Cato Headlines

Happy July 4th from Cato

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:59:00 CDT

On the 4th of July we celebrate our nation's birth. Most Americans mark the day with picnics, cookouts, ballgames and days at the beach. The Cato Institute would like to encourage people everywhere to also remember and appreciate the principles of government that are set forth in America's founding documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America.

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States
"Independence in 1776 to Dependence on 1776," by Chris Edwards
"Celebrating Independence Day's Principles," by Roger Pilon
"What Is an American?," by Edward L. Hudgins

Iraq Withdrawal Begins

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:41:00 CDT

U.S. soldiers in Iraq have started pulling back from cities to nearby bases and turning over security to Iraqi police and soldiers. U.S. combat missions in Iraq are scheduled to end by August 2010, and all troops must withdraw by 2012. Cato scholar Christopher A. Preble comments, "The withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraqi cities is just the first step in a long process of finally bringing the ruinous Iraq war to a close. It's what Americans want. It's what Iraqis want. Most importantly, it's the right thing to do."

"Draw Down in Iraq a Positive First Step," by Christopher A. Preble
"Iraq's Future Is Up to Iraqis," by Doug Bandow

House Passes Cap-and-Trade

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:53:00 CDT

The House last week passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), also known as the Waxman-Markey bill. The legislation not only includes "cap-and-trade" regulations for buying and selling permits to emit greenhouse gases, but Democrats added a provision which imposes stiff tariffs on our trading partners if they don't adopt aggressive carbon restrictions of their own. Cato scholars Patrick J. Michaels and Sallie James comment, "You heard correctly: progressives have authored a bill that earns the mortal enmity of domestic energy consumers and our most crucial trading partners at the same time."

"Cap-and-Trade-War," by Patrick J. Michaels and Sallie James
Climate Change Reality

Heller: One Year Later

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:53:00 CDT

June 26 marked the one year anniversary of the District of Columbia v. Heller decision, when the Supreme Court ruled that individual citizens have the constitutional right to possess guns. With that decision, the District's handgun ban — one of the toughest and most controversial in the nation — was ended. In Gun Control on Trial, journalist Brian Doherty tells the full story behind the landmark ruling. With exclusive, behind the scenes access throughout the case, Doherty delves into the issues of this monumental case to provide a compelling look at the inside stories.

Purchase your copy today

FDA to Regulate Tobacco

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:50:00 CDT

President Obama on Monday signed legislation giving the FDA new powers to oversee tobacco products, including controlling the amount of nicotine in a cigarette and how that cigarette is packaged and marketed. Cato scholar Patrick Basham thinks the move is "an epic public health mistake." Basham argues, "There is nothing in the legislation that shows the FDA understands the well-documented connections between education, poverty and smoking status, connections that provide the key to helping adults stop smoking."

"Keep FDA Away from Tobacco," by Patrick Basham
Will Sound Science Govern Tobacco Regulation?, featuring Peter Van Doren, 06/12/2009 (MP3 )
"FDA to Regulate Tobacco? Big Mistake," by Patrick Basham

How the World's Poorest People Are Educating Themselves

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:08:00 CDT

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. In The Beautiful Tree, a new book from the Cato Institute, Tooley shows not just what Americans can do to help education in poor countries, but what we can learn from education entrepreneurs who are succeeding under the most challenging conditions imaginable.

The Beautiful Tree: A Personal Journey Into How the World's Poorest People Are Educating Themselves, by James Tooley
"Black-Market Schools," by James Tooley

What Is the President's Plan for Health Care Reform?

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:23:00 CDT

President Obama is promoting a big expansion in federal health care spending, and Democratic leaders are scrambling to find ways to pay for it. Cato Institute scholars Michael D. Tanner and Michael F. Cannon recently live-blogged the ABC News special on health care reform on the Cato@Liberty blog, and offered point-by-point responses to the President.

Government Takes Broader Role in Financial Regulation

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:31:00 CDT

President Obama has announced a series of proposals to overhaul the nation's system of financial regulations and tighten government supervision of the financial sector. Cato scholar Mark A. Calabria finds the plan "misguided" and "ill-informed," and argues, "The Administration's inability to admit the failures of government regulation will only guarantee that the next failures will be even bigger than the current ones."

"A Fake Financial Fix," by Mark A. Calabria
"Administration Reform Plan Misses the Mark," by Mark A. Calabria
"The Way Forward: Incentives, Not Regulations," by William Poole

Lessons for Creating Fair and Successful Drug Policies

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:51:00 CDT

In 2001, a nationwide law in Portugal took effect that decriminalized all drugs, including cocaine and heroin. Drug possession for personal use and drug usage itself are still legally prohibited, but violations of those prohibitions are deemed to be exclusively administrative violations and are removed completely from the criminal realm. In a new study, constitutional lawyer and Salon.com writer Glenn Greenwald examines the Portuguese model and the data concerning drug-related trends in Portugal, and argues that, "judged by virtually every metric, the Portuguese decriminalization framework has been a resounding success."

"Drug Decriminalization in Portugal: Lessons for Creating Fair and Successful Drug Policies," by Glenn Greenwald
Drug Decriminalization in Portugal, Cato Policy Forum

Will Obama Raise Middle-Class Taxes to Fund Health Care?

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:47:00 CDT

President Obama is promoting a big expansion in federal health care spending, and Democratic leaders are scrambling to find ways to pay for it. The plan is expected to cost about $1.5 trillion over the next decade, but the administration has promised that health care legislation won't add to already huge federal budget deficits. In a new paper, Cato scholars Michael D. Tanner and Chris Edwards argue that expanding government health care will likely involve huge tax increases on the middle class.

"Will Obama Raise Middle-Class Taxes to Fund Health Care?," by Michael D. Tanner and Chris Edwards

What the Failure of the "Massachusetts Model" Tells Us about Health Care Reform

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:31:00 CDT

When Massachusetts passed its pioneering health care reforms in 2006, critics warned that they would result in a slow but steady spiral downward toward a government-run health care system. Three years later, those predictions appear to be coming true. In a new study, Cato scholar Michael D. Tanner argues, "With the 'Massachusetts model' frequently cited as a blueprint for health care reform, it is important to recognize that giving the government greater control over our health care system will have grave consequences for taxpayers, providers, and health care consumers."

"Massachusetts Miracle or Massachusetts Miserable: What the Failure of the 'Massachusetts Model' Tells Us about Health Care Reform," by Michael D. Tanner

Broadcast Localism and the Lessons of the Fairness Doctrine

Wed, 27 May 2009 07:31:00 CDT

For five years the FCC has been investigating whether "broadcasters are appropriately addressing the needs of their local communities." It concluded that the responsiveness of broadcasters has been less than ideal, and that FCC policies should change to foster more responsiveness to local audiences. In a new study, Cato scholar John Samples argues, "Broadcast localism, like the Fairness Doctrine, is likely to do significant harm to freedom of speech. Policymakers who are aware of history will recall the lessons of the Fairness Doctrine and reject localism mandates for broadcasters."

"Broadcast Localism and the Lessons of the Fairness Doctrine," by John Samples

Obama Picks Sotomayor for Supreme Court

Tue, 26 May 2009 07:07:00 CDT

President Obama this past week chose federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor as his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court. Cato scholar Ilya Shapiro comments, "In picking Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama has confirmed that identity politics matter to him more than merit. While Judge Sotomayor exemplifies the American Dream, she would not have even been on the short list if she were not Hispanic."

"Sotomayor Pick Not Based on Merit," by Ilya Shapiro
"The 'Unseen' Deserve Empathy, Too," by John Hasnas
Statement on the selection from Roger Pilon

Obamacare to Come: Seven Bad Ideas for Health Care Reform

Thu, 21 May 2009 07:36:00 CDT

President Obama has made it clear that reforming the American health care system will be one of his top priorities, and congressional leaders have promised to introduce legislation by this summer. In a new study, Cato scholar Michael D. Tanner breaks down the key components of any plan likely to emerge from Congress, and explains how those proposals would "dramatically transform the American health care system in a way that would harm taxpayers, health care providers, and — most importantly — the quality and range of care given to patients."

"Obamacare to Come: Seven Bad Ideas for Health Care Reform," by Michael D. Tanner
Cato Institute Conference on Health Care Reform, June 17, 2009

New Cato Policy Report: Hentoff on the First Amendment, Crane on Obamacare

Mon, 18 May 2009 10:09:00 CDT

Full Issue (PDF, 1.9M )
"An Endangered Native Species: The First Amendment," by Nat Hentoff [PDF] [HTML]
"Obamacare: Medical Malpractice," by Edward H. Crane [PDF] [HTML]
"Capitalism Makes Us Better People," [PDF] [HTML]
"Mexico's Drug War: The Growing Crisis on Our Southern Border," [PDF] [HTML]
"Ad Campaign Takes on Global Warming Myths," [PDF] [HTML]

The Cost of Zimbabwe's Continuing Farm Invasions

Mon, 18 May 2009 07:39:00 CDT

In 2000 the government of Zimbabwe, in an attempt to destroy the opposition, which derived much support from the commercial farmers and their employees, began the "Fast Track Land Reform" exercise. The program, which ignored farmers' property rights and the issue of fair and reasonable compensation for assets taken over by the government, has been a costly failure. In a new study, Zimbabwean businessman Eddie Cross estimates the financial costs on Zimbabwe, and argues that it is past time that the issue of the rights of the farm owners is resolved and the issue of compensation addressed.

"The Cost of Zimbabwe's Continuing Farm Invasions," by Eddie Cross

The Cult of the Presidency

Fri, 08 May 2009 13:19:00 CDT

The Cato Institute is pleased to announce the release of the paperback version of Gene Healy's must-read book, The Cult of the Presidency: America's Dangerous Devotion to Executive Power. Called "the year's most pertinent and sobering public affairs book" by columnist George Will, The Cult of the Presidency examines how Americans have expanded presidential power over recent decades by expecting solutions for all national problems, and concludes by calling for the president's role to return to its properly defined constitutional limits.

Purchase your copy today

Lessons from the New Deal and Great Depression

Tue, 05 May 2009 08:33:00 CDT

With the economy in a deep recession and policymakers turning to massive government intervention in an attempt to create jobs and bolster the financial system — it feels like the 1930s all over again. At a June 1 conference at the Cato Institute, recognized national experts will discuss the economic and legal impact of the New Deal, and how its legacy is being used and misused to shape policy responses to current economic hardships. We hope you'll be able to join us.

Information and Registration

Cato Institute Conference on Health Care Reform

Fri, 01 May 2009 10:24:00 CDT

Even before the results of the 2008 elections were known, lawmakers in Washington, D.C., were preparing some of the most sweeping health care reforms America has seen in decades. Cato has assembled an outstanding group of recognized experts and distinguished speakers for a significant one-day examination of the issues surrounding this year's health care reform effort. We hope you'll be able to join us on June 17.

Information and Registration

How President Obama Can Help Restore the Pro-Trade Consensus

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:01:00 CDT

Trade has been a crucial component of U.S. and world economic growth for over six decades. But during the past decade — and particularly in the last few years — trade policy has become partisan, rancorous, and divisive. In a new study, Cato scholar Daniel Ikenson and international trade attorney Scott Lincicome suggest that restoring the pro-trade consensus must be a priority of the Obama administration.

"Audaciously Hopeful: How President Obama Can Help Restore the Pro-Trade Consensus," by Daniel Ikenson and Scott Lincicome