other American cities? Join us for a discussion of the Heller case and its impact. 01:10:55 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4468 Cato’s 26th Annual Monetary Conference will provide an in-depth treatment of the [Lessons from the Subprime Crisis], which some view as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Leading experts will discuss the underlying causes of the loss of confidence, particularly the policies that contributed to the subprime crisis and the reforms needed to avoid future turmoil in financial markets. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cca-11-19-08-1.mp3 ... Cato’s 26th Annual Monetary Conference will provide an in-depth treatment of the [Lessons from the Subprime Crisis], which some view as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Leading experts will discuss the underlying causes of the loss of confidence, particularly the policies that contributed to the subprime crisis and the reforms needed to avoid future turmoil in financial markets. 00:55:46 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4468 Cato’s 26th Annual Monetary Conference will provide an in-depth treatment of the [Lessons from the Subprime Crisis], which some view as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Leading experts will discuss the underlying causes of the loss of confidence, particularly the policies that contributed to the subprime crisis and the reforms needed to avoid future turmoil in financial markets. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cca-11-19-08-2.mp3 ... Cato’s 26th Annual Monetary Conference will provide an in-depth treatment of the [Lessons from the Subprime Crisis], which some view as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Leading experts will discuss the underlying causes of the loss of confidence, particularly the policies that contributed to the subprime crisis and the reforms needed to avoid future turmoil in financial markets. 00:01:14 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4468 Cato’s 26th Annual Monetary Conference will provide an in-depth treatment of the [Lessons from the Subprime Crisis], which some view as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Leading experts will discuss the underlying causes of the loss of confidence, particularly the policies that contributed to the subprime crisis and the reforms needed to avoid future turmoil in financial markets. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cca-11-19-08-3.mp3 ... Cato’s 26th Annual Monetary Conference will provide an in-depth treatment of the [Lessons from the Subprime Crisis], which some view as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Leading experts will discuss the underlying causes of the loss of confidence, particularly the policies that contributed to the subprime crisis and the reforms needed to avoid future turmoil in financial markets. 01:12:02 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4468 Cato’s 26th Annual Monetary Conference will provide an in-depth treatment of the [Lessons from the Subprime Crisis], which some view as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Leading experts will discuss the underlying causes of the loss of confidence, particularly the policies that contributed to the subprime crisis and the reforms needed to avoid future turmoil in financial markets. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cca-11-19-08-4.mp3 ... Cato’s 26th Annual Monetary Conference will provide an in-depth treatment of the [Lessons from the Subprime Crisis], which some view as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Leading experts will discuss the underlying causes of the loss of confidence, particularly the policies that contributed to the subprime crisis and the reforms needed to avoid future turmoil in financial markets. 00:38:44 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4468 Cato’s 26th Annual Monetary Conference will provide an in-depth treatment of the [Lessons from the Subprime Crisis], which some view as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Leading experts will discuss the underlying causes of the loss of confidence, particularly the policies that contributed to the subprime crisis and the reforms needed to avoid future turmoil in financial markets. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cca-11-19-08-5.mp3 ... Cato’s 26th Annual Monetary Conference will provide an in-depth treatment of the [Lessons from the Subprime Crisis], which some view as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Leading experts will discuss the underlying causes of the loss of confidence, particularly the policies that contributed to the subprime crisis and the reforms needed to avoid future turmoil in financial markets. 01:13:25 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4468 Cato’s 26th Annual Monetary Conference will provide an in-depth treatment of the [Lessons from the Subprime Crisis], which some view as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Leading experts will discuss the underlying causes of the loss of confidence, particularly the policies that contributed to the subprime crisis and the reforms needed to avoid future turmoil in financial markets. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cca-11-19-08-6.mp3 ... Cato’s 26th Annual Monetary Conference will provide an in-depth treatment of the [Lessons from the Subprime Crisis], which some view as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Leading experts will discuss the underlying causes of the loss of confidence, particularly the policies that contributed to the subprime crisis and the reforms needed to avoid future turmoil in financial markets. 01:14:09 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5348 Purchase at Amazon David Friedman, author of such books as The Machinery of Freedom and Hidden Order: The Economics of Everyday Life, now looks at a variety of technological revolutions that might happen over the next few decades, their implications, and how to deal with them. Topics range from encryption and surveillance through biotechnology and nanotechnology to life extension, mind drugs, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. One theme of the book is that the future is radically uncertain. Technological changes already begun could lead to more or less privacy than we have ever known, freedom or slavery, effective immortality or the elimination of our species, and radical changes in life, marriage, law, medicine, work, and play. “If it can be done, it will be done,” David Friedman has said. “So the interesting thing to me is not what should you stop but how do you adapt.” We do not know which future will arrive, but it is unlikely to be much like the past. It is worth starting to think about it now. Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-11-06-08.mp3 Featuring the author, [David D. Friedman], Professor of Law, Santa Clara University.... Purchase at Amazon David Friedman, author of such books as The Machinery of Freedom and Hidden Order: The Economics of Everyday Life, now looks at a variety of technological revolutions that might happen over the next few decades, their implications, and how to deal with them. Topics range from encryption and surveillance through biotechnology and nanotechnology to life extension, mind drugs, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. One theme of the book is that the future is radically uncertain. Technological changes already begun could lead to more or less privacy than we have ever known, freedom or slavery, effective immortality or the elimination of our species, and radical changes in life, marriage, law, medicine, work, and play. “If it can be done, it will be done,” David Friedman has said. “So the interesting thing to me is not what should you stop but how do you adapt.” We do not know which future will arrive, but it is unlikely to be much like the past. It is worth starting to think about it now. 00:00:00 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5362 Purchase at Amazon Though it is commonly believed that intellectual property law in the form of copyright and patent is necessary for innovation and the creation of ideas and inventions such as machines, drugs, computer software, books, music, literature and movies, Michele Boldrin and coauthor David K. Levine argue that intellectual property laws are costly and dangerous government grants of private monopoly over ideas. Their book seeks to show through theory and example that "intellectual monopoly" is not necessary for innovation and is damaging to growth, prosperity, and liberty. The argument that intellectual property laws actually retard progress is a fascinating challenge to conventional beliefs about their foundations and utility. At the onset of the Information Age, the role of copyright, patent, and other legal regimes in the progress of science and arts is centrally important. Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-11-10-08.mp3 Featuring the coauthor [Michele Boldrin], The Joseph G. Hoyt Distinguished Professor of Economics, Washington University in St. Louis; with comments by [Robert D. Atkinson, Ph.D.], Founder and president, Information Technology and Innovati... Purchase at Amazon Though it is commonly believed that intellectual property law in the form of copyright and patent is necessary for innovation and the creation of ideas and inventions such as machines, drugs, computer software, books, music, literature and movies, Michele Boldrin and coauthor David K. Levine argue that intellectual property laws are costly and dangerous government grants of private monopoly over ideas. Their book seeks to show through theory and example that "intellectual monopoly" is not necessary for innovation and is damaging to growth, prosperity, and liberty. The argument that intellectual property laws actually retard progress is a fascinating challenge to conventional beliefs about their foundations and utility. At the onset of the Information Age, the role of copyright, patent, and other legal regimes in the progress of science and arts is centrally important. 01:22:35 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5379 Africa is more democratic than ever before and elections more frequent, but poll results are often predetermined and much of the region remains in the hands of autocratic governments. How free are Africans in countries that have seen some degree of political or economic liberalization? Tony Leon, a longtime member and opposition leader in the South African Parliament who criticized first the National Party apartheid government and then the African National Congress government, will assess African states’ progress on the road to political, economic, and civil liberty. Ugandan journalist and political activist Andrew Mwenda will discuss ways in which Africans are fighting for their freedoms. Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-10-21-08.mp3 [Tony Leon] Former Leader of the Opposition, South African Parliament, Visiting Fellow, Cato Institute; [Andrew Mwenda] Managing Director, The Independent, Uganda; moderator [Marian Tupy] Policy Analyst, Cato Institute ... Africa is more democratic than ever before and elections more frequent, but poll results are often predetermined and much of the region remains in the hands of autocratic governments. How free are Africans in countries that have seen some degree of political or economic liberalization? Tony Leon, a longtime member and opposition leader in the South African Parliament who criticized first the National Party apartheid government and then the African National Congress government, will assess African states’ progress on the road to political, economic, and civil liberty. Ugandan journalist and political activist Andrew Mwenda will discuss ways in which Africans are fighting for their freedoms. 01:22:09 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5294 Purchase at Amazon One message is delivered relentlessly in American education: Everyone should go to college. And then there’s Charles Murray’s message: Few people either need, or are able to handle, the rigorous liberal-arts training that college is supposed to provide. But this isn’t a death sentence for those who are not academically inclined. Opportunities to enter well-paying professions and lead good lives abound for these people, and the sooner that’s recognized, the sooner everyone can get the education they need. Christopher B. Nelson, whose “great books” college provides the sort of liberal arts education Murray believes is beyond most people’s reach, will respond. Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-10-08-08.mp3 Featuring the author, [Charles Murray], W.H. Brady Scholar, American Enterprise Institute; with comments by [Christopher B. Nelson], President, St. John’s College. Moderated by [Neal McCluskey], Associate Director, Center for Educational Freedom... Purchase at Amazon One message is delivered relentlessly in American education: Everyone should go to college. And then there’s Charles Murray’s message: Few people either need, or are able to handle, the rigorous liberal-arts training that college is supposed to provide. But this isn’t a death sentence for those who are not academically inclined. Opportunities to enter well-paying professions and lead good lives abound for these people, and the sooner that’s recognized, the sooner everyone can get the education they need. Christopher B. Nelson, whose “great books” college provides the sort of liberal arts education Murray believes is beyond most people’s reach, will respond. 01:24:49 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5390 Afghanistan and Pakistan are inextricably linked by a spreading Islamic insurgency. Ambushes, daring militant offensives, and targeted assassinations have risen sharply in Afghanistan, while suicide attacks and "Talibanization" are sweeping through Pakistan's settled areas at an alarming rate. Can the U.S. win a decisive victory in the Afghanistan-Pakistan theater? Is there a viable exit strategy? Please join Cato scholars Malou Innocent, who recently spent several weeks in Pakistan assessing the region's deteriorating condition, and Ted Galen Carpenter to discuss Afghanistan's meltdown, Pakistan's worsening situation, and the future of U.S. policy in this turbulent and critical region. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hba-10-02-08.mp3 Featuring [Malou Innocent], Foreign Policy Analyst, Cato Institute and [Ted Galen Carpenter], Vice President for Defense and Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute.... Afghanistan and Pakistan are inextricably linked by a spreading Islamic insurgency. Ambushes, daring militant offensives, and targeted assassinations have risen sharply in Afghanistan, while suicide attacks and "Talibanization" are sweeping through Pakistan's settled areas at an alarming rate. Can the U.S. win a decisive victory in the Afghanistan-Pakistan theater? Is there a viable exit strategy? Please join Cato scholars Malou Innocent, who recently spent several weeks in Pakistan assessing the region's deteriorating condition, and Ted Galen Carpenter to discuss Afghanistan's meltdown, Pakistan's worsening situation, and the future of U.S. policy in this turbulent and critical region. 00:58:05 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5218 Purchase at Amazon For thousands of years, slavery went unchallenged in principle. Then in a single century, slavery was abolished and more than seven million slaves were freed throughout the Western hemisphere. The scope and speed of this transformation make it one of the most amazing feats in modern history. Greatest Emancipations tells this fascinating story, focusing on abolitionists in areas where slavery was most entrenched: Haiti, the British Caribbean, the United States, Cuba, and Brazil. In this lively book, Jim Powell concisely illuminates the beginnings of the abolitionist movement, then proceeds through the processes, the battles, the final victory of emancipation, and the incredible impact of its aftermath. Ultimately, Powell argues, the more violence was involved in the emancipation process, the worse the outcomes were, making a provocative case for peaceful antislavery struggles. Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-09-22-08.mp3 Featuring the author, [Jim Powell] Senior Fellow, Cato Institute, and author of The Triumph of Liberty, FDR's Folly, Wilson's War, and Bully Boy ... Purchase at Amazon For thousands of years, slavery went unchallenged in principle. Then in a single century, slavery was abolished and more than seven million slaves were freed throughout the Western hemisphere. The scope and speed of this transformation make it one of the most amazing feats in modern history. Greatest Emancipations tells this fascinating story, focusing on abolitionists in areas where slavery was most entrenched: Haiti, the British Caribbean, the United States, Cuba, and Brazil. In this lively book, Jim Powell concisely illuminates the beginnings of the abolitionist movement, then proceeds through the processes, the battles, the final victory of emancipation, and the incredible impact of its aftermath. Ultimately, Powell argues, the more violence was involved in the emancipation process, the worse the outcomes were, making a provocative case for peaceful antislavery struggles. 01:14:31 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5077 In his illuminating new book Red State, Blue State, Rich State, Poor State, Columbia political scientist and state-of-the-art number cruncher Andrew Gelman explodes persistent myths about American voting patterns just in time for the 2008 elections. Gelman, with co-authors David Park, Boris Shor, Joseph Bafumi, and Jeronimo Cortina, shows that rich states lean Democratic while rich individuals still lean Republican. The real culture war, he argues, is being waged between affluent Democrats and affluent Republicans, not between the haves and have-nots. Gelman explores how religion does and doesn't affect rich and poor voters and how the rich-poor voting divide differs in "red" and "blue" states. And what about all those "fiscally conservative, socially liberal" voters? Please join us for an eye-opening discussion of the changing face of the American electorate and its implications for the politics of tomorrow. Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-09-11-08.mp3 Featuring [Andrew Gelman], Professor of Statistics and Political Science, Columbia University, [Michael P. McDonald], Associate Professor of Public and International Affairs, George Mason University and Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Brookings Inst... In his illuminating new book Red State, Blue State, Rich State, Poor State, Columbia political scientist and state-of-the-art number cruncher Andrew Gelman explodes persistent myths about American voting patterns just in time for the 2008 elections. Gelman, with co-authors David Park, Boris Shor, Joseph Bafumi, and Jeronimo Cortina, shows that rich states lean Democratic while rich individuals still lean Republican. The real culture war, he argues, is being waged between affluent Democrats and affluent Republicans, not between the haves and have-nots. Gelman explores how religion does and doesn't affect rich and poor voters and how the rich-poor voting divide differs in "red" and "blue" states. And what about all those "fiscally conservative, socially liberal" voters? Please join us for an eye-opening discussion of the changing face of the American electorate and its implications for the politics of tomorrow. 01:18:53 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5268 The Prince George’s County police department is under fire for a recent drug raid on the home of Berwyn Heights mayor Cheye Calvo. Unbeknownst to Calvo, a box containing marijuana was delivered to his home. Shortly thereafter, police officers kicked in the front door and shot both of Calvo’s pet Labrador retrievers. The police have subsequently cleared Calvo of any wrongdoing but are unapologetic about their raid tactics. Are no-knock, paramilitary raids an appropriate tactic for drug investigations? Or do sudden, unannounced entries bring unnecessary violence to police investigations? Join us for a discussion of the Prince George’s incident and, more broadly, the militarization of police work in America. Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-09-11-08.mp3 Featuring [Cheye Calvo], Mayor, Berwyn Heights, Maryland, [Radley Balko], Senior Writer, Reason and author of Overkill: The Rise of Paramilitary Police Raids in America, [Peter Christ], Co-founder, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. Moderated ... The Prince George’s County police department is under fire for a recent drug raid on the home of Berwyn Heights mayor Cheye Calvo. Unbeknownst to Calvo, a box containing marijuana was delivered to his home. Shortly thereafter, police officers kicked in the front door and shot both of Calvo’s pet Labrador retrievers. The police have subsequently cleared Calvo of any wrongdoing but are unapologetic about their raid tactics. Are no-knock, paramilitary raids an appropriate tactic for drug investigations? Or do sudden, unannounced entries bring unnecessary violence to police investigations? Join us for a discussion of the Prince George’s incident and, more broadly, the militarization of police work in America. 01:20:04 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5303 Whenever gasoline prices are on the rise, so is the political interest in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the largest single stockpile of crude oil in the world. Some argue that part of its approximately 700 million barrels should be released into the market to help relieve high prices at the pump. Others argue that the Reserve should be carefully husbanded for use in a future crisis. Jerry Taylor, author of “The Case against the Strategic Petroleum Reserve,” questions the very need for the SPR and calls not for release, but for total liquidation. Economist Steve Hanke argues that, if we’re going to have an SPR, it should be reformed so that it can play a constructive role in crude oil markets. Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hba-09-12-08.mp3 Featuring [Jerry Taylor], Senior Fellow, Cato Institute, and [Steve H. Hanke], Senior Fellow, Cato Institute.... Whenever gasoline prices are on the rise, so is the political interest in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the largest single stockpile of crude oil in the world. Some argue that part of its approximately 700 million barrels should be released into the market to help relieve high prices at the pump. Others argue that the Reserve should be carefully husbanded for use in a future crisis. Jerry Taylor, author of “The Case against the Strategic Petroleum Reserve,” questions the very need for the SPR and calls not for release, but for total liquidation. Economist Steve Hanke argues that, if we’re going to have an SPR, it should be reformed so that it can play a constructive role in crude oil markets. 00:47:37 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5083 Released to great acclaim in May 2008, The Dirty Dozen: How Twelve Supreme Court Cases Radically Expanded Government and Eroded Freedom analyzes 12 U.S. Supreme Court decisions that, according to coauthors Robert Levy of the Cato Institute and William Mellor of the Institute for Justice, changed the course of American history away from constitutional government. In addition, The Dirty Dozen provides insights into the proper role of the Court and calls for judicial engagement to remedy these harmful decisions. The book has rapidly become the catalyst for an energetic, wide-reaching debate about the Supreme Court, generating an extensive range of opinions among legal professionals, concerned non-lawyers, and Court followers about the 12 cases, their impact, and the role of the Court. The Cato Institute and the American Constitution Society are pleased to provide a public platform for this important debate. Leading practitioners and academics from different perspectives will discuss the cases and the authors’ legal analyses. Please join us for what promises to be a dynamic event made even more significant by the historic Court decisions that have been handed down since the book’s publication only 2 months ago. Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-07-31-08.mp3 Featuring co-author [William Mellor], President and General Counsel, Institute for Justice; [Ilya Shapiro], Senior Fellow in Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute and Editor-in-Chief, Cato Supreme Court Review; [David Barron], Professor o... Released to great acclaim in May 2008, The Dirty Dozen: How Twelve Supreme Court Cases Radically Expanded Government and Eroded Freedom analyzes 12 U.S. Supreme Court decisions that, according to coauthors Robert Levy of the Cato Institute and William Mellor of the Institute for Justice, changed the course of American history away from constitutional government. In addition, The Dirty Dozen provides insights into the proper role of the Court and calls for judicial engagement to remedy these harmful decisions. The book has rapidly become the catalyst for an energetic, wide-reaching debate about the Supreme Court, generating an extensive range of opinions among legal professionals, concerned non-lawyers, and Court followers about the 12 cases, their impact, and the role of the Court. The Cato Institute and the American Constitution Society are pleased to provide a public platform for this important debate. Leading practitioners and academics from different perspectives will discuss the cases and the authors’ legal analyses. Please join us for what promises to be a dynamic event made even more significant by the historic Court decisions that have been handed down since the book’s publication only 2 months ago. 01:25:46 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5178 The southern African countries of Botswana and Zimbabwe are neighbors. Botswana is peaceful, stable, and increasingly prosperous. Zimbabwe, in contrast, is beset by political and economic crises. Their diverging fortunes are partly explained by their government’s attitudes to economic freedom: Botswana is one of Africa’s economically freest states, and Zimbabwe is among Africa’s least free countries. Please join Zimbabwean human rights activist Rejoice Ngwenya and Cato’s Africa analyst Marian Tupy to discuss Zimbabwe’s meltdown, Botswana’s ascent, and lessons for the rest of Africa. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hba-07-28-08.mp3 Featuring [Rejoice Ngwenya], Writer and head of the Zimbabwean Coalition for Market & Liberal Solutions, and [Marian Tupy], Cato Institute.... The southern African countries of Botswana and Zimbabwe are neighbors. Botswana is peaceful, stable, and increasingly prosperous. Zimbabwe, in contrast, is beset by political and economic crises. Their diverging fortunes are partly explained by their government’s attitudes to economic freedom: Botswana is one of Africa’s economically freest states, and Zimbabwe is among Africa’s least free countries. Please join Zimbabwean human rights activist Rejoice Ngwenya and Cato’s Africa analyst Marian Tupy to discuss Zimbabwe’s meltdown, Botswana’s ascent, and lessons for the rest of Africa. 00:43:58 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5168 Among the highest remaining U.S. tariffs are those imposed on imported shoes, with the highest duties applying to the cheapest shoes. Critics of the tariffs contend that they fall most heavily on the poorest American households while “saving” few domestic jobs. Defenders argue that the tariffs provide revenue for the federal government, have little impact on consumer prices, and steer trade to our free-trade partners at the expense of China. A bill in Congress to eliminate certain shoe tariffs, the Affordable Footwear Act, currently has more than 140 co-sponsors in the House and may be attached to the upcoming Miscellaneous Tariff Bill. Please join us for a forum featuring a co-sponsor of the footwear act and two trade experts who will debate the merits of lowering tariffs on imported shoes. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-07-25-08.mp3 Featuring [U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer], D-Oregon, [Ed Gresser], Progressive Policy Institute, and [William Hawkins], U.S. Business and Industry Council. Moderated by [Daniel T. Griswold], Cato Institute.... Among the highest remaining U.S. tariffs are those imposed on imported shoes, with the highest duties applying to the cheapest shoes. Critics of the tariffs contend that they fall most heavily on the poorest American households while “saving” few domestic jobs. Defenders argue that the tariffs provide revenue for the federal government, have little impact on consumer prices, and steer trade to our free-trade partners at the expense of China. A bill in Congress to eliminate certain shoe tariffs, the Affordable Footwear Act, currently has more than 140 co-sponsors in the House and may be attached to the upcoming Miscellaneous Tariff Bill. Please join us for a forum featuring a co-sponsor of the footwear act and two trade experts who will debate the merits of lowering tariffs on imported shoes. 01:17:40 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4975 In his provocative and compelling new book, George Will offers a fascinating look at the people, stories, and events that make the American drama so endlessly entertaining and instructive. With Will’s signature intellect and wry wit, One Man’s America chronicles a spectacular, eclectic procession of figures who have shaped our culture -- from Playboy founder Hugh Hefner to National Review founder William F. Buckley Jr., from Victorian poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, from cotton picker—turned—country singer Buck Owens to actor-turned-president Ronald Reagan. In addition, Will crisscrosses the country to illuminate what it is that makes America distinctive –- visits that include the USS Arizona memorial in Pearl Harbor; the 100th anniversary of Harley-Davidson; Civil War battlefields, and much more. And of course, One Man’s America would not be complete without Will’s insights on baseball -– the icons and the cheats, the hapless and the greats. Finally, in a personal and reflective turn, Will writes movingly of his thirty-five-year-old son Jon, born with Down syndrome, and pays loving and poignant tribute to his mother, who died at the age of ninety-eight after a long struggle with dementia. Buy This Book On Amazon.com Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-07-24-08.mp3 Featuring the author, [George F. Will], with an introduction by [Edward H. Crane], President, Cato Institute.... In his provocative and compelling new book, George Will offers a fascinating look at the people, stories, and events that make the American drama so endlessly entertaining and instructive. With Will’s signature intellect and wry wit, One Man’s America chronicles a spectacular, eclectic procession of figures who have shaped our culture -- from Playboy founder Hugh Hefner to National Review founder William F. Buckley Jr., from Victorian poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, from cotton picker—turned—country singer Buck Owens to actor-turned-president Ronald Reagan. In addition, Will crisscrosses the country to illuminate what it is that makes America distinctive –- visits that include the USS Arizona memorial in Pearl Harbor; the 100th anniversary of Harley-Davidson; Civil War battlefields, and much more. And of course, One Man’s America would not be complete without Will’s insights on baseball -– the icons and the cheats, the hapless and the greats. Finally, in a personal and reflective turn, Will writes movingly of his thirty-five-year-old son Jon, born with Down syndrome, and pays loving and poignant tribute to his mother, who died at the age of ninety-eight after a long struggle with dementia. Buy This Book On Amazon.com 00:54:31 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4964 In 1908, the Justice Department created the Bureau of Investigation, a small division of detectives that was responsible for investigating violations of federal law. The division was filled with incompetent and corrupt agents until a young bureaucrat by the name of J. Edgar Hoover was brought in to clean house. Hoover reorganized the division and renamed it the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and he served as its director for nearly 50 years. As the federal government expanded over the years, so did the power of the Bureau. Today, the FBI employs more than twenty thousand people and spends approximately $6.5 billion per year. As the Bureau turns 100, it is an appropriate time to review its history, both good and bad, and to discuss its future. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-07-23-08.mp3 Featuring [John Fox], Historian, Federal Bureau of Investigation, [Athan Theoharis], Marquette University and author of The FBI & American Democracy, and [John F. Kelly], Investigative Reporter and author of Tainting Evidence: Inside the Scandal... In 1908, the Justice Department created the Bureau of Investigation, a small division of detectives that was responsible for investigating violations of federal law. The division was filled with incompetent and corrupt agents until a young bureaucrat by the name of J. Edgar Hoover was brought in to clean house. Hoover reorganized the division and renamed it the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and he served as its director for nearly 50 years. As the federal government expanded over the years, so did the power of the Bureau. Today, the FBI employs more than twenty thousand people and spends approximately $6.5 billion per year. As the Bureau turns 100, it is an appropriate time to review its history, both good and bad, and to discuss its future. 01:33:36 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4956 The world's largest democracy, India, is an emerging economic giant. Reforms that began in the late 1980s and accelerated in the 1990s have led to high growth and have reduced poverty by one third. Professor Panagariya will discuss changes in Indian society that favor continued rapid growth. He will also explain why India should avoid policies that focus on equality rather than poverty reduction, and he will propose innovative reforms—such as school vouchers or cash transfers for health care—where government services have failed the poor. Swaminathan Aiyar will comment on the book’s outlook for India. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-07-02-08.mp3 Featuring the author [Arvind Panagariya], Jagdish Bhagwati Professor of Indian Political Economy, Columbia University with comments from [Swaminathan Aiyar], Research Fellow, Cato Institute.... The world's largest democracy, India, is an emerging economic giant. Reforms that began in the late 1980s and accelerated in the 1990s have led to high growth and have reduced poverty by one third. Professor Panagariya will discuss changes in Indian society that favor continued rapid growth. He will also explain why India should avoid policies that focus on equality rather than poverty reduction, and he will propose innovative reforms—such as school vouchers or cash transfers for health care—where government services have failed the poor. Swaminathan Aiyar will comment on the book’s outlook for India. 01:12:45 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4950 As the Doha Round lies in a cryogenic state, it is important to recognize that comprehensive, multilateral agreement to reduce trade barriers is not the only way to improve the international trading system. In fact, according to recent studies from the World Bank and other international economic institutions— a new study published by the Cato Institute —“trade facilitation” reforms could do more to increase global trade flows than further reductions in tariff rates. In broad terms, trade facilitation includes reforms aimed at improving the chain of administrative and physical procedures involved in the transport of goods and services across international borders. Countries with inadequate trade infrastructure, burdensome administrative processes, or limited competition in trade logistics services are less capable of benefiting from the opportunities of expanding global trade. And that goes for rich countries as well as developing countries. By streamlining and reforming bureaucratic procedures and encouraging competition in communications and transportation services, governments have been helping increase trade, investment, and growth in their economies. And these reforms have not required international consensus to implement. Please join us for a panel discussion with some of the world’s foremost experts on the topic of trade facilitation. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-06-26-08.mp3 Featuring [Steve Creskoff], Trade Lawyer, Creskoff and Doram LLP; [J. Michael Finger], Initial World Bank Coordinator for the Integrated Framework; [Bill Lane], Caterpillar, Inc.; and [John Wilson], Lead Economist, World Bank. Moderated by [Dan ... As the Doha Round lies in a cryogenic state, it is important to recognize that comprehensive, multilateral agreement to reduce trade barriers is not the only way to improve the international trading system. In fact, according to recent studies from the World Bank and other international economic institutions— a new study published by the Cato Institute —“trade facilitation” reforms could do more to increase global trade flows than further reductions in tariff rates. In broad terms, trade facilitation includes reforms aimed at improving the chain of administrative and physical procedures involved in the transport of goods and services across international borders. Countries with inadequate trade infrastructure, burdensome administrative processes, or limited competition in trade logistics services are less capable of benefiting from the opportunities of expanding global trade. And that goes for rich countries as well as developing countries. By streamlining and reforming bureaucratic procedures and encouraging competition in communications and transportation services, governments have been helping increase trade, investment, and growth in their economies. And these reforms have not required international consensus to implement. Please join us for a panel discussion with some of the world’s foremost experts on the topic of trade facilitation. 01:23:14 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4962 After an extended primary season, the 2008 presidential campaign is finally under way and the candidates are presenting—at least in some areas—starkly different economic policy proposals. Sen. John McCain is a career-long free trader, consistently voting against trade barriers and subsidies. Sen. Barack Obama, although possessing a shorter voting record, puts greater restrictions on his support for free trade and favors a time-out on new trade agreements and extensive review—and possible renegotiation—of existing ones. On fiscal policy, Sen. McCain wants lower taxes while Sen. Obama proposes to shift the tax burden to wealthier Americans. According to the National Taxpayers Union, Sen. McCain has endorsed $68 billion of additional government spending per year and Sen. Obama has called for nearly $344 billion of bigger government. How would these policies strengthen the U.S. economy or damage it? If Obama is elected, would Congress simply rubber-stamp his proposals? If McCain wins, would Congress approve his agenda? Please join us as our panel discusses the McCain and Obama tax, spending, and trade plans. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-07-15-08.mp3 Featuring [Sallie James], Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute, [Dan Mitchell], Cato Institute, and [Christian Weller], Center for American Progress.... After an extended primary season, the 2008 presidential campaign is finally under way and the candidates are presenting—at least in some areas—starkly different economic policy proposals. Sen. John McCain is a career-long free trader, consistently voting against trade barriers and subsidies. Sen. Barack Obama, although possessing a shorter voting record, puts greater restrictions on his support for free trade and favors a time-out on new trade agreements and extensive review—and possible renegotiation—of existing ones. On fiscal policy, Sen. McCain wants lower taxes while Sen. Obama proposes to shift the tax burden to wealthier Americans. According to the National Taxpayers Union, Sen. McCain has endorsed $68 billion of additional government spending per year and Sen. Obama has called for nearly $344 billion of bigger government. How would these policies strengthen the U.S. economy or damage it? If Obama is elected, would Congress simply rubber-stamp his proposals? If McCain wins, would Congress approve his agenda? Please join us as our panel discusses the McCain and Obama tax, spending, and trade plans. 01:14:33 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5089 Improving the international trading system does not depend solely on new, comprehensive multilateral agreements. Countries can realize significant gains in commercial flows by undertaking trade facilitation—reforms that decrease administrative and physical impediments to transporting goods and services across borders. According to recent studies from several international economic institutions and a new Cato paper, trade facilitation reforms could increase global trade flows even more than further reductions in tariff rates and are primarily and substantially in the interest of the country implementing reform. Please join Cato trade scholar Daniel Ikenson and World Bank economist Simeon Djankov to discuss how to expand international commerce even without new multilateral trade agreements. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hba-07-11-08.mp3 Featuring [Simeon Djankov], World Bank and [Daniel Ikenson], Cato Institute ... Improving the international trading system does not depend solely on new, comprehensive multilateral agreements. Countries can realize significant gains in commercial flows by undertaking trade facilitation—reforms that decrease administrative and physical impediments to transporting goods and services across borders. According to recent studies from several international economic institutions and a new Cato paper, trade facilitation reforms could increase global trade flows even more than further reductions in tariff rates and are primarily and substantially in the interest of the country implementing reform. Please join Cato trade scholar Daniel Ikenson and World Bank economist Simeon Djankov to discuss how to expand international commerce even without new multilateral trade agreements. 00:44:10 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4940 Despite the conclusions one might draw from the constant barrage of media negativity, never before have people lived longer, healthier, and wealthier lives with lower risks of malnourishment, illiteracy, or death by war or natural disaster. In a recent report for the Swedish government, Cato senior fellow Johan Norberg has documented the largest, most rapid rise in human living standards ever, which occurred over the last four decades. He will review the factors that generated these advances and explain how even more economic liberty, free trade, and globalization are necessary to sustain them. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hba-06-06-08.mp3 Featuring [Johan Norberg], Author, In Defense of Global Capitalism, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute.... Despite the conclusions one might draw from the constant barrage of media negativity, never before have people lived longer, healthier, and wealthier lives with lower risks of malnourishment, illiteracy, or death by war or natural disaster. In a recent report for the Swedish government, Cato senior fellow Johan Norberg has documented the largest, most rapid rise in human living standards ever, which occurred over the last four decades. He will review the factors that generated these advances and explain how even more economic liberty, free trade, and globalization are necessary to sustain them. 00:41:25 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4755 Conservatives love war, empire, and the military-industrial complex. They abhor peace, the sole and rightful property of liberals. Right? Wrong. According to Bill Kauffman, true conservatives have always resisted the imperial and military impulse: it drains the treasury, curtails domestic liberties, breaks down families, and vulgarizes culture. From the Federalists who opposed the War of 1812, to the striving of Robert Taft (known as "Mr. Republican") to keep the United States out of Korea, to the latter-day libertarian critics of the Iraq war, there has historically been nothing unusual about anti-war activists on the political right. And while these critics of U.S. military crusades have been vilified by the party of George W. Bush, their conservative vision of a peaceful, decentralized, and noninterventionist America gives us a glimpse of the country we could have had—and might yet attain. Passionate and witty, Ain't My America is an eye-opening exploration of the forgotten history of right-wing peace movements—and a clarion call to anti-war conservatives of today. But Michael Tomasky, the former executive editor of the American Prospect who now edits the Guardian newspaper's American online edition, begs to differ. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-05-08-08-2.mp3 Featuring the author [Bill Kauffman], with comments by [Michael Tomasky], Editor, Guardian America. Moderated by [David Boaz], Cato Institute.... Conservatives love war, empire, and the military-industrial complex. They abhor peace, the sole and rightful property of liberals. Right? Wrong. According to Bill Kauffman, true conservatives have always resisted the imperial and military impulse: it drains the treasury, curtails domestic liberties, breaks down families, and vulgarizes culture. From the Federalists who opposed the War of 1812, to the striving of Robert Taft (known as "Mr. Republican") to keep the United States out of Korea, to the latter-day libertarian critics of the Iraq war, there has historically been nothing unusual about anti-war activists on the political right. And while these critics of U.S. military crusades have been vilified by the party of George W. Bush, their conservative vision of a peaceful, decentralized, and noninterventionist America gives us a glimpse of the country we could have had—and might yet attain. Passionate and witty, Ain't My America is an eye-opening exploration of the forgotten history of right-wing peace movements—and a clarion call to anti-war conservatives of today. But Michael Tomasky, the former executive editor of the American Prospect who now edits the Guardian newspaper's American online edition, begs to differ. 01:06:38 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4914 Why are we, in many respects, less free now than we were 200 years ago? How did we get from our Founders' Constitution, which established a strictly limited government, to today's Constitution, which has expanded government and curtailed individual rights? That's the story of The Dirty Dozen - a book written for non lawyers about 12 U.S. Supreme Court cases that moved the course of American history away from constitutional government. Whether it involves the regulation of commerce, political speech, economic liberties, property rights, welfare, racial preferences, gun owners' rights, or imprisonment without charge, the U.S. Supreme Court has behaved in a manner that would have stunned, mystified, and outraged our Founding Fathers. Please join co-author Robert Levy for a discussion of the 12 worst Supreme Court cases of the modern era. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hba-06-24-08.mp3 Featuring the co author [Robert A. Levy], Cato Institute. ... Why are we, in many respects, less free now than we were 200 years ago? How did we get from our Founders' Constitution, which established a strictly limited government, to today's Constitution, which has expanded government and curtailed individual rights? That's the story of The Dirty Dozen - a book written for non lawyers about 12 U.S. Supreme Court cases that moved the course of American history away from constitutional government. Whether it involves the regulation of commerce, political speech, economic liberties, property rights, welfare, racial preferences, gun owners' rights, or imprisonment without charge, the U.S. Supreme Court has behaved in a manner that would have stunned, mystified, and outraged our Founding Fathers. Please join co-author Robert Levy for a discussion of the 12 worst Supreme Court cases of the modern era. 00:41:33 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4948 On a continent scarred by political repression and economic underdevelopment, Botswana and Mauritius stand out. In 2007, Freedom House certified both countries as free, and the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World report found that Botswana and Mauritius had the two freest economies in Africa. According to the World Bank, the two also have—along with Seychelles—Africa’s highest per capita incomes. What explains that success? Why did the institutions of freedom take root in Botswana and Mauritius, while failing to do so in most other African countries? How do the two countries intend to maintain high growth in an increasingly globalized world? Please join us to hear our speakers elaborate on the past successes and future challenges facing Botswana and Mauritius. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-06-19-08.mp3 Featuring [Lapologang Caesar Lekoa], Ambassador of the Republic of Botswana and [Kailash Ruhee], Ambassador of the Republic of Mauritius. Moderated by [Marian Tupy], Cato Institute. ... On a continent scarred by political repression and economic underdevelopment, Botswana and Mauritius stand out. In 2007, Freedom House certified both countries as free, and the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World report found that Botswana and Mauritius had the two freest economies in Africa. According to the World Bank, the two also have—along with Seychelles—Africa’s highest per capita incomes. What explains that success? Why did the institutions of freedom take root in Botswana and Mauritius, while failing to do so in most other African countries? How do the two countries intend to maintain high growth in an increasingly globalized world? Please join us to hear our speakers elaborate on the past successes and future challenges facing Botswana and Mauritius. 01:26:36 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4786 In his two terms in the U.S. Senate, Chuck Hagel has distinguished himself as one of our nation’s most outspoken and thoughtful political leaders. Unafraid to challenge the policies of his own party, Senator Hagel has drawn praise and admiration from across the ideological spectrum by expressing grave concerns about the war in Iraq. In America: Our Next Chapter: Tough Questions, Straight Answers, Senator Hagel sets forth his vision for a humbler U.S. foreign policy guided by international diplomacy and free trade. He also addresses key domestic policy issues by calling for a significant reduction in the size of the federal government, demanding more fiscal responsibility in Washington, and supporting reforms to reduce the spiraling costs of entitlement programs. Please join Senator Hagel for a discussion of his new book, with introductory comments by Cato Institute president Edward H. Crane. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-06-12-08-1.mp3 Featuring the author, [Senator Chuck Hagel] (R-NE), with an introduction by [Edward H. Crane], President, Cato Institute. ... In his two terms in the U.S. Senate, Chuck Hagel has distinguished himself as one of our nation’s most outspoken and thoughtful political leaders. Unafraid to challenge the policies of his own party, Senator Hagel has drawn praise and admiration from across the ideological spectrum by expressing grave concerns about the war in Iraq. In America: Our Next Chapter: Tough Questions, Straight Answers, Senator Hagel sets forth his vision for a humbler U.S. foreign policy guided by international diplomacy and free trade. He also addresses key domestic policy issues by calling for a significant reduction in the size of the federal government, demanding more fiscal responsibility in Washington, and supporting reforms to reduce the spiraling costs of entitlement programs. Please join Senator Hagel for a discussion of his new book, with introductory comments by Cato Institute president Edward H. Crane. 