# [ ](/free-society) Winter 2024 Vol. 1, No. 4 ![Free Society - Winter 2024 Cover - Houses](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_3x/public/2024-12/fs-houses-final.jpg?itok=sdu5RIyM) Creating free, open, and civil societies founded on libertarian principles. ### [Cato in the News](https://www.cato.org/free-society/winter-2024/cato-news-winter-2024-2025) Noteworthy op-eds, TV appearances, and media highlights. ### [Cato Quarterly](https://www.cato.org/free-society/winter-2024/cato-quarterly) Events, publications, and studies. ![](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2024-03/peter-goettler-portrait.png?itok=5uvrGnxs) ## [ A Letter from the President, Peter Goettler ](/free-society/winter-2024/letter-president-peter-goettler) Cato will have broad areas of agreement and areas of serious disagreement with virtually anyone, regardless of where they fall on the political spectrum. [Read the Letter](/free-society/winter-2024/letter-president-peter-goettler) #### Features [![Free Society Winter 2024 - Picket Fence Hero](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2024-11/free-society-winter2024-picket-fence.jpg?itok=DZWgXNA0)](https://www.cato.org/free-society/winter-2024/civil-society-or-political-society) Free Society ### [Civil Society or Political Society? The Choice That Shapes America’s Future](/free-society/winter-2024/civil-society-or-political-society) By [Tom G. Palmer](https://www.cato.org/people/tom-g-palmer) Animosity and resentment have replaced civility for many Americans, driven by populism and demagoguery that arbitrarily pit citizen against citizen. But a rebirth of civil society is possible by reversing the colonization of the civil by the political. [![Pillars Spread](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2024-11/pillars_spread_otherside.jpg?itok=Uhsw4Koc)](https://www.cato.org/free-society/winter-2024/road-map-reform-10-policy-priorities-new-congress) Free Society ### [A Road Map for Reform: 10 Policy Priorities for the New Congress](/free-society/winter-2024/road-map-reform-10-policy-priorities-new-congress) By [Adam N. Michel](https://www.cato.org/people/adam-n-michel), [Romina Boccia](https://www.cato.org/people/romina-boccia), [Colin Grabow](https://www.cato.org/people/colin-grabow), [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon), [Jai Kedia](https://www.cato.org/people/jai-kedia), [David J. Bier](https://www.cato.org/people/david-bier), [Clark Neily](https://www.cato.org/people/clark-neily), [Jennifer Huddleston](https://www.cato.org/people/jennifer-huddleston), & [Norbert J. Michel](https://www.cato.org/people/norbert-michel) To guide Congress back toward sound governance, Cato Institute scholars have crafted 10 key policy recommendations. [![Free Society - Reigning in Imperial Presidency - Thumbnail](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2024-11/reigning-govnt-thumbnail.jpg?itok=tfRuLmxT)](https://www.cato.org/free-society/winter-2024/reining-imperial-presidency-plan-repealing-harmful-executive-orders) Free Society ### [Reining in the Imperial Presidency: A Plan for Repealing Harmful Executive Orders](/free-society/winter-2024/reining-imperial-presidency-plan-repealing-harmful-executive-orders) By [Alex Nowrasteh](https://www.cato.org/people/alex-nowrasteh) From health care, immigration, and the economy to decisions on military action and civil rights, executive orders are a president’s means to bypass Congress and impose their will. #### In This Issue [![ballots-voting.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2021-04/ballots-voting.jpg?itok=j64UVo41)](https://www.cato.org/free-society/winter-2024/americas-election-system-dodged-disaster-time-heres-how-we-can-protect-it) Free Society ### [America’s Election System Dodged Disaster This Time—Here’s How We Can Protect It Next Time](/free-society/winter-2024/americas-election-system-dodged-disaster-time-heres-how-we-can-protect-it) By [Walter Olson](https://www.cato.org/people/walter-olson) The problems with America’s election system extend to how we select candidates, how votes are counted, and who gets to make the rules. But there are solutions. [![Lab Grown Meat Production Facility](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2024-11/free-society-lab-meat-processing%20copy.jpg?itok=SVWzTdux)](https://www.cato.org/free-society/winter-2024/lab-table-potential-lab-grown-meat-protectionist-push-ban-it) Free Society ### [From Lab to Table: The Potential of Lab-Grown Meat and the Protectionist Push to Ban It](/free-society/winter-2024/lab-table-potential-lab-grown-meat-protectionist-push-ban-it) By [Paul Best](https://www.cato.org/people/paul-best) Even as technological setbacks and challenges abound for lab-grown meat, some elected officials are trying to kneecap the nascent industry with protectionist bans before it has a chance to get off the ground. [![Jane Coaston - Thumbnail](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2024-11/jane-coaston-cropped.png?itok=Ydv4cpGi)](https://www.cato.org/free-society/winter-2024/nobody-coming-save-you-jane-coaston-explains-how-skepticism-informs-her) Free Society ### [“Nobody Is Coming to Save You”: Jane Coaston Explains How Skepticism Informs Her Worldview](/free-society/winter-2024/nobody-coming-save-you-jane-coaston-explains-how-skepticism-informs-her) By [Alex Nowrasteh](https://www.cato.org/people/alex-nowrasteh) Doomerism is a political ideology that leads nowhere. [![Pat Eddington - Thumbnail](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2024-11/pat-eddington-cropped.png?itok=h-CszRp9)](https://www.cato.org/free-society/winter-2024/unmasking-surveillance-state-patrick-eddingtons-fight-government) Free Society ### [Unmasking the Surveillance State: Patrick Eddington’s Fight for Government Transparency](/free-society/winter-2024/unmasking-surveillance-state-patrick-eddingtons-fight-government) By [Josh Hardman](https://www.cato.org/people/josh-hardman) Patrick Eddington was a CIA whistleblower. Now, he’s keeping all intelligence agencies accountable. [![Statue of Liberty](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2022-10/Statue%20of%20Liberty.jpg?itok=LmFNuE7m)](https://www.cato.org/free-society/winter-2024/voice-liberty-washington) Free Society ### [A Voice for Liberty in Washington](/free-society/winter-2024/voice-liberty-washington) By Brian Mullis Cato Partner Jane Johnson—a former employee of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare—wishes more Americans could see how the federal government works. [![Allan Carey - Illustrative Portrait - Thumbnail](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2024-11/last-word-thumbnail.png?itok=jYgz9_z7)](https://www.cato.org/free-society/winter-2024/last-word-lost-art-disagreeing) Free Society ### [Last Word: The Lost Art of Disagreeing](/free-society/winter-2024/last-word-lost-art-disagreeing) By Allan Carey Polarization gets the better of us when we lose sight of the humanity of others. ### Never miss a beat. [ ](/free-society) Sign up for our email newsletter now to get the latest digital *Free Society* issues delivered straight to your inbox. [text](#) “ All civil virtue and happiness, every moral excellency, all politeness, all good arts and sciences, are produced by liberty. ” Cato’s Letter, no. 63 1723 John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon