Hey Daily Kos, Cato Is Not A ‘Republican‐supporting’ Institution
I guess it’s not a huge surprise that a writer at The Daily Kos would characterize Cato as “Republican‐supporting” when it suits a purpose. Just for their future reference, here is a laundry list of positions taken by Cato scholars that most Republicans (Beltway Republicans, at least) tend to abhor:
- Cutting military spending
- The Iraq War
- Eliminating the Department of Homeland Security
- Resisting intervention in Libya, Syria, Iran, etc.
- Ending the War on Drugs
- Nation‐building under George W. Bush and under Barack Obama
- Criticizing the Bush administration in 2006 for its constitutional record as being starkly at odds with the notion of limited government
- A constitutional case for marriage equality
We libertarians continue to be amazed at the inconsistency exhibited by the left and the right: conservatives dislike government power except when it comes to militarizing our foreign policy and, oftentimes, running people’s personal lives; liberals profess dislike for government power except when it comes to micromanaging the economy, which can quickly morph into micromanaging everything else. The Nanny‐state is pushed equally by liberals and conservatives.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.” (my emphasis) I think Cato scholars demonstrate a different kind of consistency in our principled adherence to limited, constitutional government, individual liberty, free markets, and peace. Our positions do not change whenever Republicrats replace Democans in office.
