http://feeds2.feedburner.com/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 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:00:00 CDT 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=6207 President Obama's new drug czar, Gil Kerlikowske, says he wants to banish the idea of a "war on drugs" because the federal government should not be "at war with the people of this country." An important and welcome announcement, to be sure, but what government policies will be actually adjusted, canceled, or reversed? At a minimum, the time is right to reverse the militarization of law enforcement, abolish mandatory minimum sentencing, and stop federal meddling in the state referendum and initiative process. Join us for a wide-ranging discussion regarding new directions for federal drug policy. Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-07-07-09.mp3 Featuring [Hon. Bob Barr], Liberty Strategies; [Pat Nolan], Vice President, Prison Fellowship; [Cheye Calvo], Mayor, Berwyn Heights, Maryland; and [Tim Lynch], Director of the Cato Institute's Project on Criminal Justice.... President Obama's new drug czar, Gil Kerlikowske, says he wants to banish the idea of a "war on drugs" because the federal government should not be "at war with the people of this country." An important and welcome announcement, to be sure, but what government policies will be actually adjusted, canceled, or reversed? At a minimum, the time is right to reverse the militarization of law enforcement, abolish mandatory minimum sentencing, and stop federal meddling in the state referendum and initiative process. Join us for a wide-ranging discussion regarding new directions for federal drug policy. 01:00:14 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6206 To cover the likely $2 trillion cost of extending health insurance coverage to the uninsured, Democratic leaders are scrambling to find ways to increase the American people's taxes. Should Congress tax health benefits? Charitable contributions? Soda pop? Wages? The rich? Or are congressional leaders barking up the wrong tree? Is this rush to tax based on false premises? Two health policy experts from the Cato Institute—the co-authors of Healthy Competition: What's Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It—will explain the pitfalls of tax-and-spend health care reform, as well as how true reform requires reducing the amount of money that politicians control. Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-06-26-09.mp3 Featuring [Michael D. Tanner], Senior Fellow, Cato Institute and [Michael F. Cannon], Director of Health Policy Studies, Cato Institute.... To cover the likely $2 trillion cost of extending health insurance coverage to the uninsured, Democratic leaders are scrambling to find ways to increase the American people's taxes. Should Congress tax health benefits? Charitable contributions? Soda pop? Wages? The rich? Or are congressional leaders barking up the wrong tree? Is this rush to tax based on false premises? Two health policy experts from the Cato Institute—the co-authors of Healthy Competition: What's Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It—will explain the pitfalls of tax-and-spend health care reform, as well as how true reform requires reducing the amount of money that politicians control. 00:41:36 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6225 As with past attempts to overhaul America's health care sector, critics have labeled the reforms before Congress "socialized medicine." Is this a fair accusation? Are President Obama and congressional Democrats really trying to impose socialized medicine on the United States? What is socialized medicine, anyway? Scholars with different perspectives on these questions will debate what relevance socialized medicine has to today's health care reform debate. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-06-25-09.mp3 Featuring [Stan Dorn], Senior Research Associate, Urban Institute and [Michael F. Cannon], Director of Health Policy Studies, Cato Institute.... As with past attempts to overhaul America's health care sector, critics have labeled the reforms before Congress "socialized medicine." Is this a fair accusation? Are President Obama and congressional Democrats really trying to impose socialized medicine on the United States? What is socialized medicine, anyway? Scholars with different perspectives on these questions will debate what relevance socialized medicine has to today's health care reform debate. 01:26:46 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6279 The recent financial crisis has led to a massive expansion of government involvement in our capital markets. Foremost among those interventions has been the almost tripling of the Federal Reserve's balance sheet, from just over $800 billion before the crisis to almost $2.3 trillion now. Even more astounding is that the increase, with its massive exposure of loss to the American taxpayer, has been conducted with almost no oversight from Congress. Rep. Ron Paul has long led efforts to bring greater transparency and accountability to the workings of government. Join us for a discussion on increasing the public transparency of the Federal Reserve. Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-06-24-09.mp3 Featuring [Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)]; with comments by [Gilbert Schwartz], Partner, Schwartz & Ballen LLP, Former Associate General Counsel, Federal Reserve; and [Bert Ely], President, Ely & Company, Inc. Moderated by [Mark Calabria] Director, Fina... The recent financial crisis has led to a massive expansion of government involvement in our capital markets. Foremost among those interventions has been the almost tripling of the Federal Reserve's balance sheet, from just over $800 billion before the crisis to almost $2.3 trillion now. Even more astounding is that the increase, with its massive exposure of loss to the American taxpayer, has been conducted with almost no oversight from Congress. Rep. Ron Paul has long led efforts to bring greater transparency and accountability to the workings of government. Join us for a discussion on increasing the public transparency of the Federal Reserve. 01:05:03 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6214 On May 11, Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney announced plans to restore an aggressive enforcement policy against corporations that engage in anti-competitive behavior. Specifically, the Justice Department was revoking legal guidelines that were adopted in September 2008 that made it more difficult to pursue antitrust cases. "The recent developments in the marketplace should make it clear that we can no longer rely upon the marketplace alone to ensure that competition and consumers will be protected," explained the new head of the Antitrust Division. This policy reversal could be a shot across the bow of the tech industry, with Google and Intel now fearing the sort of legal action that plagued Microsoft in the 1990s. But should the government be going after profitable companies during weak economic times? What makes a merger anti-competitive or a business action monopolistic? How much does antitrust enforcement ultimately benefit the consumer? Please join us for an exploration of these and other issues that lie at the intersection of legal and economic theory and practice. Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-06-16-09.mp3 Featuring [Carl Shapiro], Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Economics, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice; with comments by [Joshua D. Wright], George Mason University School of Law; and [Edwin S. Rockefeller], Former Chairman, A... On May 11, Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney announced plans to restore an aggressive enforcement policy against corporations that engage in anti-competitive behavior. Specifically, the Justice Department was revoking legal guidelines that were adopted in September 2008 that made it more difficult to pursue antitrust cases. "The recent developments in the marketplace should make it clear that we can no longer rely upon the marketplace alone to ensure that competition and consumers will be protected," explained the new head of the Antitrust Division. This policy reversal could be a shot across the bow of the tech industry, with Google and Intel now fearing the sort of legal action that plagued Microsoft in the 1990s. But should the government be going after profitable companies during weak economic times? What makes a merger anti-competitive or a business action monopolistic? How much does antitrust enforcement ultimately benefit the consumer? Please join us for an exploration of these and other issues that lie at the intersection of legal and economic theory and practice. 00:00:00 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6214 On May 11, Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney announced plans to restore an aggressive enforcement policy against corporations that engage in anti-competitive behavior. Specifically, the Justice Department was revoking legal guidelines that were adopted in September 2008 that made it more difficult to pursue antitrust cases. "The recent developments in the marketplace should make it clear that we can no longer rely upon the marketplace alone to ensure that competition and consumers will be protected," explained the new head of the Antitrust Division. This policy reversal could be a shot across the bow of the tech industry, with Google and Intel now fearing the sort of legal action that plagued Microsoft in the 1990s. But should the government be going after profitable companies during weak economic times? What makes a merger anti-competitive or a business action monopolistic? How much does antitrust enforcement ultimately benefit the consumer? Please join us for an exploration of these and other issues that lie at the intersection of legal and economic theory and practice. Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-06-16-09.mp3 Featuring [Carl Shapiro], Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Economics, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice; with comments by [Joshua D. Wright], George Mason University School of Law; and [Edwin S. Rockefeller], Former Chairman, A... On May 11, Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney announced plans to restore an aggressive enforcement policy against corporations that engage in anti-competitive behavior. Specifically, the Justice Department was revoking legal guidelines that were adopted in September 2008 that made it more difficult to pursue antitrust cases. "The recent developments in the marketplace should make it clear that we can no longer rely upon the marketplace alone to ensure that competition and consumers will be protected," explained the new head of the Antitrust Division. This policy reversal could be a shot across the bow of the tech industry, with Google and Intel now fearing the sort of legal action that plagued Microsoft in the 1990s. But should the government be going after profitable companies during weak economic times? What makes a merger anti-competitive or a business action monopolistic? How much does antitrust enforcement ultimately benefit the consumer? Please join us for an exploration of these and other issues that lie at the intersection of legal and economic theory and practice. 01:27:18 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6215 In recent months, Pakistani security forces have been battling extremists from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi, and other interconnected networks of terrorist groups in the country's northern districts. Insurgents routinely attack local authorities and have forced over a million persons to flee. These developments are sparking fears that as extremist influence spreads, an al Qaeda ally could get its hands on Pakistan's nuclear weapons. How serious is the militant threat to Pakistan? How does this threat affect U.S. interests? How reliable of an ally is Pakistan to the United States? And what are the prospects for stability in the region? Join us as we explore these questions. Speaker Biographies: Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin has been president of the Middle East Institute since March 2007. Before that she served as deputy high commissioner for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. As assistant administrator in the Asia-Near East Bureau for the US Agency for International Development, Chamberlin held posts in Iraq, South Asia and the Middle East, among other national and international assignments. Mukhtar A. Khan is a Pakistani Pashtun journalist-cum-analyst based in Washington, DC. Since 9/11, he has extensively covered Pakistan's troubled frontier, both for the local and international media, including the BBC, Mail on Sunday, and Voice of America, and has visited the region frequently. Currently, he is working on a book on increasing trends of militancy in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border regions and its spillover to the rest of the world. He is also working as Chief Media Strategist for AfPak Media Solutions and Senior Advisor to the Pashtun Focus, besides contributing analytical articles for The Jamestown Foundation and the Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) at West Point. Ken Luongo is president of the Partnership for Global Security. He has experience in fissile material control, nuclear terrorism and proliferation, and geographic expertise in Pakistan, India, Russia and the former Soviet Union. Previously, he served as senior advisor to the secretary of energy for nonproliferation policy and the director of the Office of Arms Control and Nonproliferation at the U.S. Department of Energy. Luongo has served with the Senate and House Armed Services Committee and has worked extensively on Russian and Pakistani nuclear security issues. Malou Innocent is a Foreign Policy Analyst at the Cato Institute. Her primary research interests are U.S. foreign policy toward Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China. She recently traveled to Pakistan through the Ford Foundation. She has published reviews and articles on national security and international affairs in scholarly and policy journals such as Survival, Congressional Quarterly, and Harvard International Review, as well as in publications such as Armed Forces Journal, Christian Science Monitor, Wall Street Journal Asia, and the Huffington Post. She has appeared as a guest analyst on BBC News, Fox News Channel, Al Jazeera, Voice of America, CNBC Asia, and Reuters. Christopher Preble is the Cato Institute's director of foreign policy studies. His book The Power Problem: How American Military Dominance Makes Us Less Safe, Less Prosperous and Less Free documents the enormous costs of America's military power, and proposes a new grand strategy to advance U.S. national security. He is also the author of Exiting Iraq: How the U.S. Must End the Occupation and Renew the War against Al Qaeda, and John F. Kennedy and the Missile Gap. In addition, Preble has published over 100 articles in major publications, including USA Today, the Financial Times, and the Wall Street Journal. He has appeared on many television and radio news networks including CNN, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, NPR, and the BBC. Preble was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy and is a veteran of the Gulf War, having served onboard USS Ticonderoga (CG-47) from 1990 to 1993. Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-06-23-09.mp3 Featuring [Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin], President of the Middle East Institute and former U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan; [Mukhtar A. Khan], Analyst, The Jamestown Foundation; [Ken Luongo], President of the Partnership for Global Security; [Malou ... In recent months, Pakistani security forces have been battling extremists from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi, and other interconnected networks of terrorist groups in the country's northern districts. Insurgents routinely attack local authorities and have forced over a million persons to flee. These developments are sparking fears that as extremist influence spreads, an al Qaeda ally could get its hands on Pakistan's nuclear weapons. How serious is the militant threat to Pakistan? How does this threat affect U.S. interests? How reliable of an ally is Pakistan to the United States? And what are the prospects for stability in the region? Join us as we explore these questions. Speaker Biographies: Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin has been president of the Middle East Institute since March 2007. Before that she served as deputy high commissioner for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. As assistant administrator in the Asia-Near East Bureau for the US Agency for International Development, Chamberlin held posts in Iraq, South Asia and the Middle East, among other national and international assignments. Mukhtar A. Khan is a Pakistani Pashtun journalist-cum-analyst based in Washington, DC. Since 9/11, he has extensively covered Pakistan's troubled frontier, both for the local and international media, including the BBC, Mail on Sunday, and Voice of America, and has visited the region frequently. Currently, he is working on a book on increasing trends of militancy in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border regions and its spillover to the rest of the world. He is also working as Chief Media Strategist for AfPak Media Solutions and Senior Advisor to the Pashtun Focus, besides contributing analytical articles for The Jamestown Foundation and the Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) at West Point. Ken Luongo is president of the Partnership for Global Security. He has experience in fissile material control, nuclear terrorism and proliferation, and geographic expertise in Pakistan, India, Russia and the former Soviet Union. Previously, he served as senior advisor to the secretary of energy for nonproliferation policy and the director of the Office of Arms Control and Nonproliferation at the U.S. Department of Energy. Luongo has served with the Senate and House Armed Services Committee and has worked extensively on Russian and Pakistani nuclear security issues. Malou Innocent is a Foreign Policy Analyst at the Cato Institute. Her primary research interests are U.S. foreign policy toward Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China. She recently traveled to Pakistan through the Ford Foundation. She has published reviews and articles on national security and international affairs in scholarly and policy journals such as Survival, Congressional Quarterly, and Harvard International Review, as well as in publications such as Armed Forces Journal, Christian Science Monitor, Wall Street Journal Asia, and the Huffington Post. She has appeared as a guest analyst on BBC News, Fox News Channel, Al Jazeera, Voice of America, CNBC Asia, and Reuters. Christopher Preble is the Cato Institute's director of foreign policy studies. His book The Power Problem: How American Military Dominance Makes Us Less Safe, Less Prosperous and Less Free documents the enormous costs of America's military power, and proposes a new grand strategy to advance U.S. national security. He is also the author of Exiting Iraq: How the U.S. Must End the Occupation and Renew the War against Al Qaeda, and John F. Kennedy and the Missile Gap. In addition, Preble has published over 100 articles in major publications, including USA Today, the Financial Times, and the Wall Street Journal. He has appeared on many television and radio news networks including CNN, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, NPR, and the BBC. Preble was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy and is a veteran of the Gulf War, having served onboard USS Ticonderoga (CG-47) from 1990 to 1993. 01:24:51 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6205 When Massachusetts passed its pioneering health care reforms in 2006, critics warned that they would result in a downward spiral toward a government-run health care system. Three years later, those predictions appear to be coming true. With the "Massachusetts model" frequently cited as a blueprint for health care reform, it is important to understand what has resulted since the legislation was implemented. Please join Cato senior fellow Michael Tanner, along with Consumers for Health Care Choices president and CEO Greg Scandlen, and Heritage Foundation policy analyst Greg D'Angelo as they examine the lessons to be learned from Massachusetts. Read more in a new study by Michael D. Tanner, "Massachusetts Miracle or Massachusetts Miserable: What the Failure of the 'Massachusetts Model' Tells Us about Health Care Reform." Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-06-22-09.mp3 Featuring [Michael D. Tanner], Senior Fellow, Cato Institute; [Greg Scandlen], President and CEO, Consumers for Health Care Choices; and [Greg D'Angelo], Policy Analyst, Center for Health Policy Studies, Heritage Foundation.... When Massachusetts passed its pioneering health care reforms in 2006, critics warned that they would result in a downward spiral toward a government-run health care system. Three years later, those predictions appear to be coming true. With the "Massachusetts model" frequently cited as a blueprint for health care reform, it is important to understand what has resulted since the legislation was implemented. Please join Cato senior fellow Michael Tanner, along with Consumers for Health Care Choices president and CEO Greg Scandlen, and Heritage Foundation policy analyst Greg D'Angelo as they examine the lessons to be learned from Massachusetts. Read more in a new study by Michael D. Tanner, "Massachusetts Miracle or Massachusetts Miserable: What the Failure of the 'Massachusetts Model' Tells Us about Health Care Reform." 01:00:28 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6133 Purchase at Amazon When the 24-year-long reign of Daniel arap Moi ended in 2002, Kenyans looked to their new democratically elected government to end pervasive corruption and fix the economy. The new president, Mwai Kibaki, quickly appointed John Githongo as Kenya's anti-corruption czar and took tentative steps to make the government more transparent. Veteran Africa correspondent Michela Wrong charts Githongo's losing fight. As hopeful beginning gave way to disappointment, Githongo realized that the new ruling elite—including people closest to the president—partook in grand corruption with the same gusto as the old. Kibaki's lack of concern at Githongo's findings was only matched by the resolve of most Western governments and aid agencies to ignore widespread corruption so that more aid dollars could flow to Kenya. Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cbfa-06-22-09.mp3 Featuring the author [Michela Wrong], with comments by [Frank Vogl], President of Vogl Communications, Inc., Former Vice Chairman and Co-Founder of Transparency International. Moderated by [Marian Tupy], Policy Analyst, Cato Institute.... Purchase at Amazon When the 24-year-long reign of Daniel arap Moi ended in 2002, Kenyans looked to their new democratically elected government to end pervasive corruption and fix the economy. The new president, Mwai Kibaki, quickly appointed John Githongo as Kenya's anti-corruption czar and took tentative steps to make the government more transparent. Veteran Africa correspondent Michela Wrong charts Githongo's losing fight. As hopeful beginning gave way to disappointment, Githongo realized that the new ruling elite—including people closest to the president—partook in grand corruption with the same gusto as the old. Kibaki's lack of concern at Githongo's findings was only matched by the resolve of most Western governments and aid agencies to ignore widespread corruption so that more aid dollars could flow to Kenya. 01:16:55 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6231 Purchase at Amazon The Declaration of Independence proclaimed America's belief in legal equality and inalienable rights. But American governments legally suspended the free will of blacks for 150 years and then denied blacks equal protection under the law for another 150 years. How did this happen in America? How were the Constitution and laws of the land twisted so as to institutionalize racism? How did it — or will it — end? In his new book Judge Andrew P. Napolitano takes a no-holds-barred look at the role of the government in the denial of freedoms on the basis of race. Juan Williams of NPR, author of Eyes on the Prize and of a biography of Thurgood Marshall, calls it "the best history of the law and race I've ever read." Damon Root and Jason Kuznicki, both of whom have written on the history of race and the law, will comment. Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cbfa-06-18-09.mp3 Featuring the author, [Judge Andrew P. Napolitano]; with comments by [Damon Root], Associate Editor, Reason; and [Jason Kuznicki], Research Fellow, Cato Institute.... Purchase at Amazon The Declaration of Independence proclaimed America's belief in legal equality and inalienable rights. But American governments legally suspended the free will of blacks for 150 years and then denied blacks equal protection under the law for another 150 years. How did this happen in America? How were the Constitution and laws of the land twisted so as to institutionalize racism? How did it — or will it — end? In his new book Judge Andrew P. Napolitano takes a no-holds-barred look at the role of the government in the denial of freedoms on the basis of race. Juan Williams of NPR, author of Eyes on the Prize and of a biography of Thurgood Marshall, calls it "the best history of the law and race I've ever read." Damon Root and Jason Kuznicki, both of whom have written on the history of race and the law, will comment. 01:25:57 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6090 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cca-06-17-09-1.mp3 ... 00:36:15 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6090 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cca-06-17-09-2.mp3 ... 00:53:18 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6090 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cca-06-17-09-3.mp3 ... 01:25:19 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6090 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cca-06-17-09-4.mp3 ... 00:50:08 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6090 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cca-06-17-09-5.mp3 ... 01:05:27 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6090 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cca-06-17-09-6.mp3 ... 01:16:27 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5954 On April 22, South Africa will hold its fourth general election since the advent of multiracial democracy in 1994 and first general election since the break-up of the once-hegemonic African National Congress. Will a strong showing by the new party-the Congress of the People-reduce the ANC's majority, reinvigorate the opposition, and make the government more accountable? Or will it lead the ANC to embrace more populist economic policies in an effort to regain the loyalty of its former supporters? Please join us for a discussion of the likely effects of this pivotal election on the future of sub-Saharan Africa's most powerful nation. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-04-16-09.mp3 Featuring [Welile Nhlapo], South African Ambassador to the United States; [J. Daniel O'Flaherty], Vice President, National Foreign Trade Council; [Tom Woods], Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa; Moderated by [Marian Tupy], Pol... On April 22, South Africa will hold its fourth general election since the advent of multiracial democracy in 1994 and first general election since the break-up of the once-hegemonic African National Congress. Will a strong showing by the new party-the Congress of the People-reduce the ANC's majority, reinvigorate the opposition, and make the government more accountable? Or will it lead the ANC to embrace more populist economic policies in an effort to regain the loyalty of its former supporters? Please join us for a discussion of the likely effects of this pivotal election on the future of sub-Saharan Africa's most powerful nation. 01:20:12 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6204 The bipartisan, pro-trade consensus that served U.S. interests so well for nearly six decades collapsed during the Bush administration. Today, the direction of U.S. trade policy remains unclear to most observers. Although President Obama seems to appreciate the importance of trade and speaks about the dangers of protectionism, the 111th Congress has given mixed signals on the topic. What caused the collapse of the pro-trade consensus? Can that consensus be restored? Is its restoration a requirement of meaningful and effective trade policy? If so, how can it be accomplished? Please join Congressman Cuellar and Cato scholar Daniel J. Ikenson to discuss the importance of restoring bipartisan support for open international commerce. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-06-15-09.mp3 Featuring [Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX)], Founder, Congressional Pro-Trade Caucus; and [Daniel J. Ikenson], Associate Director, Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute.... The bipartisan, pro-trade consensus that served U.S. interests so well for nearly six decades collapsed during the Bush administration. Today, the direction of U.S. trade policy remains unclear to most observers. Although President Obama seems to appreciate the importance of trade and speaks about the dangers of protectionism, the 111th Congress has given mixed signals on the topic. What caused the collapse of the pro-trade consensus? Can that consensus be restored? Is its restoration a requirement of meaningful and effective trade policy? If so, how can it be accomplished? Please join Congressman Cuellar and Cato scholar Daniel J. Ikenson to discuss the importance of restoring bipartisan support for open international commerce. 00:41:28 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5926 Purchase at Amazon Justice Anthony M. Kennedy sits at the center of the Roberts Court. Two terms ago he was in the majority in all 24 of the 5/4 decisions. During that term, in fact, he was in the majority in all but two of the Court's decisions, and his pivotal role on the Court continues. It is no stretch, therefore, to call today's Supreme Court the Kennedy Court. Yet only now do we have the first book-length study of Justice Kennedy and his constitutional jurisprudence. Author Helen Knowles examines how Kennedy's background as a law student and classroom teacher has influenced his judicial philosophy. The book begins by examining Kennedy's judicial thought in the context of libertarian thought. Knowles does not call the justice a libertarian. Instead, in a sympathetic but not uncritical analysis, she uses libertarian philosophy, focusing on privacy, race, and speech cases, to draw out Kennedy's views about limited government and individual liberty. Please join us for a discussion of Justice Kennedy's "modest libertarianism," with comments by one of the nation's foremost constitutional scholars, Professor Randy Barnett. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cbfa-03-23-09.mp3 Featuring author [Helen J. Knowles], State University of New York, Oswego; With comments by [Randy Barnett], Georgetown University Law Center; Moderated by [Roger Pilon], Director, Cato Institute's Center for Constitutional Studies;... Purchase at Amazon Justice Anthony M. Kennedy sits at the center of the Roberts Court. Two terms ago he was in the majority in all 24 of the 5/4 decisions. During that term, in fact, he was in the majority in all but two of the Court's decisions, and his pivotal role on the Court continues. It is no stretch, therefore, to call today's Supreme Court the Kennedy Court. Yet only now do we have the first book-length study of Justice Kennedy and his constitutional jurisprudence. Author Helen Knowles examines how Kennedy's background as a law student and classroom teacher has influenced his judicial philosophy. The book begins by examining Kennedy's judicial thought in the context of libertarian thought. Knowles does not call the justice a libertarian. Instead, in a sympathetic but not uncritical analysis, she uses libertarian philosophy, focusing on privacy, race, and speech cases, to draw out Kennedy's views about limited government and individual liberty. Please join us for a discussion of Justice Kennedy's "modest libertarianism," with comments by one of the nation's foremost constitutional scholars, Professor Randy Barnett. 01:11:38 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6241 Which members of Congress most consistently support the freedom of Americans to trade and invest in the global economy—free of market-distorting subsidies and barriers? Cato trade scholar Daniel Griswold will reveal who in the 110th Congress earned the title of "Free Trader" and demonstrate the new Cato web feature, "Free Trade, Free Markets," which allows users to search an up-to-date database containing more than a decade of votes. Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), one of the Senate's most distinguished and consistent supporters of free trade, will offer remarks on the prospects for trade legislation in the 111th Congress and beyond. Due to the overwhelming public response to this program we are unable to accept additional reservations. A video of the event will be posted to this website within one week. Thank you for your interest in our programs. Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-06-10-09.mp3 Featuring [Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH)] and [Daniel Griswold], Director, Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute.... Which members of Congress most consistently support the freedom of Americans to trade and invest in the global economy—free of market-distorting subsidies and barriers? Cato trade scholar Daniel Griswold will reveal who in the 110th Congress earned the title of "Free Trader" and demonstrate the new Cato web feature, "Free Trade, Free Markets," which allows users to search an up-to-date database containing more than a decade of votes. Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), one of the Senate's most distinguished and consistent supporters of free trade, will offer remarks on the prospects for trade legislation in the 111th Congress and beyond. Due to the overwhelming public response to this program we are unable to accept additional reservations. A video of the event will be posted to this website within one week. Thank you for your interest in our programs. 00:29:19 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6218 Police departments across the country are starting to create networks of databases called "fusion centers" in an effort to detect and prevent acts of terrorism. The ultimate objective is to create a nationwide reporting system of suspicious behaviors so that the authorities can "connect the dots" before an attack can occur. Civil liberties groups claim these fusion centers are beset with legal and practical problems. One legal problem is that the police should not be opening files on people because they exercised their right to free speech, such as demonstrating against the foreign policies of the United States. One practical problem is that the police are gathering so much mundane information that practically anyone could end up on a list of "suspicious" persons because some official arbitrarily decided to fill out a tip sheet. Join us for a discussion of the pros and cons of this newly proposed system of policing. Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-06-11-09.mp3 Featuring [Bruce Fein], Constitutional Attorney, The Lichfield Group; [Harvey Eisenberg], Chief, National Security Section, Office of United States Attorney, District of Maryland; and [Michael German], Policy Counsel, American Civil Liberties U... Police departments across the country are starting to create networks of databases called "fusion centers" in an effort to detect and prevent acts of terrorism. The ultimate objective is to create a nationwide reporting system of suspicious behaviors so that the authorities can "connect the dots" before an attack can occur. Civil liberties groups claim these fusion centers are beset with legal and practical problems. One legal problem is that the police should not be opening files on people because they exercised their right to free speech, such as demonstrating against the foreign policies of the United States. One practical problem is that the police are gathering so much mundane information that practically anyone could end up on a list of "suspicious" persons because some official arbitrarily decided to fill out a tip sheet. Join us for a discussion of the pros and cons of this newly proposed system of policing. 01:17:31 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6227 The Obama administration is expected to propose a comprehensive reform of the American financial system some time in June. Goodman and Kotlikoff find the administration's financial strategy — fighting each financial fire one by one and rebuilding the old system pretty much as it was — deeply misguided. It treats the symptoms, not the disease, and will leave us financially and fiscally weaker. It is more important to offer a solution based on a simple principle: no one should be able to gamble with other people's money, including the taxpayers' money, without their consent. Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-06-08-09.mp3 Featuring [John Goodman], President, National Center for Policy Analysis; and [Laurence J. Kotlikoff], Professor of Economics, Boston University, and Senior Fellow, National Center for Policy Analysis. With comments by [William Poole], Senior F... The Obama administration is expected to propose a comprehensive reform of the American financial system some time in June. Goodman and Kotlikoff find the administration's financial strategy — fighting each financial fire one by one and rebuilding the old system pretty much as it was — deeply misguided. It treats the symptoms, not the disease, and will leave us financially and fiscally weaker. It is more important to offer a solution based on a simple principle: no one should be able to gamble with other people's money, including the taxpayers' money, without their consent. 01:28:25 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6120 Purchase book If scathing, uproarious, and insightful political satire were not enough, for more than 30 years P. J. O'Rourke—acclaimed humorist and H. L. Mencken Research Fellow at the Cato Institute—has written about his love affair with the automobile. His newest book, Driving Like Crazy: Thirty Years of Vehicular Hell-bending, Celebrating America the Way It's Supposed to Be—With an Oil Well in Every Backyard, a Cadillac Escalade in Every Carport, and the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Mowing Our Lawn combines his classic articles on automobiles with new material and traces the birth and death of America's car obsession. Starting with his childhood as the grandson of an Ohio Buick dealer, O'Rourke details some of his earliest adventures as an automotive writer, on assignment for Car and Driver, Rolling Stone, Forbes, Esquire, among others. What emerges is a love letter to the glory days of the American automobile, from the perspective of a 60-something who has been driving like crazy for a lifetime. O'Rourke opens the book by chronicling the end of an era, as the government bails out the auto industry, places ever-more-strident restrictions on emissions, and, as he sees it, brings to a halt the heyday of the American car. "Pity the poor American car when Congress and the White House get through with it," he laments, "a light-weight vehicle with a small carbon footprint, using alternative energy and renewable resources to operate in a sustainable way. When I was a kid we called it a Schwinn." Reaffirming O'Rourke's stature as "the funniest writer in America"—with previous best-sellers including Parliament of Whores, Give War a Chance, Eat the Rich, The CEO of the Sofa, and his most recent, On the Wealth of Nations—this new addition to his dazzling canon takes readers on a wild ride—from his earliest live-fast-and-drive-fast days to his older, wiser, SUV-driving, Prius-hating self. Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cbfa-06-09-09.mp3 Featuring the author [P. J. O'Rourke], H. L. Mencken Research Fellow, Cato Institute.... Purchase book If scathing, uproarious, and insightful political satire were not enough, for more than 30 years P. J. O'Rourke—acclaimed humorist and H. L. Mencken Research Fellow at the Cato Institute—has written about his love affair with the automobile. His newest book, Driving Like Crazy: Thirty Years of Vehicular Hell-bending, Celebrating America the Way It's Supposed to Be—With an Oil Well in Every Backyard, a Cadillac Escalade in Every Carport, and the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Mowing Our Lawn combines his classic articles on automobiles with new material and traces the birth and death of America's car obsession. Starting with his childhood as the grandson of an Ohio Buick dealer, O'Rourke details some of his earliest adventures as an automotive writer, on assignment for Car and Driver, Rolling Stone, Forbes, Esquire, among others. What emerges is a love letter to the glory days of the American automobile, from the perspective of a 60-something who has been driving like crazy for a lifetime. O'Rourke opens the book by chronicling the end of an era, as the government bails out the auto industry, places ever-more-strident restrictions on emissions, and, as he sees it, brings to a halt the heyday of the American car. "Pity the poor American car when Congress and the White House get through with it," he laments, "a light-weight vehicle with a small carbon footprint, using alternative energy and renewable resources to operate in a sustainable way. When I was a kid we called it a Schwinn." Reaffirming O'Rourke's stature as "the funniest writer in America"—with previous best-sellers including Parliament of Whores, Give War a Chance, Eat the Rich, The CEO of the Sofa, and his most recent, On the Wealth of Nations—this new addition to his dazzling canon takes readers on a wild ride—from his earliest live-fast-and-drive-fast days to his older, wiser, SUV-driving, Prius-hating self. 00:55:02 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. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=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. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=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. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=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 Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=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. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=5722 Although they are a large and growing segment of world trade, services are frequently relegated to second-tier status in trade negotiations--behind high profile sectors such as agriculture and manufactured goods. That’s unfortunate, because studies from several international economic institutions--and a new Cato paper--show that liberalizing services will bring huge benefits to consumers and taxpayers--from lower prices to increased choice--and will deliver indirect benefits to the many industries that use services as an input to their own production. What opportunities exist for capturing the benefits of freer services markets with the Doha round of multilateral trade negotiations in a deep funk? Please join us to discuss these important issues. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-02-10-09.mp3 Featuring [Bob Vastine], President of the U.S. Coalition of Services Industries; [Christine Bliss], Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Services and Investment; and [Aaditya Mattoo], World Bank. Moderated by [Sallie James], Policy Analyst, C... Although they are a large and growing segment of world trade, services are frequently relegated to second-tier status in trade negotiations--behind high profile sectors such as agriculture and manufactured goods. That’s unfortunate, because studies from several international economic institutions--and a new Cato paper--show that liberalizing services will bring huge benefits to consumers and taxpayers--from lower prices to increased choice--and will deliver indirect benefits to the many industries that use services as an input to their own production. What opportunities exist for capturing the benefits of freer services markets with the Doha round of multilateral trade negotiations in a deep funk? Please join us to discuss these important issues. 01:13:22 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5735 As the new Obama administration surveys possible national security threats confronting the United States, policymakers need to recognize that an especially lethal one is brewing close to home: the increasing drug-related violence in Mexico. Since January 2007 there have been more than 6,800 drug-war related deaths in Mexico, and Mexican drug cartels continue to expand their operations in American cities. Washington's response has been to expand its prohibitionist efforts with the Mérida Initiative, a U.S.–Mexico anti-drug-trafficking program. Historically, however, prohibitionist policies have had little success in reducing the flow of drugs. Instead, those policies have led to increased turmoil and corruption. Please join us as we explore more effective alternatives for the new administration. This forum is funded by a grant from the Open Society Institute. Due to the overwhelming public response to this program we are unable to accept additional reservations. The event will be simulcast live on this Website. Thank you for your interest in our public programs. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-02-19-09.mp3 Featuring [Ted Galen Carpenter], Vice President for Defense and Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute; [Ethan Nadelmann], Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance; [Vanda Felbab-Brown], Foreign Policy Fellow at the Brookings Institution; ... As the new Obama administration surveys possible national security threats confronting the United States, policymakers need to recognize that an especially lethal one is brewing close to home: the increasing drug-related violence in Mexico. Since January 2007 there have been more than 6,800 drug-war related deaths in Mexico, and Mexican drug cartels continue to expand their operations in American cities. Washington's response has been to expand its prohibitionist efforts with the Mérida Initiative, a U.S.–Mexico anti-drug-trafficking program. Historically, however, prohibitionist policies have had little success in reducing the flow of drugs. Instead, those policies have led to increased turmoil and corruption. Please join us as we explore more effective alternatives for the new administration. This forum is funded by a grant from the Open Society Institute. Due to the overwhelming public response to this program we are unable to accept additional reservations. The event will be simulcast live on this Website. Thank you for your interest in our public programs. 01:29:20 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5886 Studies comparing the effectiveness of medical treatments have the potential to reduce health care costs by helping purchasers, such as Medicare, eliminate low-value services. Health care analysts generally agree that current institutions underproduce comparative-effectiveness research, and economists agree that private sector tends to underproduce such public goods. Many, therefore, want Congress to fund such research. But is market failure really the culprit? And would taxpayer-funded research solve the problem, or would it lead to government rationing? Or would it have no effect on health care costs? Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-03-03-09.mp3 Featuring [Shannon Brownlee], Visiting Scholar, NIH Clinical Center, Dept. of Bioethics, and also Senior Fellow at the New America Foundation; [Scott Gottlieb, M.D.], Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute; and [Michael F. Cannon], Direc... Studies comparing the effectiveness of medical treatments have the potential to reduce health care costs by helping purchasers, such as Medicare, eliminate low-value services. Health care analysts generally agree that current institutions underproduce comparative-effectiveness research, and economists agree that private sector tends to underproduce such public goods. Many, therefore, want Congress to fund such research. But is market failure really the culprit? And would taxpayer-funded research solve the problem, or would it lead to government rationing? Or would it have no effect on health care costs? 01:22:11 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5741 George W. Bush's administration pushed relentlessly to expand presidential power at the expense of Congress. In late 2007, in an interview with the Boston Globe, presidential candidate Barack Obama repudiated virtually all of the Bush administration's most controversial executive power claims. Will President Obama follow through and oversee a more modest presidency that recognizes constitutional limitations? Or will the new administration end up expanding the powers of the presidential office? Please join us to discuss the prospects and possibilities for the presidency in the Obama era. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-02-25-09.mp3 Featuring [Louis Fisher], Specialist on the Constitution, Law Library of Congress; and [Jeffrey Rosen], Professor, The George Washington University School of Law. Moderated by [Gene Healy], Vice President, Cato Institute.... George W. Bush's administration pushed relentlessly to expand presidential power at the expense of Congress. In late 2007, in an interview with the Boston Globe, presidential candidate Barack Obama repudiated virtually all of the Bush administration's most controversial executive power claims. Will President Obama follow through and oversee a more modest presidency that recognizes constitutional limitations? Or will the new administration end up expanding the powers of the presidential office? Please join us to discuss the prospects and possibilities for the presidency in the Obama era. 01:17:24 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5302 Ten years ago, on March 17, 1999, an important government study was released regarding certain patients’ use of marijuana as prescribed by their doctors. The Institute of Medicine, a branch of the National Academy of Sciences, issued what was then the most comprehensive analysis of the scientific and medical literature about marijuana. The report stated, "The accumulated data indicate a potential therapeutic value for cannabinoid drugs, particularly for symptoms such as pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation."Many medical experts continue to caution about harms that may result from smoking marijuana, though those harms need to be weighed against other harms that particular patients may be facing. In the political realm, the debate over the legal status of medical marijuana continues to rage. Since 1996, 12 states have legalized marijuana for medical use. What have medical scientists learned about marijuana over the past 10 years? And how have the politics on this contentious issue shifted at the federal and state level? Join us for a lively discussion of the science and politics of medical marijuana. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-03-17-09.mp3 Featuring [Donald Abrams, M.D.], Director of Clinical Programs, Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California; [Robert DuPont, M.D.], President, Institute for Behavior and Health; [Rob Kampia], Executive Director, Marijuana Pol... Ten years ago, on March 17, 1999, an important government study was released regarding certain patients’ use of marijuana as prescribed by their doctors. The Institute of Medicine, a branch of the National Academy of Sciences, issued what was then the most comprehensive analysis of the scientific and medical literature about marijuana. The report stated, "The accumulated data indicate a potential therapeutic value for cannabinoid drugs, particularly for symptoms such as pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation."Many medical experts continue to caution about harms that may result from smoking marijuana, though those harms need to be weighed against other harms that particular patients may be facing. In the political realm, the debate over the legal status of medical marijuana continues to rage. Since 1996, 12 states have legalized marijuana for medical use. What have medical scientists learned about marijuana over the past 10 years? And how have the politics on this contentious issue shifted at the federal and state level? Join us for a lively discussion of the science and politics of medical marijuana. 01:21:08 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5789 Most defense analysts agree: the Pentagon is in serious need of reform. Acquisition programs run above cost and behind schedule. The U.S. defense budget is higher than at any point during the Cold War, but capability has not kept pace. We field fewer ships, aircraft, and tanks than we did in the days of lower procurement spending. And our defense spending prepares us better for the conventional wars we imagine than the unconventional conflicts we fight. The question is what to do about these problems. Should we give more power over budgets to civilians or combatant commanders? Should we change procurement rules or push the services to buy cheaper but less capable weapons? Should we continue to reform the ground forces to fight small wars or simply avoid them? Should we slash defense spending? Please join us for a discussion about alternatives for defense reform. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-03-13-09.mp3 Featuring [Winslow Wheeler], Director, Straus Military Reform Project, Center for Defense Information; [Colonel Douglas Macgregor], U.S. Army (Retired), Straus Military Reform Project adviser; [Danielle Brian], Executive Director, Project on Gov... Most defense analysts agree: the Pentagon is in serious need of reform. Acquisition programs run above cost and behind schedule. The U.S. defense budget is higher than at any point during the Cold War, but capability has not kept pace. We field fewer ships, aircraft, and tanks than we did in the days of lower procurement spending. And our defense spending prepares us better for the conventional wars we imagine than the unconventional conflicts we fight. The question is what to do about these problems. Should we give more power over budgets to civilians or combatant commanders? Should we change procurement rules or push the services to buy cheaper but less capable weapons? Should we continue to reform the ground forces to fight small wars or simply avoid them? Should we slash defense spending? Please join us for a discussion about alternatives for defense reform. 01:31:14 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5983 Since the Rose Revolution of 2003, Georgia has implemented perhaps the most ambitious economic reform program of all formerly socialist countries. Years of high growth have been transforming it into an economic success story. But beginning last year the country suffered a war with Russia, partial occupation and secession of part of its territory, and the effects of the global economic crisis. Kakha Bendukidze will explain the economic policies that Georgia is undertaking to confront that adversity. David Bakradze will discuss the country’s move toward greater democratization, including in the areas of free speech and a greater role for parliament in national decision making and presidential accountability. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-03-24-09.mp3 Featuring [David Bakradze], Speaker of the Georgian Parliament; [Kakha Bendukidze], Former Minister of the Economy and Reform Coordination, Georgia; and [Andrei Illarionov], Senior Fellow, Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, Cato Institu... Since the Rose Revolution of 2003, Georgia has implemented perhaps the most ambitious economic reform program of all formerly socialist countries. Years of high growth have been transforming it into an economic success story. But beginning last year the country suffered a war with Russia, partial occupation and secession of part of its territory, and the effects of the global economic crisis. Kakha Bendukidze will explain the economic policies that Georgia is undertaking to confront that adversity. David Bakradze will discuss the country’s move toward greater democratization, including in the areas of free speech and a greater role for parliament in national decision making and presidential accountability. 01:22:26 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5887 In 2001, Portugal began a remarkable policy experiment, decriminalizing all drugs, including cocaine and heroin. Some predicted disastrous results — that drug addiction rates would soar and the country would become a haven for "drug tourists." Now that several years have passed, policy experts can study the results. In a new paper for the Cato Institute, attorney and author Glenn Greenwald closely examines the Portugal experiment and concludes that the doomsayers were wrong. There is now a widespread consensus in Portugal that decriminalization has been a success. The debate in Portugal has shifted rather dramatically to minor adjustments in the existing arrangement. There is no real debate about whether drugs should once again be criminalized. Join us for a discussion about Glenn Greenwald's field research in Portugal and what lessons his findings may hold for drug policies in other countries. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-04-03-09.mp3 Featuring [Glenn Greenwald], Attorney and Best-selling Author; with comments by [Peter Reuter], Department of Criminology, University of Maryland; moderated by [Tim Lynch], Director, Project on Criminal Justice, Cato Institute.... In 2001, Portugal began a remarkable policy experiment, decriminalizing all drugs, including cocaine and heroin. Some predicted disastrous results — that drug addiction rates would soar and the country would become a haven for "drug tourists." Now that several years have passed, policy experts can study the results. In a new paper for the Cato Institute, attorney and author Glenn Greenwald closely examines the Portugal experiment and concludes that the doomsayers were wrong. There is now a widespread consensus in Portugal that decriminalization has been a success. The debate in Portugal has shifted rather dramatically to minor adjustments in the existing arrangement. There is no real debate about whether drugs should once again be criminalized. Join us for a discussion about Glenn Greenwald's field research in Portugal and what lessons his findings may hold for drug policies in other countries. 01:20:14 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5973 At his White House summit on health care reform, President Obama said, "If there is a way of getting this done where we're driving down costs and people are getting health insurance at an affordable rate, and have choice of doctor, have flexibility in terms of their plans, and we could do that entirely through the market, I'd be happy to do it that way." In a study recently published by the Cato Institute, economist John Cochrane argues that the market can solve a huge piece of the health care puzzle: providing secure, life-long health insurance and a choice of health plans to even the sickest patients. The key, Cochrane explains, is to eliminate government policies that force the healthy to subsidize the sick, such as the tax preference for employer-sponsored coverage and other attempts to impose price controls on health insurance premiums. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-03-31-09.mp3 Featuring [John H. Cochrane], Myron S. Scholes Professor of Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business Research Associate, National Bureau of Economic Research; [Bradley Herring], Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School... At his White House summit on health care reform, President Obama said, "If there is a way of getting this done where we're driving down costs and people are getting health insurance at an affordable rate, and have choice of doctor, have flexibility in terms of their plans, and we could do that entirely through the market, I'd be happy to do it that way." In a study recently published by the Cato Institute, economist John Cochrane argues that the market can solve a huge piece of the health care puzzle: providing secure, life-long health insurance and a choice of health plans to even the sickest patients. The key, Cochrane explains, is to eliminate government policies that force the healthy to subsidize the sick, such as the tax preference for employer-sponsored coverage and other attempts to impose price controls on health insurance premiums. 