01:11:41 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4846 In a provocative new book, Jason Riley makes the case for welcoming more legal immigrants to the United States. Drawing on history, scholarly studies and first-hand reporting, Riley argues that today’s newcomers are fueling America’s prosperity and dynamism. He challenges the prevailing views on talk radio and cable TV that immigrants are overpopulating the country, stealing jobs, depressing wages, bankrupting social services, filling prisons, resisting assimilation and promoting big government. Comments will be provided by one of the nation’s leading political analysts. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-06-18-08.mp3 Featuring the author, [Jason L. Riley], Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, with comments by [Michael Barone], U.S. News & World Report. Moderated by [Daniel Griswold], Cato Institute.... In a provocative new book, Jason Riley makes the case for welcoming more legal immigrants to the United States. Drawing on history, scholarly studies and first-hand reporting, Riley argues that today’s newcomers are fueling America’s prosperity and dynamism. He challenges the prevailing views on talk radio and cable TV that immigrants are overpopulating the country, stealing jobs, depressing wages, bankrupting social services, filling prisons, resisting assimilation and promoting big government. Comments will be provided by one of the nation’s leading political analysts. 01:15:55 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4869 The United States confronts a host of foreign policy problems in the 21st century, yet the Republic's security strategy is increasingly muddled and counterproductive. The litany of misplaced priorities and policy failures grows ever larger. Ted Galen Carpenter examines America's foreign policy challenges and diagnoses what is wrong with Washington's current approach. Throughout these essays, Carpenter outlines an alternative strategy, Smart Power, that would protect America's security while avoiding unnecessary and unrewarding military adventures. Please join the author and our distinguished commentators for a discussion of this timely and path-breaking book, Smart Power: Toward a Prudent Foreign Policy for America. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-06-17-08.mp3 Featuring the author [Ted Galen Carpenter], Cato Institute with comments by [Steven Clemons], New America Foundation and [Doug Bandow], American Conservative Defense Alliance.... The United States confronts a host of foreign policy problems in the 21st century, yet the Republic's security strategy is increasingly muddled and counterproductive. The litany of misplaced priorities and policy failures grows ever larger. Ted Galen Carpenter examines America's foreign policy challenges and diagnoses what is wrong with Washington's current approach. Throughout these essays, Carpenter outlines an alternative strategy, Smart Power, that would protect America's security while avoiding unnecessary and unrewarding military adventures. Please join the author and our distinguished commentators for a discussion of this timely and path-breaking book, Smart Power: Toward a Prudent Foreign Policy for America. 01:10:40 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4894 Prof. Philip Zimbardo, the conductor of the infamous 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment, has become a leading authority on the psychology of evil: How is it that people are induced to commit evil, even when they consider themselves “good” people? What social dynamics encourage—or discourage—cruelty toward other human beings? The Lucifer Effect offers a full reconstruction of the 1971 experiment based on archival video, subject diaries, exit interviews, and other contemporary material. It then gives an introduction to the psychology of social morality as it has developed over the years. The book culminates with an examination of the prisoner abuse scandals of Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, and elsewhere, challenging accounts that would hold individual soldiers solely responsible for their actions, and indicting the chain of command for knowingly creating conditions that would lead to degrading treatment and torture. Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-06-12-08-2.mp3 Featuring the author, [Philip Zimbardo], Stanford University, with comments by [Julian Sanchez], Reason, and [Will Wilkinson], Cato Institute.... Prof. Philip Zimbardo, the conductor of the infamous 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment, has become a leading authority on the psychology of evil: How is it that people are induced to commit evil, even when they consider themselves “good” people? What social dynamics encourage—or discourage—cruelty toward other human beings? The Lucifer Effect offers a full reconstruction of the 1971 experiment based on archival video, subject diaries, exit interviews, and other contemporary material. It then gives an introduction to the psychology of social morality as it has developed over the years. The book culminates with an examination of the prisoner abuse scandals of Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, and elsewhere, challenging accounts that would hold individual soldiers solely responsible for their actions, and indicting the chain of command for knowingly creating conditions that would lead to degrading treatment and torture. 01:40:18 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4683 On April 22, just as Pennsylvania Democrats go the polls in the last large primary before their nominating convention, the Supreme Court will hear yet another challenge to the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law: The Millionaires’ Amendment attempts to discourage congressional candidates from spending more than $350,000 of their own money on their election campaigns. It penalizes expenditures above that threshold by allowing increased contribution limits and unlimited coordinated party expenditures for the self-financing candidate's opponent. Does this penalty unconstitutionally chill protected political speech, or is there a compelling governmental interest at stake? How does self-financing impact corruption or the concept of a level playing field? Please join Cato scholars John Samples and Ilya Shapiro for a lively exploration of the Millionaires’ Amendment and other election regulations affecting this campaign season. Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hba-04-21-08.mp3 Featuring [John Samples], Director, Center for Representative Government, Cato Institute, and [Ilya Shapiro], Senior Fellow, Center for Constitutional Studies and Editor-in-Chief, Cato Supreme Court Review, Cato Institute.... On April 22, just as Pennsylvania Democrats go the polls in the last large primary before their nominating convention, the Supreme Court will hear yet another challenge to the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law: The Millionaires’ Amendment attempts to discourage congressional candidates from spending more than $350,000 of their own money on their election campaigns. It penalizes expenditures above that threshold by allowing increased contribution limits and unlimited coordinated party expenditures for the self-financing candidate's opponent. Does this penalty unconstitutionally chill protected political speech, or is there a compelling governmental interest at stake? How does self-financing impact corruption or the concept of a level playing field? Please join Cato scholars John Samples and Ilya Shapiro for a lively exploration of the Millionaires’ Amendment and other election regulations affecting this campaign season. 00:34:07 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4904 China's rapid economic and military rise is causing understandable unease among American military planners. Although the Bush administration took office referring to China as a "strategic competitor," more recent statements of U.S. policy have focused on integrating China into the world community as a "responsible stakeholder." Does America's position as the sole superpower and China's as the primary rising power make U.S.-China conflict imminent and inevitable? If not, which potential flashpoints should be particular concerns for U.S. policymakers? Can American policy minimize tensions between the two powers? And what would open military confrontation between the United States and China look like? Please join Cato scholars Ted Galen Carpenter and Justin Logan for an exploration of national security and foreign policy issues related to China's rise. Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hba-05-30-08.mp3 Featuring [Ted Galen Carpenter], Cato Institute and [Justin Logan], Cato Institute.... China's rapid economic and military rise is causing understandable unease among American military planners. Although the Bush administration took office referring to China as a "strategic competitor," more recent statements of U.S. policy have focused on integrating China into the world community as a "responsible stakeholder." Does America's position as the sole superpower and China's as the primary rising power make U.S.-China conflict imminent and inevitable? If not, which potential flashpoints should be particular concerns for U.S. policymakers? Can American policy minimize tensions between the two powers? And what would open military confrontation between the United States and China look like? Please join Cato scholars Ted Galen Carpenter and Justin Logan for an exploration of national security and foreign policy issues related to China's rise. 00:27:22 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4838 The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act—known as the "Akaka Bill"-would grant "native Hawaiians" federal recognition akin to that now enjoyed by Indian tribes. The bill creates a special authority that would exempt sufficiently ethnic Hawaiians from certain aspects of federal and state power. Having already passed the House and been reported out of Senate committee, the Akaka Bill is now due to be taken up by the full Senate. President Bush has promised a veto—citing the U.S. Civil Rights Commission's conclusion that it "would discriminate on the basis of race … and further subdivide the American people into discrete subgroups accorded varying degrees of privilege." Are these sorts of measures simply a matter of long-delayed justice? Does the Akaka Bill satisfy constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process? What kind of precedent would it establish for other ethnic groups? And what would be the economic effects on businesses and tourism in Hawaii? Please join us for a discussion of these and other political, economic, legal, and historical issues. Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hba-05-21-08.mp3 Featuring [Jere Krischel], Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, [Elaine Willman], Citizens Equal Rights Alliance, [Andresen Blom], Research Institute for Hawaii, and [Ilya Shapiro], Cato Institute.... The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act—known as the "Akaka Bill"-would grant "native Hawaiians" federal recognition akin to that now enjoyed by Indian tribes. The bill creates a special authority that would exempt sufficiently ethnic Hawaiians from certain aspects of federal and state power. Having already passed the House and been reported out of Senate committee, the Akaka Bill is now due to be taken up by the full Senate. President Bush has promised a veto—citing the U.S. Civil Rights Commission's conclusion that it "would discriminate on the basis of race … and further subdivide the American people into discrete subgroups accorded varying degrees of privilege." Are these sorts of measures simply a matter of long-delayed justice? Does the Akaka Bill satisfy constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process? What kind of precedent would it establish for other ethnic groups? And what would be the economic effects on businesses and tourism in Hawaii? Please join us for a discussion of these and other political, economic, legal, and historical issues. 00:47:33 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4805 What makes military occupations more or less likely to succeed? Drawing on 26 cases since 1815 where outside powers have seized territory without a claim to its sovereignty, David Edelstein attempts to determine why some occupations succeed and why so many seem doomed to failure. Edelstein combines detailed case studies with a theoretical approach and concludes that occupations face a paradox: Success requires a long-term and massive commitment of resources and attention; however, such large-scale occupations can elicit nationalist responses from the occupied populace. Further, as the occupier faces difficulty, discontent grows at home, and pressure builds to remove occupying forces. Examining the history of occupation as a component of grand strategy, Edelstein offers warnings for today’s policymakers, who seem tempted to include military occupations as part of the approach to countering terrorism. Please join the author and our distinguished commentators for a discussion of this timely and pathbreaking book. Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-05-29-08.mp3 Featuring the author [David M. Edelstein], Assistant Professor, Georgetown University, with comments by [Robert M. Perito], U.S. Institute of Peace and [Christopher Preble], Cato Institute.... What makes military occupations more or less likely to succeed? Drawing on 26 cases since 1815 where outside powers have seized territory without a claim to its sovereignty, David Edelstein attempts to determine why some occupations succeed and why so many seem doomed to failure. Edelstein combines detailed case studies with a theoretical approach and concludes that occupations face a paradox: Success requires a long-term and massive commitment of resources and attention; however, such large-scale occupations can elicit nationalist responses from the occupied populace. Further, as the occupier faces difficulty, discontent grows at home, and pressure builds to remove occupying forces. Examining the history of occupation as a component of grand strategy, Edelstein offers warnings for today’s policymakers, who seem tempted to include military occupations as part of the approach to countering terrorism. Please join the author and our distinguished commentators for a discussion of this timely and pathbreaking book. 01:17:36 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4842 In reauthorizing the federal gas tax and surface transportation funding, the next Congress can continue historic trends of dictating thousands of earmarks and other mandates that reduce our transportation efficiency and, like recent ethanol programs, have huge unintended consequences. Or it can streamline federal transportation programs to make urban and other surface transport systems run smoothly, efficiently, and with minimal waste of energy and greenhouse gas emissions. This policy forum will present a variety of proposals for breaking out of the transportation gridlock we currently suffer. Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-05-27-08.mp3 Featuring [Randal O’Toole], Cato Institute, [Samuel Staley], Reason Foundation, [Greg Cohen], American Highway User Alliance. Moderated by [Jerry Taylor], Cato Institute. ... In reauthorizing the federal gas tax and surface transportation funding, the next Congress can continue historic trends of dictating thousands of earmarks and other mandates that reduce our transportation efficiency and, like recent ethanol programs, have huge unintended consequences. Or it can streamline federal transportation programs to make urban and other surface transport systems run smoothly, efficiently, and with minimal waste of energy and greenhouse gas emissions. This policy forum will present a variety of proposals for breaking out of the transportation gridlock we currently suffer. 01:43:31 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4424 It is 2008. Research suggests the federal Medicare program spends as much as $100 billion per year on medical care that makes seniors no healthier or happier. Its payment system continues to reward low-quality and even harmful medical care. The trustees of the Medicare program have issued yet another annual report containing dire warnings about Medicare's financial sustainability, including an unfunded liability of $86 trillion. The picture is far worse than it was when politicians were developing fundamental Medicare reforms 10 years ago. Yet politicians today seem uninterested. The president has proposed reforms that would barely slow the program's growing dependence on general revenues-a proposal that Congress has largely ignored. Leading presidential candidates advocate tweaks-such as reducing payments for private plans and prescription drugs, or tying payments to quality measures-rather than fundamental reform. Come hear leading analysts discuss whether the case for Medicare reform is any less powerful now than in the past. Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-05-15-08.mp3 Featuring [Thomas R. Saving], Medicare trustee, 2001-2007 and [Stuart Guterman], Commonwealth Fund. Moderated by [Michael F. Cannon], Cato Institute.... It is 2008. Research suggests the federal Medicare program spends as much as $100 billion per year on medical care that makes seniors no healthier or happier. Its payment system continues to reward low-quality and even harmful medical care. The trustees of the Medicare program have issued yet another annual report containing dire warnings about Medicare's financial sustainability, including an unfunded liability of $86 trillion. The picture is far worse than it was when politicians were developing fundamental Medicare reforms 10 years ago. Yet politicians today seem uninterested. The president has proposed reforms that would barely slow the program's growing dependence on general revenues-a proposal that Congress has largely ignored. Leading presidential candidates advocate tweaks-such as reducing payments for private plans and prescription drugs, or tying payments to quality measures-rather than fundamental reform. Come hear leading analysts discuss whether the case for Medicare reform is any less powerful now than in the past. 01:21:11 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4818 Foreign policy analysts are misreading the lessons of Iraq. The emerging conventional wisdom holds that success could have been achieved in Iraq with more troops, more cooperation among U.S. government agencies, and better counterinsurgency doctrine. Yet the Bush administration’s failures and errors in judgment did not derive from poor planning, but from flawed assumptions about the nature of Iraqi society. The difficulties in Iraq demonstrate the need for a new national security strategy and a newfound appreciation for the limits of power, not simply better tactics and tools. By insisting that Iraq was ours to remake were it not for the administration’s mismanagement, U.S. policy makers risk repeating these mistakes. Please join Cato scholars Christopher Preble and Benjamin H. Friedman for a discussion of these issues, which they and co-author Harvey Sapolsky also explore in the recent policy analysis, “Learning the Right Lessons from Iraq.” Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hba-05-16-08.mp3 Featuring [Christopher Preble], Director of Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute, and [Benjamin H. Friedman], Research Fellow in Defense and Homeland Security Studies, Cato Institute.... Foreign policy analysts are misreading the lessons of Iraq. The emerging conventional wisdom holds that success could have been achieved in Iraq with more troops, more cooperation among U.S. government agencies, and better counterinsurgency doctrine. Yet the Bush administration’s failures and errors in judgment did not derive from poor planning, but from flawed assumptions about the nature of Iraqi society. The difficulties in Iraq demonstrate the need for a new national security strategy and a newfound appreciation for the limits of power, not simply better tactics and tools. By insisting that Iraq was ours to remake were it not for the administration’s mismanagement, U.S. policy makers risk repeating these mistakes. Please join Cato scholars Christopher Preble and Benjamin H. Friedman for a discussion of these issues, which they and co-author Harvey Sapolsky also explore in the recent policy analysis, “Learning the Right Lessons from Iraq.” 00:32:16 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4763 Starting in the 1970s, conservatives learned that electoral victory did not easily convert into a reversal of important liberal accomplishments, especially in the law. As a result, conservatives' mobilizing efforts increasingly turned to law schools, professional networks, public interest groups, and the judiciary—areas traditionally controlled by liberals. Drawing from previously unavailable internal documents, as well as interviews with key figures, The Rise of the Conservative Legal Movement examines this sometimes fitful, and still only partially successful, conservative (and libertarian) challenge to liberal domination of the law. Steven Teles explores how this mobilization was shaped by the legal profession and the difficulties in matching strategic opportunities with effective organizational responses. He explains how foundations and other groups promoting conservative ideas built a network designed to dislodge legal liberalism from American elite institutions. And he portrays the reality, not of a grand strategy masterfully pursued, but of individuals and political entrepreneurs learning from trial and error. The book provides an unprecedented look at the inner life of one of the most striking developments in American public affairs over the last several decades. Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-05-14-08.mp3 Featuring the author, [Steven Teles], University of Maryland and Yale University Law School, with comments from [Roger Pilon], Cato Institute and [Hon. David McIntosh], Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, former Member of Congress (R-IN), Federalist Socie... Starting in the 1970s, conservatives learned that electoral victory did not easily convert into a reversal of important liberal accomplishments, especially in the law. As a result, conservatives' mobilizing efforts increasingly turned to law schools, professional networks, public interest groups, and the judiciary—areas traditionally controlled by liberals. Drawing from previously unavailable internal documents, as well as interviews with key figures, The Rise of the Conservative Legal Movement examines this sometimes fitful, and still only partially successful, conservative (and libertarian) challenge to liberal domination of the law. Steven Teles explores how this mobilization was shaped by the legal profession and the difficulties in matching strategic opportunities with effective organizational responses. He explains how foundations and other groups promoting conservative ideas built a network designed to dislodge legal liberalism from American elite institutions. And he portrays the reality, not of a grand strategy masterfully pursued, but of individuals and political entrepreneurs learning from trial and error. The book provides an unprecedented look at the inner life of one of the most striking developments in American public affairs over the last several decades. 01:23:49 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4646 Following the Rose Revolution of 2003, the former Soviet Republic of Georgia began far-reaching reforms in governance and economic policy that are turning the country into a post-socialist success story. Georgia now ranks 44th out of 141 countries on the Economic Freedom of the World index, is cited by the World Bank as one of the world's leading reformers, and is sustaining economic growth of more than 9 percent per year. Kakha Bendukidze, one of Georgia's key reformers, will explain how his country is rapidly modernizing and will share his vision for continued high growth in a sometimes hostile neighborhood. Andrei Illarionov will assess Georgia's progress and highlight its remaining challenges in consolidating democratic capitalism. Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-05-13-08.mp3 Featuring [Kakha Bendukidze], Head of the State Chancellery, Georgia, with comments by [Andrei Illarionov], Senior Fellow, Cato Institute, and Former Economic Adviser to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. Moderated by [Ian Vásquez], Cato Institu... Following the Rose Revolution of 2003, the former Soviet Republic of Georgia began far-reaching reforms in governance and economic policy that are turning the country into a post-socialist success story. Georgia now ranks 44th out of 141 countries on the Economic Freedom of the World index, is cited by the World Bank as one of the world's leading reformers, and is sustaining economic growth of more than 9 percent per year. Kakha Bendukidze, one of Georgia's key reformers, will explain how his country is rapidly modernizing and will share his vision for continued high growth in a sometimes hostile neighborhood. Andrei Illarionov will assess Georgia's progress and highlight its remaining challenges in consolidating democratic capitalism. 01:19:51 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4565 Taxation was central to the evolution of government in colonial America, and complaints about taxation led directly to the Revolution in 1776. Taxation in Colonial America provides a definitive history of taxation in the colonies from Jamestown to the Revolution. In almost 1,000 pages, Rabushka’s book covers an array of fascinating subjects such as the monetary systems of the colonies, British governance and politics, tax evasion and tax revolts, the development of colonial legislatures, and differences in tax systems between the colonies. The level of interesting detail about both tax and nontax subjects in this book is astounding. This forum will be a treat for anyone interested in taxation, American history, or the development of English and American political structures. Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbfa-05-08-08-1.mp3 Featuring the author [Alvin Rabushka], Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Moderated by [Chris Edwards], Cato Institute.... Taxation was central to the evolution of government in colonial America, and complaints about taxation led directly to the Revolution in 1776. Taxation in Colonial America provides a definitive history of taxation in the colonies from Jamestown to the Revolution. In almost 1,000 pages, Rabushka’s book covers an array of fascinating subjects such as the monetary systems of the colonies, British governance and politics, tax evasion and tax revolts, the development of colonial legislatures, and differences in tax systems between the colonies. The level of interesting detail about both tax and nontax subjects in this book is astounding. This forum will be a treat for anyone interested in taxation, American history, or the development of English and American political structures. 01:15:25 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4736 On May 11, 2008, the statutory deadline for compliance with the REAL ID Act will pass without a single state meeting its requirements. Indeed, more than 17 states have passed legislation objecting to or outright refusing to implement this national ID law. Earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security handed out extensions of the compliance deadline just for the asking, but state leaders from across the ideological spectrum refused even this small gesture of acquiescence. A REAL ID rebellion is underway, and it has ushered in a debate on whether the United States should have a national ID system. The debate didn’t happen when the law passed because Congress held no hearings, and there was no up-or-down vote on REAL ID in the Senate. Votes this year on REAL ID funding, or perhaps repeal of the national ID law, will reveal where Members of Congress stand on the question whether law-abiding American citizens should be practically or legally required to carry a national ID. Please join us to hear two prominent leaders present their distinct perspectives on REAL ID, identification policy, national and individual security, identity fraud, and privacy. Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-05-07-08.mp3 Featuring [Mark Sanford], Republican Governor of South Carolina and [Jon Tester], Democratic U.S. Senator from Montana. Moderated by [Jim Harper], Cato Institute.... On May 11, 2008, the statutory deadline for compliance with the REAL ID Act will pass without a single state meeting its requirements. Indeed, more than 17 states have passed legislation objecting to or outright refusing to implement this national ID law. Earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security handed out extensions of the compliance deadline just for the asking, but state leaders from across the ideological spectrum refused even this small gesture of acquiescence. A REAL ID rebellion is underway, and it has ushered in a debate on whether the United States should have a national ID system. The debate didn’t happen when the law passed because Congress held no hearings, and there was no up-or-down vote on REAL ID in the Senate. Votes this year on REAL ID funding, or perhaps repeal of the national ID law, will reveal where Members of Congress stand on the question whether law-abiding American citizens should be practically or legally required to carry a national ID. Please join us to hear two prominent leaders present their distinct perspectives on REAL ID, identification policy, national and individual security, identity fraud, and privacy. 00:56:52 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4751 Why are we, in many respects, less free now than we were 200 years ago? How did we get from our Founders’ Constitution, which established a strictly limited government, to today’s Constitution, which has expanded government and curtailed individual rights? That’s the story of The Dirty Dozen — a book written for non-lawyers about 12 U.S. Supreme Court cases that moved the course of American history away from constitutional government. Whether it involves the regulation of commerce, political speech, economic liberties, property rights, welfare, racial preferences, gun owners’ rights, or imprisonment without charge, the U.S. Supreme Court has behaved in a manner that would have stunned, mystified, and outraged our Founding Fathers. We were supposed to have a government of limited power and maximum freedom for the individual. Instead, we have been afflicted by a vast enlargement of both federal and state power, condoned by a Supreme Court