01:23:32 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5917 Purchase at Amazon One of the greatest myths of our time is that foreign aid can help Africa fight poverty and increase growth. So says Zambian author Dambisa Moyo, who calls aid an "unmitigated economic, political, and humanitarian disaster" that has made Africans poorer. She will explain why aid fails and propose an "aid-free solution" to development based on the experience of successful African countries. Todd Moss will comment on the book and aid effectiveness by drawing on his research and work in the region, most recently as Deputy Assistant Secretary of African Affairs in the U.S. Department of State. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cbfa-04-03-09.mp3 Featuring the author [Dambisa Moyo]; with comments by [Todd Moss], Center for Global Development; moderated by [Ian Vasquez], Director, Cato Institute's Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity;... Purchase at Amazon One of the greatest myths of our time is that foreign aid can help Africa fight poverty and increase growth. So says Zambian author Dambisa Moyo, who calls aid an "unmitigated economic, political, and humanitarian disaster" that has made Africans poorer. She will explain why aid fails and propose an "aid-free solution" to development based on the experience of successful African countries. Todd Moss will comment on the book and aid effectiveness by drawing on his research and work in the region, most recently as Deputy Assistant Secretary of African Affairs in the U.S. Department of State. 01:15:07 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5863 Between 700 and 800 million Chinese, more than half of China's population, are still rural. Economic reforms have helped Chinese farmers, but rural China is falling further and further behind urban China. The lack of land rights for rural Chinese is a major cause of the disparity and a major source of social instability. Secure land rights would allow farmers to increase investments, improve productivity and accumulate wealth. In recent years, the Chinese government has passed laws to make those rights more secure. Based on their 2008 survey of farmers in 17 provinces, Roy Prosterman and Zhu Keliang will assess the current status of farmers' rights, document ongoing violations, and propose policies that would do much more to give farmers legal security in their land. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-04-06-09.mp3 Featuring [Roy Prosterman], Chair Emeritus, Rural Development Institute; and [Zhu Keliang], East Asia Program Manager, Rural Development Institute; moderated by [Ian Vasquez], Director, Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, Cato Institute... Between 700 and 800 million Chinese, more than half of China's population, are still rural. Economic reforms have helped Chinese farmers, but rural China is falling further and further behind urban China. The lack of land rights for rural Chinese is a major cause of the disparity and a major source of social instability. Secure land rights would allow farmers to increase investments, improve productivity and accumulate wealth. In recent years, the Chinese government has passed laws to make those rights more secure. Based on their 2008 survey of farmers in 17 provinces, Roy Prosterman and Zhu Keliang will assess the current status of farmers' rights, document ongoing violations, and propose policies that would do much more to give farmers legal security in their land. 01:17:29 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5747 History provides us with many examples of powerful institutions being disrupted by technology. The invention of the printing press undermined the authority of the Catholic Church by democratizing access to knowledge. Today, the Internet is undermining the traditional copyright industries. Now, an ambitious new project aims to achieve a similar result by creating competition for the world's sovereign nations. The Seasteading Institute seeks to build self-sufficient deep-sea platforms that would empower individuals to break free of national governments and start their own societies. Executive director Patri Friedman predicts a future in which any group of people dissatisfied with their current government would be able to start a new one by purchasing a floating platform — called a seastead — and building a new community on the open ocean. He hopes that the availability of alternatives will encourage existing governments to reform themselves to better serve their citizens. Can seasteading succeed where past plans have not? Are people willing to brave the high seas for liberty? Economist Arnold Kling will address the viability of the project in light of similar efforts in the past. Doug Bandow will address whether existing governments will tolerate seasteads, and specifically how the international Law of the Sea Treaty might complicate matters. Please join us for an in-depth discussion of the prospects of this exciting new effort. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-04-07-09.mp3 Featuring [Patri Friedman], Executive Director, Seasteading Institute; with comments by [Doug Bandow], Senior Fellow, Cato Institute; and [Arnold Kling] Adjunct Scholar, Cato Institute.... History provides us with many examples of powerful institutions being disrupted by technology. The invention of the printing press undermined the authority of the Catholic Church by democratizing access to knowledge. Today, the Internet is undermining the traditional copyright industries. Now, an ambitious new project aims to achieve a similar result by creating competition for the world's sovereign nations. The Seasteading Institute seeks to build self-sufficient deep-sea platforms that would empower individuals to break free of national governments and start their own societies. Executive director Patri Friedman predicts a future in which any group of people dissatisfied with their current government would be able to start a new one by purchasing a floating platform — called a seastead — and building a new community on the open ocean. He hopes that the availability of alternatives will encourage existing governments to reform themselves to better serve their citizens. Can seasteading succeed where past plans have not? Are people willing to brave the high seas for liberty? Economist Arnold Kling will address the viability of the project in light of similar efforts in the past. Doug Bandow will address whether existing governments will tolerate seasteads, and specifically how the international Law of the Sea Treaty might complicate matters. Please join us for an in-depth discussion of the prospects of this exciting new effort. 01:19:30 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6015 Purchase at Cato "A moving account of how poor parents struggle against great odds to provide a rich educational experience to their children." --Publishers Weekly Everyone from Bono to the United Nations is looking for a miracle to bring schooling within reach of the poorest children on Earth. James Tooley may have found one. While researching private schools in India for the World Bank, and worried he was doing little to help the poor, Tooley wandered into the slums of Hyderabad's Old City. Shocked to find it overflowing with small, parent-funded schools filled with energized students, he set out to discover if the small, parent-funded schools could help achieve universal education. So began the adventure told in Tooley's new book, The Beautiful Tree - the story of his journey from the largest shanty town in Africa to the mountains of Gansu, China, and of the children, parents, teachers, and entrepreneurs who taught him that the poor are not waiting for educational handouts. They are building their own schools and educating themselves. Named after Mahatma Gandhi's phrase for the schools of pre-colonial India, The Beautiful Tree is not another book lamenting what has gone wrong in the Third World. It is a book about what is going right, illustrating that even the most disadvantaged parents in the poorest corners of the globe have the power to create tremendous educational experiences for their children. We hope you will be able to join us and hear first-hand not just what Americans can do to help education in poor countries, but what we can learn from these education entrepreneurs who are succeeding under the most challenging conditions imaginable. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-04-15-09.mp3 Featuring the author, [James Tooley], award-winning scholar who lives in Hyderabad, India, where he works with those who inspired this book; [Reshma Lohia], who runs the private school, Lohia's Little Angels, serving 500 poor students in India; ... Purchase at Cato "A moving account of how poor parents struggle against great odds to provide a rich educational experience to their children." --Publishers Weekly Everyone from Bono to the United Nations is looking for a miracle to bring schooling within reach of the poorest children on Earth. James Tooley may have found one. While researching private schools in India for the World Bank, and worried he was doing little to help the poor, Tooley wandered into the slums of Hyderabad's Old City. Shocked to find it overflowing with small, parent-funded schools filled with energized students, he set out to discover if the small, parent-funded schools could help achieve universal education. So began the adventure told in Tooley's new book, The Beautiful Tree - the story of his journey from the largest shanty town in Africa to the mountains of Gansu, China, and of the children, parents, teachers, and entrepreneurs who taught him that the poor are not waiting for educational handouts. They are building their own schools and educating themselves. Named after Mahatma Gandhi's phrase for the schools of pre-colonial India, The Beautiful Tree is not another book lamenting what has gone wrong in the Third World. It is a book about what is going right, illustrating that even the most disadvantaged parents in the poorest corners of the globe have the power to create tremendous educational experiences for their children. We hope you will be able to join us and hear first-hand not just what Americans can do to help education in poor countries, but what we can learn from these education entrepreneurs who are succeeding under the most challenging conditions imaginable. 01:10:36 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6078 The bipartisan, pro-trade consensus that served U.S. interests so well for nearly six decades collapsed during the Bush administration. Today, the direction of U.S. trade policy remains unclear to most observers. Although President Obama seems to appreciate the importance of trade and speaks about the dangers of protectionism, the 111th Congress flirts with legislation that can only be described as protectionist. What caused the collapse of the pro-trade consensus? Can that consensus be restored? Is restoration of consensus a requirement of meaningful and effective trade policy? If so, how can it be accomplished? Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-04-28-09.mp3 Featuring [Tim Reif], General Counsel, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; [Anne Kim], Economic Program Director, Third Way; and [Dan Ikenson], Associate Director, Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute.... The bipartisan, pro-trade consensus that served U.S. interests so well for nearly six decades collapsed during the Bush administration. Today, the direction of U.S. trade policy remains unclear to most observers. Although President Obama seems to appreciate the importance of trade and speaks about the dangers of protectionism, the 111th Congress flirts with legislation that can only be described as protectionist. What caused the collapse of the pro-trade consensus? Can that consensus be restored? Is restoration of consensus a requirement of meaningful and effective trade policy? If so, how can it be accomplished? 01:19:48 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. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=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. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=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. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=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. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=6169 From a patient's point of view, the ideal health insurance policy would offer unlimited access to medical services at no charge. Unfortunately, it is not feasible to offer this to everyone. The key to sustainable health care reform is restraining the use of services that have high costs and low benefits. How will a government-funded system restrain spending? Why might a market-oriented alternative be attractive? Please join Cato scholar Arnold Kling to examine the challenges facing health reformers and the feasibility of alternative proposals. Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-06-02-09.mp3 Featuring [Arnold Kling], Adjunct Scholar, Cato Institute, and Author, Crisis of Abundance: Rethinking How We Pay for Health Care.... From a patient's point of view, the ideal health insurance policy would offer unlimited access to medical services at no charge. Unfortunately, it is not feasible to offer this to everyone. The key to sustainable health care reform is restraining the use of services that have high costs and low benefits. How will a government-funded system restrain spending? Why might a market-oriented alternative be attractive? Please join Cato scholar Arnold Kling to examine the challenges facing health reformers and the feasibility of alternative proposals. 00:33:50 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. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=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. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=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. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=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. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=5381 No U.S. Supreme Court decision in the modern era has been so quickly and widely reviled as the infamous Kelo decision, in which the Court ruled that Susette Kelo's little pink house in New London, Connecticut, and the homes of her neighbors could be taken by the government and given over to a private developer based on the mere prospect that the new use for her property could generate more taxes or jobs. Now, three years after that decision comes a riveting new book that looks behind the scenes of the fight and focuses on the actions of two strong women diametrically opposed to each other: Susette Kelo, who struggled to save her home vs. Claire Gaudiani, a college president who headed up the New London Development Corporation's effort to take Susette's home for a private development plan. As Jeff Benedict details in his book, Susette takes on the City of New London, a cast of characters too evil to be believed, and, ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a case that was followed by thousands and sparked a revolutionary change in state law across the country—except in the case's home state. We hope you will be able to join us and hear first-hand from major participants in one of the Supreme Court's most historic and controversial rulings. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cbfa-01-27-09.mp3 Featuring [Jeff Benedict], Author of Little Pink House; [Susette Kelo], plaintiff in the landmark Kelo v. City of New London case; [Scott Bullock], Institute for Justice senior attorney who argued the Kelo case before the Supreme Court; Moderat... No U.S. Supreme Court decision in the modern era has been so quickly and widely reviled as the infamous Kelo decision, in which the Court ruled that Susette Kelo's little pink house in New London, Connecticut, and the homes of her neighbors could be taken by the government and given over to a private developer based on the mere prospect that the new use for her property could generate more taxes or jobs. Now, three years after that decision comes a riveting new book that looks behind the scenes of the fight and focuses on the actions of two strong women diametrically opposed to each other: Susette Kelo, who struggled to save her home vs. Claire Gaudiani, a college president who headed up the New London Development Corporation's effort to take Susette's home for a private development plan. As Jeff Benedict details in his book, Susette takes on the City of New London, a cast of characters too evil to be believed, and, ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a case that was followed by thousands and sparked a revolutionary change in state law across the country—except in the case's home state. We hope you will be able to join us and hear first-hand from major participants in one of the Supreme Court's most historic and controversial rulings. 01:23:08 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5690 During the past 400 years, the development gap between Latin America and British North America dramatically widened. Francis Fukuyama will discuss prominent theories for that divergence -- including those that emphasize the roles of natural resources, culture, and geography -- and explain how institutions and economic policies are the keys to understanding growth outcomes. At different times, several Latin American countries have narrowed the gap with the United States, and genuine institutional reform has occurred in the past several decades across the region. Norman Loayza will comment on the relevance of those findings to an ideologically divided Latin America. Due to the overwhelming public response to this program we are unable to accept additional reservations. The event will be simulcast live on this Website. Thank you for your interest in our public programs. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cbfa-02-18-09.mp3 Featuring the editor [Francis Fukuyama], Professor of International Political Economy, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University; with comments by [Norman Loayza], Lead Economist, Research Department, World Bank; moderat... During the past 400 years, the development gap between Latin America and British North America dramatically widened. Francis Fukuyama will discuss prominent theories for that divergence -- including those that emphasize the roles of natural resources, culture, and geography -- and explain how institutions and economic policies are the keys to understanding growth outcomes. At different times, several Latin American countries have narrowed the gap with the United States, and genuine institutional reform has occurred in the past several decades across the region. Norman Loayza will comment on the relevance of those findings to an ideologically divided Latin America. Due to the overwhelming public response to this program we are unable to accept additional reservations. The event will be simulcast live on this Website. Thank you for your interest in our public programs. 01:17:03 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5764 Purchase There's a whole new world of global warming science today-but few ever hear about it. In recent years, an internally consistent body of scientific literature has emerged that argues cogently for global warming but against the gloom-and-doom, apocalyptic vision of climate change. Not that you would know. Consult the daily newspaper or evening newscast: dire predictions are nearly all we see or hear. In their new book, Climate of Extremes, coauthors Patrick J. Michaels and Robert C. Balling Jr. illuminate the other side of the story, the science we aren’t being told. This body of work details how the impact of global warming is far less severe than is generally believed and far from catastrophic. However, because it is not infused with horrific predictions and angst about the future, regardless of its quality it is largely repressed and ignored. This in-depth exploration illustrates the crucial unreported forecasts: that changes in hurricanes will be small, that global warming is likely to be modest, and that contrary to daily headlines, there is no apocalypse on the horizon. Climate of Extremes is a book for all who are intent on exploring the evidence and the arguments in the climate change debate. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cbfa-03-12-09.mp3 Featuring coauthor [Patrick J. Michaels], Senior Fellow in Environmental Studies at the Cato Institute with comments by [David Legates], Delaware State Climatologist and Director of the Delaware Environmental Observing System. ... Purchase There's a whole new world of global warming science today-but few ever hear about it. In recent years, an internally consistent body of scientific literature has emerged that argues cogently for global warming but against the gloom-and-doom, apocalyptic vision of climate change. Not that you would know. Consult the daily newspaper or evening newscast: dire predictions are nearly all we see or hear. In their new book, Climate of Extremes, coauthors Patrick J. Michaels and Robert C. Balling Jr. illuminate the other side of the story, the science we aren’t being told. This body of work details how the impact of global warming is far less severe than is generally believed and far from catastrophic. However, because it is not infused with horrific predictions and angst about the future, regardless of its quality it is largely repressed and ignored. This in-depth exploration illustrates the crucial unreported forecasts: that changes in hurricanes will be small, that global warming is likely to be modest, and that contrary to daily headlines, there is no apocalypse on the horizon. Climate of Extremes is a book for all who are intent on exploring the evidence and the arguments in the climate change debate. 01:01:35 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6005 Purchase at Cato Numerous polls show that Americans want to reduce our military presence abroad, allowing our allies and other nations to assume greater responsibility both for their own defense and for enforcing security in their respective regions. Why haven't we done so? In The Power Problem, Christopher A. Preble contends that the vast military strength of the United States has induced policymakers in Washington to broaden the perception of the "national interest," and ultimately to commit ourselves to the impossible task of maintaining global order. Preble holds that the core national interest — preserving American security — is easily defined and largely immutable. In his view, military power is purely instrumental: if it advances U.S. security, then it is fulfilling its essential role. If it does not — if it undermines our security, imposes unnecessary costs, and forces all Americans to incur additional risks — then our military power is a problem, one that only we can solve. Please join us as we discuss the nature of American military power, its purpose in U.S. foreign policy, and its power to define the national interest. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cbfa-04-20-09.mp3 Featuring the author [Christopher A. Preble], Director of Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute; [Lawrence J. Korb], Center for American Progress; [Scott McConnell], The American Conservative; and moderated by [Ted Galen Carpenter], Vice Pres... Purchase at Cato Numerous polls show that Americans want to reduce our military presence abroad, allowing our allies and other nations to assume greater responsibility both for their own defense and for enforcing security in their respective regions. Why haven't we done so? In The Power Problem, Christopher A. Preble contends that the vast military strength of the United States has induced policymakers in Washington to broaden the perception of the "national interest," and ultimately to commit ourselves to the impossible task of maintaining global order. Preble holds that the core national interest — preserving American security — is easily defined and largely immutable. In his view, military power is purely instrumental: if it advances U.S. security, then it is fulfilling its essential role. If it does not — if it undermines our security, imposes unnecessary costs, and forces all Americans to incur additional risks — then our military power is a problem, one that only we can solve. Please join us as we discuss the nature of American military power, its purpose in U.S. foreign policy, and its power to define the national interest. 01:27:35 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6082 Purchase at Cato Are the quests for human rights and economic development compatible? Jean-Pierre Chauffour takes the development and human rights communities to task for working at cross purposes and often advocating policies that violate basic rights, whether those rights are economic freedoms or broader issues of personal choice. The author will explain how the two traditions can be reconciled by empowering people with economic, civil, and political liberty, and he will outline a mutually supportive agenda for advocates of growth and human rights. Susan Aaronson will draw on her years of scholarship on trade and human rights to comment on the book. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cbfa-04-23-09.mp3 Featuring the author [Jean-Pierre Chauffour], Economic Adviser, International Trade Department, World Bank; with comments by [Susan Aaronson], Associate Research Professor of International Affairs, George Washington University; moderated by [Ian... Purchase at Cato Are the quests for human rights and economic development compatible? Jean-Pierre Chauffour takes the development and human rights communities to task for working at cross purposes and often advocating policies that violate basic rights, whether those rights are economic freedoms or broader issues of personal choice. The author will explain how the two traditions can be reconciled by empowering people with economic, civil, and political liberty, and he will outline a mutually supportive agenda for advocates of growth and human rights. Susan Aaronson will draw on her years of scholarship on trade and human rights to comment on the book. 01:15:56 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5753 Purchase at Amazon The Federal Reserve's contribution to the current financial crisis, far from being exceptional, is typical of central banks' frequent, myopic mismanagement of money. So why, given their dismal record, do we allow governments to manage money at all? The standard answer is that were money left to private enterprise, bad money would drive good money out of circulation. In Good Money: Birmingham Button Makers, the Royal Mint, and the Beginnings of Modern Coinage, 1775–1821 (University of Michigan Press, 2008), George Selgin reveals a forgotten episode of private coinage that proves the contrary. At the onset of Great Britain's Industrial Revolution, the British Royal Mint proved utterly incapable of meeting the monetary needs of an industrializing economy; and it was only thanks to private mints and their "commercial" coins that Great Britain managed to avoid slipping back into feudalism. We hope that you will be able to join us and hear Professor Selgin discuss this fascinating, important, and unjustly forgotten episode in the history of money. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cbfa-04-17-09.mp3 Featuring [George Selgin], Author of Good Money; [Steve H. Hanke], Professor of Applied Economics, Johns Hopkins University and Senior Fellow, Cato Institute; [Richard W. Rahn], Chairman, Institute for Global Economic Growth and Senior Fellow, C... Purchase at Amazon The Federal Reserve's contribution to the current financial crisis, far from being exceptional, is typical of central banks' frequent, myopic mismanagement of money. So why, given their dismal record, do we allow governments to manage money at all? The standard answer is that were money left to private enterprise, bad money would drive good money out of circulation. In Good Money: Birmingham Button Makers, the Royal Mint, and the Beginnings of Modern Coinage, 1775–1821 (University of Michigan Press, 2008), George Selgin reveals a forgotten episode of private coinage that proves the contrary. At the onset of Great Britain's Industrial Revolution, the British Royal Mint proved utterly incapable of meeting the monetary needs of an industrializing economy; and it was only thanks to private mints and their "commercial" coins that Great Britain managed to avoid slipping back into feudalism. We hope that you will be able to join us and hear Professor Selgin discuss this fascinating, important, and unjustly forgotten episode in the history of money. 01:22:16 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6105 Purchase at Amazon "A splendid book. A devastating critique of the welfare state. A page-turner, yet also extensively sourced. I congratulate Mr. Bartholomew." – Milton Friedman In this controversial book, James Bartholomew argues that the welfare state in Britain has resulted in a generation of badly educated and dependent citizens, leading to lives of deprivation for thousands and undermining the original intent behind its creation in the 1940s. Has the welfare state really led to more harm than good? What does this imply for the ever-expanding welfare state in the United States? Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cbfa-05-18-09.mp3 Featuring the author, [James Bartholomew], columnist for the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail; with comments by [Dr. Wendell Primus], Senior Policy Advisor on Budget and Health Issues to Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Moderated by [Michael Tanner], S... Purchase at Amazon "A splendid book. A devastating critique of the welfare state. A page-turner, yet also extensively sourced. I congratulate Mr. Bartholomew." – Milton Friedman In this controversial book, James Bartholomew argues that the welfare state in Britain has resulted in a generation of badly educated and dependent citizens, leading to lives of deprivation for thousands and undermining the original intent behind its creation in the 1940s. Has the welfare state really led to more harm than good? What does this imply for the ever-expanding welfare state in the United States? 01:12:54 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5385 Purchase at Catostore.org The Cato Institute invites you to join us as we unveil The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism, the first comprehensive, encyclopedic treatment of the libertarian movement.  Editor in Chief Ronald Hamowy, a distinguished scholar who studied under Mises, Hayek, and Friedman, has included more than 300 succinct, original articles on libertarian ideas, institutions, and thinkers. Contributors include James Buchanan, Richard Epstein, Tyler Cowen, Randy Barnett, Deirdre McCloskey, Ellen Frankel Paul, and more than 100 other scholars.  This comprehensive book, years in the making, will become an indispensable guide to libertarianism in the years to come. Our distinguished guests will discuss the place of libertarianism in world and U.S. politics, the contributions of libertarian thought, and the challenges it faces from both left and right. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2008/cbfa-10-14-08.mp3 Featuring the Editor in Chief, [Ronald Hamowy], with comments by [Charles Murray], a W. H. Brady Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute; [William Galston], Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution. Moderated by [Jas... Purchase at Catostore.org The Cato Institute invites you to join us as we unveil The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism, the first comprehensive, encyclopedic treatment of the libertarian movement.  Editor in Chief Ronald Hamowy, a distinguished scholar who studied under Mises, Hayek, and Friedman, has included more than 300 succinct, original articles on libertarian ideas, institutions, and thinkers. Contributors include James Buchanan, Richard Epstein, Tyler Cowen, Randy Barnett, Deirdre McCloskey, Ellen Frankel Paul, and more than 100 other scholars.  This comprehensive book, years in the making, will become an indispensable guide to libertarianism in the years to come. Our distinguished guests will discuss the place of libertarianism in world and U.S. politics, the contributions of libertarian thought, and the challenges it faces from both left and right. 00:00:00 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5926 Purchase at Amazon Justice Anthony M. Kennedy sits at the center of the Roberts Court. Two terms ago he was in the majority in all 24 of the 5/4 decisions. During that term, in fact, he was in the majority in all but two of the Court's decisions, and his pivotal role on the Court continues. It is no stretch, therefore, to call today's Supreme Court the Kennedy Court. Yet only now do we have the first book-length study of Justice Kennedy and his constitutional jurisprudence. Author Helen Knowles examines how Kennedy's background as a law student and classroom teacher has influenced his judicial philosophy. The book begins by examining Kennedy's judicial thought in the context of libertarian thought. Knowles does not call the justice a libertarian. Instead, in a sympathetic but not uncritical analysis, she uses libertarian philosophy, focusing on privacy, race, and speech cases, to draw out Kennedy's views about limited government and individual liberty. Please join us for a discussion of Justice Kennedy's "modest libertarianism," with comments by one of the nation's foremost constitutional scholars, Professor Randy Barnett. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cbfa-03-23-09.mp3 Featuring author [Helen J. Knowles], State University of New York, Oswego; With comments by [Randy Barnett], Georgetown University Law Center; Moderated by [Roger Pilon], Director, Cato Institute's Center for Constitutional Studies;... Purchase at Amazon Justice Anthony M. Kennedy sits at the center of the Roberts Court. Two terms ago he was in the majority in all 24 of the 5/4 decisions. During that term, in fact, he was in the majority in all but two of the Court's decisions, and his pivotal role on the Court continues. It is no stretch, therefore, to call today's Supreme Court the Kennedy Court. Yet only now do we have the first book-length study of Justice Kennedy and his constitutional jurisprudence. Author Helen Knowles examines how Kennedy's background as a law student and classroom teacher has influenced his judicial philosophy. The book begins by examining Kennedy's judicial thought in the context of libertarian thought. Knowles does not call the justice a libertarian. Instead, in a sympathetic but not uncritical analysis, she uses libertarian philosophy, focusing on privacy, race, and speech cases, to draw out Kennedy's views about limited government and individual liberty. Please join us for a discussion of Justice Kennedy's "modest libertarianism," with comments by one of the nation's foremost constitutional scholars, Professor Randy Barnett. 00:00:00 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4476 Returning to the subject that first made him famous over two decades ago, Richard Epstein, the author of Takings, has a new book on property rights. In it, he takes readers from the strongly protective property rights advocated by the Constitution's Framers to the weak property rights supported by progressive and liberal politicians in the 20th century. Using both political theory and economic analysis, Epstein offers a compelling interpretation of the Fifth Amendment's Takings Clause to draw the connections between property rights, individual liberty, and social progress. And he looks also at the renewed appreciation of property rights that has arisen in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's infamous Kelo v. New London decision. Please join us for a discussion of this new work, with vigorous comments from the other side. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2008/cbfa-03-06-08.mp3 Featuring the author, [Richard A. Epstein] James Parker Hall Distinguished Service Professor of Law, University of Chicago, with comments by [J. Peter Byrne], Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center.... Returning to the subject that first made him famous over two decades ago, Richard Epstein, the author of Takings, has a new book on property rights. In it, he takes readers from the strongly protective property rights advocated by the Constitution's Framers to the weak property rights supported by progressive and liberal politicians in the 20th century. Using both political theory and economic analysis, Epstein offers a compelling interpretation of the Fifth Amendment's Takings Clause to draw the connections between property rights, individual liberty, and social progress. And he looks also at the renewed appreciation of property rights that has arisen in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's infamous Kelo v. New London decision. Please join us for a discussion of this new work, with vigorous comments from the other side. 01:29:46 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4429 Throes of Democracy, the second volume in Walter McDougall's series on American history, illuminates a period of profound transformation in American politics and society. From the presidency of Andrew Jackson to the splits and regeneration of American political parties, Throes of Democracy describes in vivid detail America's transformation from frontier Republic to national state. McDougall, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, pays particular attention to the diverse experiences of the new Americans representing a mélange of religions, ethnicities, and ideologies: Jews, Protestants, Catholics; Germans, Irish, Africans; Whigs and Democrats. Examining the outcome of the Civil War, McDougall makes a compelling argument that the failure of Reconstruction can be seen as a progenitor of America's latter-day failed attempts at regime change and nation building. In the end, McDougall's dedication to historical accuracy, his elegant prose, and his sharp analysis make for an eminently readable and moving narrative. Please join the author and our distinguished commentators for a discussion of this fine new history. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2008/cbfa-03-11-08.mp3 Featuring the author [Walter A. McDougall], Professor of History, University of Pennsylvania; with comments by [Herman Belz], Professor of History, University of Maryland; and [Anne Sarah Rubin], Associate Professor of History, University of Ma... Throes of Democracy, the second volume in Walter McDougall's series on American history, illuminates a period of profound transformation in American politics and society. From the presidency of Andrew Jackson to the splits and regeneration of American political parties, Throes of Democracy describes in vivid detail America's transformation from frontier Republic to national state. McDougall, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, pays particular attention to the diverse experiences of the new Americans representing a mélange of religions, ethnicities, and ideologies: Jews, Protestants, Catholics; Germans, Irish, Africans; Whigs and Democrats. Examining the outcome of the Civil War, McDougall makes a compelling argument that the failure of Reconstruction can be seen as a progenitor of America's latter-day failed attempts at regime change and nation building. In the end, McDougall's dedication to historical accuracy, his elegant prose, and his sharp analysis make for an eminently readable and moving narrative. Please join the author and our distinguished commentators for a discussion of this fine new history. 01:30:00 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. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=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. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=5736 With the return of one-party government, major policy changes in health care seem all but inevitable. Yet fundamentally divergent interests in both Congress and the health industry will make consensus difficult to obtain. The most dangerous proposals are those that expand political control over patients’ health care decisions: mandates, price controls, and government-run health care for the middle class. How will centrists and market proponents recognize the forms these mistakes might take, and how can they defend against them? Please join Cato scholar Michael Cannon for an exploration of these and related issues. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-01-22-09.mp3 Featuring [Michael F. Cannon],Director of Health Policy Studies at the Cato Institute and co-author of Healthy Competition: What's Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It. ... With the return of one-party government, major policy changes in health care seem all but inevitable. Yet fundamentally divergent interests in both Congress and the health industry will make consensus difficult to obtain. The most dangerous proposals are those that expand political control over patients’ health care decisions: mandates, price controls, and government-run health care for the middle class. How will centrists and market proponents recognize the forms these mistakes might take, and how can they defend against them? Please join Cato scholar Michael Cannon for an exploration of these and related issues. 57:39:00 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5924 The uninsured are not the only problem our health care sector faces; powerful forces suppress the quality of care for insured and uninsured alike. Notably, Americans receive dangerously uncoordinated medical care. Most approaches to improving health care coordination rely on government-imposed top-down reforms, yet this very approach has suppressed coordination and other innovations in health care delivery. In the recent Cato Institute Briefing Paper "Does the Doctor Need a Boss?," Arnold Kling and Michael F. Cannon explain that coordinated care requires free markets. They propose to let consumers control the money that purchases their health insurance and for policymakers to liberalize licensing laws--two steps that would enable consumers to pick health plans that coordinate rather than force consumers to sit and wait until policymakers finally get it right. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-02-20-09.mp3 Featuring [Arnold Kling], author of Crisis of Abundance, Under the Radar: Starting Your Internet Business Without Venture Capital and Learning Economics and Adjunct Scholar, Cato Institute. ... The uninsured are not the only problem our health care sector faces; powerful forces suppress the quality of care for insured and uninsured alike. Notably, Americans receive dangerously uncoordinated medical care. Most approaches to improving health care coordination rely on government-imposed top-down reforms, yet this very approach has suppressed coordination and other innovations in health care delivery. In the recent Cato Institute Briefing Paper "Does the Doctor Need a Boss?," Arnold Kling and Michael F. Cannon explain that coordinated care requires free markets. They propose to let consumers control the money that purchases their health insurance and for policymakers to liberalize licensing laws--two steps that would enable consumers to pick health plans that coordinate rather than force consumers to sit and wait until policymakers finally get it right. 56:20:00 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5881 After passing an economic "stimulus" bill containing billions of dollars of infrastructure spending, members of Congress will soon turn their attention to reauthorizing surface transportation funding for five more years. Given the substantial public resources that will be committed to transportation, how should Congress structure programs to best encourage wise investments—those that promote the safe and rapid movement of people and products while minimizing the negative impacts? How can Congress address concerns about energy and the environment? Can the federal government ensure that transportation networks respond flexibly to changing conditions? Please join Cato and Reason experts to discuss transportation policy pitfalls and substantive reform ideas. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-03-12-09.mp3 Featuring [Randal O'Toole], Senior Fellow, Cato Institute and author of The Best-Laid Plans: How Government Planning Harms Your Quality of Life, Your Pocketbook, and Your Future; and [Robert Poole], Director of Transportation Studies, Reason Fo... After passing an economic "stimulus" bill containing billions of dollars of infrastructure spending, members of Congress will soon turn their attention to reauthorizing surface transportation funding for five more years. Given the substantial public resources that will be committed to transportation, how should Congress structure programs to best encourage wise investments—those that promote the safe and rapid movement of people and products while minimizing the negative impacts? How can Congress address concerns about energy and the environment? Can the federal government ensure that transportation networks respond flexibly to changing conditions? Please join Cato and Reason experts to discuss transportation policy pitfalls and substantive reform ideas. 50:06:00 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5986 Politicians from high-tax nations, working through international bureaucracies such as the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, are trying to undermine tax competition by persecuting so-called tax havens. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner recently testified that the Obama administration intends to push legislation to penalize Americans who utilize these jurisdictions. European politicians, meanwhile, have announced that they want to use the upcoming G-20 Summit to launch an attack on low-tax jurisdictions. Governments do not like tax havens because it is more difficult to enforce oppressive tax laws in a globalized economy. Any assault against tax havens, however, would be bad news for the global economy. Without the pressure of tax competition, politicians would raise tax rates, wiping out many of the pro-growth reforms of recent decades. Such a campaign would also undermine the U.S. economy, both because the United States is a tax haven for foreign capital and because most major "offshore" centers are conduits for investment in the American economy. To learn more about these issues, please join Cato scholar Dan Mitchell and former member of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Richard Rahn to review the myths and realities about the role of tax havens in the global economy. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-03-23-09.mp3 Featuring [Daniel J. Mitchell], Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute and coauthor of Global Tax Revolution: The Rise of Tax Competition and the Battle to Defend It; and [Richard Rahn], Former member of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority; ... Politicians from high-tax nations, working through international bureaucracies such as the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, are trying to undermine tax competition by persecuting so-called tax havens. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner recently testified that the Obama administration intends to push legislation to penalize Americans who utilize these jurisdictions. European politicians, meanwhile, have announced that they want to use the upcoming G-20 Summit to launch an attack on low-tax jurisdictions. Governments do not like tax havens because it is more difficult to enforce oppressive tax laws in a globalized economy. Any assault against tax havens, however, would be bad news for the global economy. Without the pressure of tax competition, politicians would raise tax rates, wiping out many of the pro-growth reforms of recent decades. Such a campaign would also undermine the U.S. economy, both because the United States is a tax haven for foreign capital and because most major "offshore" centers are conduits for investment in the American economy. To learn more about these issues, please join Cato scholar Dan Mitchell and former member of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Richard Rahn to review the myths and realities about the role of tax havens in the global economy. 00:39:32 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6017 Even by Washington standards, President Obama's budget blueprint is astounding in its big-government ambitions: massive deficits, a huge health care plan, enormous global warming taxes, new subsidy programs, and punishing tax hikes on individuals, small businesses, and multinational corporations. Public debt is expected to soar from 41 percent of the economy in 2008 to 67 percent by 2011. What are the prospects for the Obama plans on health care, tax hikes, and spending increases becoming law? How will economic growth and freedom be affected? Please join Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Cato scholars Chris Edwards and Michael Tanner to analyze the scope and implications of President Obama's agenda. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-03-31-09.mp3 Featuring [Rep. Paul Ryan], Ranking Member, House Committee on the Budget; [Chris Edwards], Senior Fellow, Cato Institute; and [Michael Tanner], Senior Fellow, Cato Institute.... Even by Washington standards, President Obama's budget blueprint is astounding in its big-government ambitions: massive deficits, a huge health care plan, enormous global warming taxes, new subsidy programs, and punishing tax hikes on individuals, small businesses, and multinational corporations. Public debt is expected to soar from 41 percent of the economy in 2008 to 67 percent by 2011. What are the prospects for the Obama plans on health care, tax hikes, and spending increases becoming law? How will economic growth and freedom be affected? Please join Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Cato scholars Chris Edwards and Michael Tanner to analyze the scope and implications of President Obama's agenda. 00:34:28 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6009 As the North Atlantic Treaty Organization celebrates its 60th birthday, there are mounting signs of trouble within the alliance and reasons to doubt the organization's relevance to the foreign policy challenges of the 21st century. Today's NATO is a bad bargain for the United States. We have security obligations to countries that add little to our own military power. Even worse, some of those countries could easily entangle America in dangerous parochial disputes. Please join Cato scholar Ted Galen Carpenter as he discusses NATO's burgeoning defects and their implications for the United States. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-04-03-09.mp3 Featuring [Ted Galen Carpenter], Vice President for Defense and Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute.... As the North Atlantic Treaty Organization celebrates its 60th birthday, there are mounting signs of trouble within the alliance and reasons to doubt the organization's relevance to the foreign policy challenges of the 21st century. Today's NATO is a bad bargain for the United States. We have security obligations to countries that add little to our own military power. Even worse, some of those countries could easily entangle America in dangerous parochial disputes. Please join Cato scholar Ted Galen Carpenter as he discusses NATO's burgeoning defects and their implications for the United States. 00:35:20 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6008 President Obama has called for the United States to have "the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by the year 2020." The goal is lofty, but is simply having more college graduates really that important? And will significantly increasing federal student aid actually make college more accessible, or will it worsen the tuition inflation that has run rampant for decades? Please join our panelists as they analyze these proposals in light of the latest research on higher education policy and outcomes. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-04-07-09.mp3 Featuring [Andrew Gillen], Research Director, Center for College Affordability and Productivity; and [Neal McCluskey], Associate Director, Center for Educational Freedom, Cato Institute.... President Obama has called for the United States to have "the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by the year 2020." The goal is lofty, but is simply having more college graduates really that important? And will significantly increasing federal student aid actually make college more accessible, or will it worsen the tuition inflation that has run rampant for decades? Please join our panelists as they analyze these proposals in light of the latest research on higher education policy and outcomes. 00:34:39 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5942 President Obama and others on the Left have proposed a public plan--modeled on Medicare--to compete with private insurers. But Medicare is not the solution; it is the problem. Besides, there's no true competition if one of the players is also the referee. This session will explain why any package of reforms including "Medicare for More" deserves defeat. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-04-14-09.mp3 Featuring [Michael F. Cannon], Director, Health Policy Studies, and coauthor of Healthy Competition: What's Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It. ... President Obama and others on the Left have proposed a public plan--modeled on Medicare--to compete with private insurers. But Medicare is not the solution; it is the problem. Besides, there's no true competition if one of the players is also the referee. This session will explain why any package of reforms including "Medicare for More" deserves defeat. 00:33:41 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6121 Purchase from Cato Bookstore Numerous polls show that Americans want to reduce our military presence abroad, allowing our allies and other nations to assume greater responsibility both for their own defense and for enforcing security in their respective regions. Why haven't we done so? In The Power Problem, Christopher Preble contends that the vast military strength of the United States has induced policymakers in Washington to broaden the perception of the "national interest," and ultimately to commit the United States to the impossible task of maintaining global order. What does preserving American security require, and how engaged should U.S. forces be beyond protecting our core national interests? To what extent does the status quo advance U.S. security, and to what degree is it undermining our security, imposing unnecessary costs, and forcing all Americans to incur additional risks? Please join Cato's Christopher Preble and the Nixon Center's Paul Saunders for a discussion about the nature of American military power, its purpose in U.S. foreign policy, and its power to define the national interest. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-05-01-09.mp3 Featuring [Christopher A. Preble], Director of Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute, and author, The Power Problem: How American Military Dominance Makes Us Less Safe, Less Prosperous, and Less Free (Cornell University Press, 2009); and [Paul ... Purchase from Cato Bookstore Numerous polls show that Americans want to reduce our military presence abroad, allowing our allies and other nations to assume greater responsibility both for their own defense and for enforcing security in their respective regions. Why haven't we done so? In The Power Problem, Christopher Preble contends that the vast military strength of the United States has induced policymakers in Washington to broaden the perception of the "national interest," and ultimately to commit the United States to the impossible task of maintaining global order. What does preserving American security require, and how engaged should U.S. forces be beyond protecting our core national interests? To what extent does the status quo advance U.S. security, and to what degree is it undermining our security, imposing unnecessary costs, and forcing all Americans to incur additional risks? Please join Cato's Christopher Preble and the Nixon Center's Paul Saunders for a discussion about the nature of American military power, its purpose in U.S. foreign policy, and its power to define the national interest. 00:38:22 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6137 Terrorism seeks to weaken strong powers like the United States by goading them to overreact and waste their own blood and treasure, give sympathy and recruiting gains to terrorists, and come loose from their ideological moorings. Beyond avoiding war and misdirected homeland security efforts, sound counterterrorism strategy requires subtle awareness of the different ways a victim state's actions can play into terrorists' hands. Countering the strategic logic of terrorism will require policymakers to adopt very disciplined responses and deny superficially appealing impulses toward overreaction. Please join Cato scholars David Rittgers and Christopher Preble to discuss a more effective way to respond to terrorist threats and activities. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-05-11-09.mp3 Featuring [Christopher A. Preble], Director of Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute and [David Rittgers], Legal Policy Analyst, Cato Institute, and three-tour veteran, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.... Terrorism seeks to weaken strong powers like the United States by goading them to overreact and waste their own blood and treasure, give sympathy and recruiting gains to terrorists, and come loose from their ideological moorings. Beyond avoiding war and misdirected homeland security efforts, sound counterterrorism strategy requires subtle awareness of the different ways a victim state's actions can play into terrorists' hands. Countering the strategic logic of terrorism will require policymakers to adopt very disciplined responses and deny superficially appealing impulses toward overreaction. Please join Cato scholars David Rittgers and Christopher Preble to discuss a more effective way to respond to terrorist threats and activities. 00:29:40 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5942 President Obama and others on the Left have proposed a public plan--modeled on Medicare--to compete with private insurers. But Medicare is not the solution; it is the problem. Besides, there's no true competition if one of the players is also the referee. This session will explain why any package of reforms including "Medicare for More" deserves defeat. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/hba-04-17-09.mp3 Featuring [Michael F. Cannon], Director, Health Policy Studies, and coauthor of Healthy Competition: What's Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It. ... President Obama and others on the Left have proposed a public plan--modeled on Medicare--to compete with private insurers. But Medicare is not the solution; it is the problem. Besides, there's no true competition if one of the players is also the referee. This session will explain why any package of reforms including "Medicare for More" deserves defeat. 00:34:01 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. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=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. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/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=6114 12:30 or 1 start, 2panels, a key note and reception. However-confirming sched Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cca-06-01-09-1.mp3 ... 12:30 or 1 start, 2panels, a key note and reception. However-confirming sched 00:33:50 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=6114 12:30 or 1 start, 2panels, a key note and reception. However-confirming sched Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cca-06-01-09-2.mp3 ... 12:30 or 1 start, 2panels, a key note and reception. However-confirming sched 01:13:16 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5646 Everyone knows that people who graduate from college earn more than those who don't. It's also widely understood that technology drives economic growth, and university research drives technology. Finally, it seems clear that in a rapidly evolving world workers will need to transform their skills, and higher education provides the means to do so. In light of all this, shouldn't we provide public funding for higher education to keep college cheap and innovation going, especially during a recession? Not necessarily. Please join our panelists as they discuss both the benefits and costs of public funding for higher ed. Tue, 19 May 2009 23:00:00 CDT http://ne.edgecastcdn.net/000873/archive-2009/cpfa-01-14-09.mp3 Featuring [George Leef], Vice President for Research, John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy; [Barmak Nassirian], Associate Executive Director, External Relations, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Office... Everyone knows that people who graduate from college earn more than those who don't. It's also widely understood that technology drives economic growth, and university research drives technology. Finally, it seems clear that in a rapidly evolving world workers will need to transform their skills, and higher education provides the means to do so. In light of all this, shouldn't we provide public funding for higher education to keep college cheap and innovation going, especially during a recession? Not necessarily. Please join our panelists as they discuss both the benefits and costs of public funding for higher ed. 01:24:13 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings