http://www.cato.org/events/archive.html Event Videos from the Cato Institute webmaster@cato.org (Cato Webmaster) en-us Copyright 2008, Cato Institute, All Rights Reserved Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT 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_2.jpg http://www.cato.org/events/archive.html Cato Logo 100 100 webmaster@cato.org Cato no http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5083 Released to great acclaim in May 2008, The Dirty Dozen: How Twelve Supreme Court Cases Radically Expanded Government and Eroded Freedom analyzes 12 U.S. Supreme Court decisions that, according to coauthors Robert Levy of the Cato Institute and William Mellor of the Institute for Justice, changed the course of American history away from constitutional government. In addition, The Dirty Dozen provides insights into the proper role of the Court and calls for judicial engagement to remedy these harmful decisions. The book has rapidly become the catalyst for an energetic, wide-reaching debate about the Supreme Court, generating an extensive range of opinions among legal professionals, concerned non-lawyers, and Court followers about the 12 cases, their impact, and the role of the Court. The Cato Institute and the American Constitution Society are pleased to provide a public platform for this important debate. Leading practitioners and academics from different perspectives will discuss the cases and the authors’ legal analyses. Please join us for what promises to be a dynamic event made even more significant by the historic Court decisions that have been handed down since the book’s publication only 2 months ago. Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpfa-07-31-08.mp3 Featuring co-author [William Mellor], President and General Counsel, Institute for Justice; [Ilya Shapiro], Senior Fellow in Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute and Editor-in-Chief, Cato Supreme Court Review; [David Barron], Professor o... Released to great acclaim in May 2008, The Dirty Dozen: How Twelve Supreme Court Cases Radically Expanded Government and Eroded Freedom analyzes 12 U.S. Supreme Court decisions that, according to coauthors Robert Levy of the Cato Institute and William Mellor of the Institute for Justice, changed the course of American history away from constitutional government. In addition, The Dirty Dozen provides insights into the proper role of the Court and calls for judicial engagement to remedy these harmful decisions. The book has rapidly become the catalyst for an energetic, wide-reaching debate about the Supreme Court, generating an extensive range of opinions among legal professionals, concerned non-lawyers, and Court followers about the 12 cases, their impact, and the role of the Court. The Cato Institute and the American Constitution Society are pleased to provide a public platform for this important debate. Leading practitioners and academics from different perspectives will discuss the cases and the authors’ legal analyses. Please join us for what promises to be a dynamic event made even more significant by the historic Court decisions that have been handed down since the book’s publication only 2 months ago. 00:00:00 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4962 After an extended primary season, the 2008 presidential campaign is finally under way and the candidates are presenting—at least in some areas—starkly different economic policy proposals. Sen. John McCain is a career-long free trader, consistently voting against trade barriers and subsidies. Sen. Barack Obama, although possessing a shorter voting record, puts greater restrictions on his support for free trade and favors a time-out on new trade agreements and extensive review—and possible renegotiation—of existing ones. On fiscal policy, Sen. McCain wants lower taxes while Sen. Obama proposes to shift the tax burden to wealthier Americans. According to the National Taxpayers Union, Sen. McCain has endorsed $68 billion of additional government spending per year and Sen. Obama has called for nearly $344 billion of bigger government. How would these policies strengthen the U.S. economy or damage it? If Obama is elected, would Congress simply rubber-stamp his proposals? If McCain wins, would Congress approve his agenda? Please join us as our panel discusses the McCain and Obama tax, spending, and trade plans. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpf-07-15-08.m4v Featuring [Sallie James], Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute, [Dan Mitchell], Cato Institute, and [Christian Weller], Center for American Progress.... After an extended primary season, the 2008 presidential campaign is finally under way and the candidates are presenting—at least in some areas—starkly different economic policy proposals. Sen. John McCain is a career-long free trader, consistently voting against trade barriers and subsidies. Sen. Barack Obama, although possessing a shorter voting record, puts greater restrictions on his support for free trade and favors a time-out on new trade agreements and extensive review—and possible renegotiation—of existing ones. On fiscal policy, Sen. McCain wants lower taxes while Sen. Obama proposes to shift the tax burden to wealthier Americans. According to the National Taxpayers Union, Sen. McCain has endorsed $68 billion of additional government spending per year and Sen. Obama has called for nearly $344 billion of bigger government. How would these policies strengthen the U.S. economy or damage it? If Obama is elected, would Congress simply rubber-stamp his proposals? If McCain wins, would Congress approve his agenda? Please join us as our panel discusses the McCain and Obama tax, spending, and trade plans. 01:14:33 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4956 The world's largest democracy, India, is an emerging economic giant. Reforms that began in the late 1980s and accelerated in the 1990s have led to high growth and have reduced poverty by one third. Professor Panagariya will discuss changes in Indian society that favor continued rapid growth. He will also explain why India should avoid policies that focus on equality rather than poverty reduction, and he will propose innovative reforms—such as school vouchers or cash transfers for health care—where government services have failed the poor. Swaminathan Aiyar will comment on the book’s outlook for India. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpf-07-02-08.m4v Featuring the author [Arvind Panagariya], Jagdish Bhagwati Professor of Indian Political Economy, Columbia University with comments from [Swaminathan Aiyar], Research Fellow, Cato Institute.... The world's largest democracy, India, is an emerging economic giant. Reforms that began in the late 1980s and accelerated in the 1990s have led to high growth and have reduced poverty by one third. Professor Panagariya will discuss changes in Indian society that favor continued rapid growth. He will also explain why India should avoid policies that focus on equality rather than poverty reduction, and he will propose innovative reforms—such as school vouchers or cash transfers for health care—where government services have failed the poor. Swaminathan Aiyar will comment on the book’s outlook for India. 01:12:45 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4950 As the Doha Round lies in a cryogenic state, it is important to recognize that comprehensive, multilateral agreement to reduce trade barriers is not the only way to improve the international trading system. In fact, according to recent studies from the World Bank and other international economic institutions— a new study published by the Cato Institute —“trade facilitation” reforms could do more to increase global trade flows than further reductions in tariff rates. In broad terms, trade facilitation includes reforms aimed at improving the chain of administrative and physical procedures involved in the transport of goods and services across international borders. Countries with inadequate trade infrastructure, burdensome administrative processes, or limited competition in trade logistics services are less capable of benefiting from the opportunities of expanding global trade. And that goes for rich countries as well as developing countries. By streamlining and reforming bureaucratic procedures and encouraging competition in communications and transportation services, governments have been helping increase trade, investment, and growth in their economies. And these reforms have not required international consensus to implement. Please join us for a panel discussion with some of the world’s foremost experts on the topic of trade facilitation. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpf-06-26-08.m4v Featuring [Steve Creskoff], Trade Lawyer, Creskoff and Doram LLP; [J. Michael Finger], Initial World Bank Coordinator for the Integrated Framework; [Bill Lane], Caterpillar, Inc.; and [John Wilson], Lead Economist, World Bank. Moderated by [Dan ... As the Doha Round lies in a cryogenic state, it is important to recognize that comprehensive, multilateral agreement to reduce trade barriers is not the only way to improve the international trading system. In fact, according to recent studies from the World Bank and other international economic institutions— a new study published by the Cato Institute —“trade facilitation” reforms could do more to increase global trade flows than further reductions in tariff rates. In broad terms, trade facilitation includes reforms aimed at improving the chain of administrative and physical procedures involved in the transport of goods and services across international borders. Countries with inadequate trade infrastructure, burdensome administrative processes, or limited competition in trade logistics services are less capable of benefiting from the opportunities of expanding global trade. And that goes for rich countries as well as developing countries. By streamlining and reforming bureaucratic procedures and encouraging competition in communications and transportation services, governments have been helping increase trade, investment, and growth in their economies. And these reforms have not required international consensus to implement. Please join us for a panel discussion with some of the world’s foremost experts on the topic of trade facilitation. 01:23:14 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4914 Why are we, in many respects, less free now than we were 200 years ago? How did we get from our Founders' Constitution, which established a strictly limited government, to today's Constitution, which has expanded government and curtailed individual rights? That's the story of The Dirty Dozen - a book written for non lawyers about 12 U.S. Supreme Court cases that moved the course of American history away from constitutional government. Whether it involves the regulation of commerce, political speech, economic liberties, property rights, welfare, racial preferences, gun owners' rights, or imprisonment without charge, the U.S. Supreme Court has behaved in a manner that would have stunned, mystified, and outraged our Founding Fathers. Please join co-author Robert Levy for a discussion of the 12 worst Supreme Court cases of the modern era. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hb-06-24-08.m4v Featuring the co author [Robert A. Levy], Cato Institute. ... Why are we, in many respects, less free now than we were 200 years ago? How did we get from our Founders' Constitution, which established a strictly limited government, to today's Constitution, which has expanded government and curtailed individual rights? That's the story of The Dirty Dozen - a book written for non lawyers about 12 U.S. Supreme Court cases that moved the course of American history away from constitutional government. Whether it involves the regulation of commerce, political speech, economic liberties, property rights, welfare, racial preferences, gun owners' rights, or imprisonment without charge, the U.S. Supreme Court has behaved in a manner that would have stunned, mystified, and outraged our Founding Fathers. Please join co-author Robert Levy for a discussion of the 12 worst Supreme Court cases of the modern era. 00:41:33 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4786 In his two terms in the U.S. Senate, Chuck Hagel has distinguished himself as one of our nation’s most outspoken and thoughtful political leaders. Unafraid to challenge the policies of his own party, Senator Hagel has drawn praise and admiration from across the ideological spectrum by expressing grave concerns about the war in Iraq. In America: Our Next Chapter: Tough Questions, Straight Answers, Senator Hagel sets forth his vision for a humbler U.S. foreign policy guided by international diplomacy and free trade. He also addresses key domestic policy issues by calling for a significant reduction in the size of the federal government, demanding more fiscal responsibility in Washington, and supporting reforms to reduce the spiraling costs of entitlement programs. Please join Senator Hagel for a discussion of his new book, with introductory comments by Cato Institute president Edward H. Crane. Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbf-06-12-08.m4v Featuring the author, [Senator Chuck Hagel] (R-NE), with an introduction by [Edward H. Crane], President, Cato Institute. ... In his two terms in the U.S. Senate, Chuck Hagel has distinguished himself as one of our nation’s most outspoken and thoughtful political leaders. Unafraid to challenge the policies of his own party, Senator Hagel has drawn praise and admiration from across the ideological spectrum by expressing grave concerns about the war in Iraq. In America: Our Next Chapter: Tough Questions, Straight Answers, Senator Hagel sets forth his vision for a humbler U.S. foreign policy guided by international diplomacy and free trade. He also addresses key domestic policy issues by calling for a significant reduction in the size of the federal government, demanding more fiscal responsibility in Washington, and supporting reforms to reduce the spiraling costs of entitlement programs. Please join Senator Hagel for a discussion of his new book, with introductory comments by Cato Institute president Edward H. Crane. 01:11:41 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4940 Despite the conclusions one might draw from the constant barrage of media negativity, never before have people lived longer, healthier, and wealthier lives with lower risks of malnourishment, illiteracy, or death by war or natural disaster. In a recent report for the Swedish government, Cato senior fellow Johan Norberg has documented the largest, most rapid rise in human living standards ever, which occurred over the last four decades. He will review the factors that generated these advances and explain how even more economic liberty, free trade, and globalization are necessary to sustain them. Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hb-06-06-08.m4v Featuring [Johan Norberg], Author, In Defense of Global Capitalism, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute.... Despite the conclusions one might draw from the constant barrage of media negativity, never before have people lived longer, healthier, and wealthier lives with lower risks of malnourishment, illiteracy, or death by war or natural disaster. In a recent report for the Swedish government, Cato senior fellow Johan Norberg has documented the largest, most rapid rise in human living standards ever, which occurred over the last four decades. He will review the factors that generated these advances and explain how even more economic liberty, free trade, and globalization are necessary to sustain them. 00:41:25 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4904 China's rapid economic and military rise is causing understandable unease among American military planners. Although the Bush administration took office referring to China as a "strategic competitor," more recent statements of U.S. policy have focused on integrating China into the world community as a "responsible stakeholder." Does America's position as the sole superpower and China's as the primary rising power make U.S.-China conflict imminent and inevitable? If not, which potential flashpoints should be particular concerns for U.S. policymakers? Can American policy minimize tensions between the two powers? And what would open military confrontation between the United States and China look like? Please join Cato scholars Ted Galen Carpenter and Justin Logan for an exploration of national security and foreign policy issues related to China's rise. Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hb-05-30-08.m4v Featuring [Ted Galen Carpenter], Cato Institute and [Justin Logan], Cato Institute.... China's rapid economic and military rise is causing understandable unease among American military planners. Although the Bush administration took office referring to China as a "strategic competitor," more recent statements of U.S. policy have focused on integrating China into the world community as a "responsible stakeholder." Does America's position as the sole superpower and China's as the primary rising power make U.S.-China conflict imminent and inevitable? If not, which potential flashpoints should be particular concerns for U.S. policymakers? Can American policy minimize tensions between the two powers? And what would open military confrontation between the United States and China look like? Please join Cato scholars Ted Galen Carpenter and Justin Logan for an exploration of national security and foreign policy issues related to China's rise. 00:27:22 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4838 The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act—known as the "Akaka Bill"-would grant "native Hawaiians" federal recognition akin to that now enjoyed by Indian tribes. The bill creates a special authority that would exempt sufficiently ethnic Hawaiians from certain aspects of federal and state power. Having already passed the House and been reported out of Senate committee, the Akaka Bill is now due to be taken up by the full Senate. President Bush has promised a veto—citing the U.S. Civil Rights Commission's conclusion that it "would discriminate on the basis of race … and further subdivide the American people into discrete subgroups accorded varying degrees of privilege." Are these sorts of measures simply a matter of long-delayed justice? Does the Akaka Bill satisfy constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process? What kind of precedent would it establish for other ethnic groups? And what would be the economic effects on businesses and tourism in Hawaii? Please join us for a discussion of these and other political, economic, legal, and historical issues. Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hb-05-21-08.m4v Featuring [Jere Krischel], Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, [Elaine Willman], Citizens Equal Rights Alliance, [Andresen Blom], Research Institute for Hawaii, and [Ilya Shapiro], Cato Institute.... The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act—known as the "Akaka Bill"-would grant "native Hawaiians" federal recognition akin to that now enjoyed by Indian tribes. The bill creates a special authority that would exempt sufficiently ethnic Hawaiians from certain aspects of federal and state power. Having already passed the House and been reported out of Senate committee, the Akaka Bill is now due to be taken up by the full Senate. President Bush has promised a veto—citing the U.S. Civil Rights Commission's conclusion that it "would discriminate on the basis of race … and further subdivide the American people into discrete subgroups accorded varying degrees of privilege." Are these sorts of measures simply a matter of long-delayed justice? Does the Akaka Bill satisfy constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process? What kind of precedent would it establish for other ethnic groups? And what would be the economic effects on businesses and tourism in Hawaii? Please join us for a discussion of these and other political, economic, legal, and historical issues. 00:47:33 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4818 Foreign policy analysts are misreading the lessons of Iraq. The emerging conventional wisdom holds that success could have been achieved in Iraq with more troops, more cooperation among U.S. government agencies, and better counterinsurgency doctrine. Yet the Bush administration’s failures and errors in judgment did not derive from poor planning, but from flawed assumptions about the nature of Iraqi society. The difficulties in Iraq demonstrate the need for a new national security strategy and a newfound appreciation for the limits of power, not simply better tactics and tools. By insisting that Iraq was ours to remake were it not for the administration’s mismanagement, U.S. policy makers risk repeating these mistakes. Please join Cato scholars Christopher Preble and Benjamin H. Friedman for a discussion of these issues, which they and co-author Harvey Sapolsky also explore in the recent policy analysis, “Learning the Right Lessons from Iraq.” Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hb-05-16-08.m4v Featuring [Christopher Preble], Director of Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute, and [Benjamin H. Friedman], Research Fellow in Defense and Homeland Security Studies, Cato Institute.... Foreign policy analysts are misreading the lessons of Iraq. The emerging conventional wisdom holds that success could have been achieved in Iraq with more troops, more cooperation among U.S. government agencies, and better counterinsurgency doctrine. Yet the Bush administration’s failures and errors in judgment did not derive from poor planning, but from flawed assumptions about the nature of Iraqi society. The difficulties in Iraq demonstrate the need for a new national security strategy and a newfound appreciation for the limits of power, not simply better tactics and tools. By insisting that Iraq was ours to remake were it not for the administration’s mismanagement, U.S. policy makers risk repeating these mistakes. Please join Cato scholars Christopher Preble and Benjamin H. Friedman for a discussion of these issues, which they and co-author Harvey Sapolsky also explore in the recent policy analysis, “Learning the Right Lessons from Iraq.” 00:32:16 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4755 Conservatives love war, empire, and the military-industrial complex. They abhor peace, the sole and rightful property of liberals. Right? Wrong. According to Bill Kauffman, true conservatives have always resisted the imperial and military impulse: it drains the treasury, curtails domestic liberties, breaks down families, and vulgarizes culture. From the Federalists who opposed the War of 1812, to the striving of Robert Taft (known as "Mr. Republican") to keep the United States out of Korea, to the latter-day libertarian critics of the Iraq war, there has historically been nothing unusual about anti-war activists on the political right. And while these critics of U.S. military crusades have been vilified by the party of George W. Bush, their conservative vision of a peaceful, decentralized, and noninterventionist America gives us a glimpse of the country we could have had—and might yet attain. Passionate and witty, Ain't My America is an eye-opening exploration of the forgotten history of right-wing peace movements—and a clarion call to anti-war conservatives of today. But Michael Tomasky, the former executive editor of the American Prospect who now edits the Guardian newspaper's American online edition, begs to differ. Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbf-05-08-08.m4v Featuring the author [Bill Kauffman], with comments by [Michael Tomasky], Editor, Guardian America. Moderated by [David Boaz], Cato Institute.... Conservatives love war, empire, and the military-industrial complex. They abhor peace, the sole and rightful property of liberals. Right? Wrong. According to Bill Kauffman, true conservatives have always resisted the imperial and military impulse: it drains the treasury, curtails domestic liberties, breaks down families, and vulgarizes culture. From the Federalists who opposed the War of 1812, to the striving of Robert Taft (known as "Mr. Republican") to keep the United States out of Korea, to the latter-day libertarian critics of the Iraq war, there has historically been nothing unusual about anti-war activists on the political right. And while these critics of U.S. military crusades have been vilified by the party of George W. Bush, their conservative vision of a peaceful, decentralized, and noninterventionist America gives us a glimpse of the country we could have had—and might yet attain. Passionate and witty, Ain't My America is an eye-opening exploration of the forgotten history of right-wing peace movements—and a clarion call to anti-war conservatives of today. But Michael Tomasky, the former executive editor of the American Prospect who now edits the Guardian newspaper's American online edition, begs to differ. 01:06:38 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4674 In the aftermath of 9/11, President Bush declared that the struggle against terrorism would be nothing less than a war-a new kind of war that would require new tactics, new government powers, and a new mindset. In a new book, Bush's Law, Eric Lichtblau argues that counterterrorism officials at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Security Agency, and the Central Intelligence Agency were asked to play roles they had never played before. To facilitate these new roles, legal restrictions were set aside, or disregarded, as administration officials sanctioned new intelligence and law enforcement programs. As a reporter for the New York Times, Lichtblau helped to break the story on the NSA's warrantless wiretapping program, for which he was later awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting. Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbf-04-23-08.m4v Featuring the author [Eric Lichtblau], New York Times. Moderated by [Timothy Lynch], Cato Institute. ... In the aftermath of 9/11, President Bush declared that the struggle against terrorism would be nothing less than a war-a new kind of war that would require new tactics, new government powers, and a new mindset. In a new book, Bush's Law, Eric Lichtblau argues that counterterrorism officials at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Security Agency, and the Central Intelligence Agency were asked to play roles they had never played before. To facilitate these new roles, legal restrictions were set aside, or disregarded, as administration officials sanctioned new intelligence and law enforcement programs. As a reporter for the New York Times, Lichtblau helped to break the story on the NSA's warrantless wiretapping program, for which he was later awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting. 00:52:48 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4683 On April 22, just as Pennsylvania Democrats go the polls in the last large primary before their nominating convention, the Supreme Court will hear yet another challenge to the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law: The Millionaires’ Amendment attempts to discourage congressional candidates from spending more than $350,000 of their own money on their election campaigns. It penalizes expenditures above that threshold by allowing increased contribution limits and unlimited coordinated party expenditures for the self-financing candidate's opponent. Does this penalty unconstitutionally chill protected political speech, or is there a compelling governmental interest at stake? How does self-financing impact corruption or the concept of a level playing field? Please join Cato scholars John Samples and Ilya Shapiro for a lively exploration of the Millionaires’ Amendment and other election regulations affecting this campaign season. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hb-04-21-08.m4v Featuring [John Samples], Director, Center for Representative Government, Cato Institute, and [Ilya Shapiro], Senior Fellow, Center for Constitutional Studies and Editor-in-Chief, Cato Supreme Court Review, Cato Institute.... On April 22, just as Pennsylvania Democrats go the polls in the last large primary before their nominating convention, the Supreme Court will hear yet another challenge to the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law: The Millionaires’ Amendment attempts to discourage congressional candidates from spending more than $350,000 of their own money on their election campaigns. It penalizes expenditures above that threshold by allowing increased contribution limits and unlimited coordinated party expenditures for the self-financing candidate's opponent. Does this penalty unconstitutionally chill protected political speech, or is there a compelling governmental interest at stake? How does self-financing impact corruption or the concept of a level playing field? Please join Cato scholars John Samples and Ilya Shapiro for a lively exploration of the Millionaires’ Amendment and other election regulations affecting this campaign season. 00:34:07 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4765 In the modern global economy, highly skilled workers are increasingly important to continued growth and prosperity. Yet despite the dramatically increasing demand for foreign skilled labor, Congress has failed to increase the number of H-1B visas. As a result, U.S. immigration laws permit only a fraction of willing, skilled workers to add their talents to our society, reducing the welfare of both domestic workers and those who were denied access. Please join Senator Judd Gregg and Cato scholar Daniel Griswold for a discussion of reforming U.S. immigration policy to improve economic growth, expand individual choice, and maintain America's competitive advantage in innovation. Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hb-04-17-08.m4v Featuring [Senator Judd Gregg] (R-NH) and [Daniel Griswold], Director, Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute.... In the modern global economy, highly skilled workers are increasingly important to continued growth and prosperity. Yet despite the dramatically increasing demand for foreign skilled labor, Congress has failed to increase the number of H-1B visas. As a result, U.S. immigration laws permit only a fraction of willing, skilled workers to add their talents to our society, reducing the welfare of both domestic workers and those who were denied access. Please join Senator Judd Gregg and Cato scholar Daniel Griswold for a discussion of reforming U.S. immigration policy to improve economic growth, expand individual choice, and maintain America's competitive advantage in innovation. 00:21:16 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4500 On March 29 Zimbabweans will cast their votes in presidential and parliamentary elections that are likely to be rigged in favor of Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party. Mugabe and the ZANU-PF elite have presided over the collapse of living standards in Zimbabwe and the destruction of her economy. They are also responsible for massive human rights abuses that include a massacre of some 20,000 civilians in the Matabeleland in the 1980s. The panel will discuss the current economic and political situation in Zimbabwe, and possible post-election scenarios. The forum will coincide with the release of a new Cato study detailing Zimbabwe's decline. Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpf-03-24-08.m4v Featuring: [Walter H. Kansteiner], Principal, Scowcroft Group Former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs; [Carol Thompson], Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, Department of State; and [Richard Tren], Director, Af... On March 29 Zimbabweans will cast their votes in presidential and parliamentary elections that are likely to be rigged in favor of Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party. Mugabe and the ZANU-PF elite have presided over the collapse of living standards in Zimbabwe and the destruction of her economy. They are also responsible for massive human rights abuses that include a massacre of some 20,000 civilians in the Matabeleland in the 1980s. The panel will discuss the current economic and political situation in Zimbabwe, and possible post-election scenarios. The forum will coincide with the release of a new Cato study detailing Zimbabwe's decline. 01:14:42 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4437 This book takes a fresh look at the role of the Supreme Court in our constitutional system. Although criticisms of judicial power often attribute its rise to the activism of justices seeking to advance particular political ideologies, Patrick Garry argues instead that the Court’s power has grown mainly because of certain New Deal-era decisions that initially seemed to portend a lessening of that power. The Rehnquist Court tried to strengthen the Constitution's structural protections of liberty but, according to Garry, this effort only went halfway because the Court relied exclusively on judicially enforced rights. A more comprehensive reform would require a return to a reliance on federalism and separation of powers as devices for protecting liberty. Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpf-03-19-08.m4v Featuring the author [Patrick Garry], University of South Dakota Law School; with comments by [Roger Pilon], Cato Institute, and [Abe Krash], Georgetown University Law Center and Arnold & Porter LLP; moderated by [Ilya Shapiro], Cato Institute.... This book takes a fresh look at the role of the Supreme Court in our constitutional system. Although criticisms of judicial power often attribute its rise to the activism of justices seeking to advance particular political ideologies, Patrick Garry argues instead that the Court’s power has grown mainly because of certain New Deal-era decisions that initially seemed to portend a lessening of that power. The Rehnquist Court tried to strengthen the Constitution's structural protections of liberty but, according to Garry, this effort only went halfway because the Court relied exclusively on judicially enforced rights. A more comprehensive reform would require a return to a reliance on federalism and separation of powers as devices for protecting liberty. 01:13:00 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4525 Economic success-among individuals, firms, products and countries-is often unexpected and unpredicted. William Easterly will draw on insights from Nobel laureate Friedrich Hayek to explain why prediction is difficult, success is rare and failure is common; the advantages of decentralized decision making to discover what works best in the market and in public policy; and the need to rely on dispersed and local knowledge, rather than government planning, for poor countries to achieve growth. Arvind Subramanian will draw on his experience working at multilateral institutions to comment on the relevance of Hayek's insights to developing countries and the current foreign aid debate. Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpf-03-18-08.m4v Featuring [William Easterly], Professor of Economics, New York University, with comments by [Arvind Subramanian], Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics. Moderator [Ian Vásquez], Cato Institute.... Economic success-among individuals, firms, products and countries-is often unexpected and unpredicted. William Easterly will draw on insights from Nobel laureate Friedrich Hayek to explain why prediction is difficult, success is rare and failure is common; the advantages of decentralized decision making to discover what works best in the market and in public policy; and the need to rely on dispersed and local knowledge, rather than government planning, for poor countries to achieve growth. Arvind Subramanian will draw on his experience working at multilateral institutions to comment on the relevance of Hayek's insights to developing countries and the current foreign aid debate. 01:28:09 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4516 In 1974, Richard Nixon promoted the possibility of U.S. energy independence in six years. In 1975, Gerald Ford promised it in ten. And in 2007, Barack Obama, Rudy Giuliani, Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, John Edwards and John McCain all trumpeted energy independence as an essential priority for the next president. In 2007, six books were published hailing energy independence as the answer to everything from global warming to terrorism. But what is energy independence? Is it possible? In Gusher of Lies (2008) Robert Bryce breaks down and debunks the myth of energy independence. In addition to his most recent book, Bryce is also the author of Pipe Dreams: Greed, Ego, and the Death of Enron, and Cronies: Oil, the Bushes, and the Rise of Texas, America's Superstate. He is managing editor of Energy Tribune, and a contributing writer for the Texas Observer. Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbf-03-18-08.m4v Featuring [Robert Bryce], Managing Editor, Energy Tribune. Moderated by [Jerry Taylor], Cato Institute.... In 1974, Richard Nixon promoted the possibility of U.S. energy independence in six years. In 1975, Gerald Ford promised it in ten. And in 2007, Barack Obama, Rudy Giuliani, Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, John Edwards and John McCain all trumpeted energy independence as an essential priority for the next president. In 2007, six books were published hailing energy independence as the answer to everything from global warming to terrorism. But what is energy independence? Is it possible? In Gusher of Lies (2008) Robert Bryce breaks down and debunks the myth of energy independence. In addition to his most recent book, Bryce is also the author of Pipe Dreams: Greed, Ego, and the Death of Enron, and Cronies: Oil, the Bushes, and the Rise of Texas, America's Superstate. He is managing editor of Energy Tribune, and a contributing writer for the Texas Observer. 01:40:56 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4567 On December 2, 2007, Venezuelans rejected through a referendum constitutional changes proposed by President Hugo Chávez that would have turned their country into a socialist state. The Venezuelan student movement played the key role in that outcome. Student leader Yon Goicoechea will explain how and why students from public and private universities from across the country came together in defense of basic liberties. Author and human rights activist Gustavo Tovar will describe how the movement's philosophy of nonviolence helped to forge an effective opposition. Gerver Torres will discuss the significant impact of the "No" vote on public opinion and politics in Venezuela and throughout Latin America. All three speakers will discuss the future of the student movement and of Venezuelan politics. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpf-03-12-08.m4v Featuring: [Yon Goicoechea], Former General Secretary, Venezuelan Student Parliament; [Gustavo Tovar], Author, Estudiantes por la libertad (Students for Liberty) (Caracas: El Nacional, 2007); and [Gerver Torres], Senior Scientist, Gallup. Modera... On December 2, 2007, Venezuelans rejected through a referendum constitutional changes proposed by President Hugo Chávez that would have turned their country into a socialist state. The Venezuelan student movement played the key role in that outcome. Student leader Yon Goicoechea will explain how and why students from public and private universities from across the country came together in defense of basic liberties. Author and human rights activist Gustavo Tovar will describe how the movement's philosophy of nonviolence helped to forge an effective opposition. Gerver Torres will discuss the significant impact of the "No" vote on public opinion and politics in Venezuela and throughout Latin America. All three speakers will discuss the future of the student movement and of Venezuelan politics. 01:20:51 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4561 Few topics arouse more passionate debate than climate change. There is broad agreement that humans are affecting the Earth’s temperature, but how can policymakers effectively address climate change while also advancing human well-being? Should society focus on reducing greenhouse gases or on building resilience and reducing vulnerability? Please join Pat Michaels and Indur Goklany for a discussion about climate change. Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/hb-02-29-08.m4v Featuring [Indur Goklany], author of The Improving State of the World and a new Cato study, “What to Do about Climate Change,” and delegate to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and [Patrick J. Michaels], Senior Fellow in Environment... Few topics arouse more passionate debate than climate change. There is broad agreement that humans are affecting the Earth’s temperature, but how can policymakers effectively address climate change while also advancing human well-being? Should society focus on reducing greenhouse gases or on building resilience and reducing vulnerability? Please join Pat Michaels and Indur Goklany for a discussion about climate change. 00:41:38 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4448 Twilight at Monticello is an unprecedented and engrossing personal look at Thomas Jefferson in his final years that will change the way readers think about him. During the years from his return to Monticello in 1809 until his death in 1826, Jefferson dealt with illness and debt, corresponded with the leading figures of the Revolution, and became a radical decentralist and admirer of the New England townships, where, he believed, the real fire of liberty burned bright. Jefferson had witnessed the strength of local governments during his ill-advised, near-dictatorial embargo, which proved to be the great crisis of his political life, not because he placed too much faith in his countrymen's capacity for self-government but because, for once in his life, he placed too little faith in it. During these years, Jefferson also became increasingly aware of the costs to civil harmony exacted by the Founding Fathers' failure to effectively reconcile slaveholding within a republic dedicated to liberty. Right up until his death on the 50th anniversary of America's founding, Thomas Jefferson remained an indispensable man, albeit a supremely human one. Based on new research and documents culled from the Library of Congress, the Virginia Historical Society, and other special collections, including hitherto unexamined letters from family, friends, and Monticello neighbors, Alan Pell Crawford paints an authoritative and deeply moving portrait of Thomas Jefferson as private citizen — the first original depiction of the man in more than a generation. Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbf-02-19-08.m4v Featuring the author, [Alan Pell Crawford].... Twilight at Monticello is an unprecedented and engrossing personal look at Thomas Jefferson in his final years that will change the way readers think about him. During the years from his return to Monticello in 1809 until his death in 1826, Jefferson dealt with illness and debt, corresponded with the leading figures of the Revolution, and became a radical decentralist and admirer of the New England townships, where, he believed, the real fire of liberty burned bright. Jefferson had witnessed the strength of local governments during his ill-advised, near-dictatorial embargo, which proved to be the great crisis of his political life, not because he placed too much faith in his countrymen's capacity for self-government but because, for once in his life, he placed too little faith in it. During these years, Jefferson also became increasingly aware of the costs to civil harmony exacted by the Founding Fathers' failure to effectively reconcile slaveholding within a republic dedicated to liberty. Right up until his death on the 50th anniversary of America's founding, Thomas Jefferson remained an indispensable man, albeit a supremely human one. Based on new research and documents culled from the Library of Congress, the Virginia Historical Society, and other special collections, including hitherto unexamined letters from family, friends, and Monticello neighbors, Alan Pell Crawford paints an authoritative and deeply moving portrait of Thomas Jefferson as private citizen — the first original depiction of the man in more than a generation. 00:48:21 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4383 The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is facing a host of new challenges. In Afghanistan, NATO’s forces are being relentlessly attacked by the Taliban, and popular support for maintaining troops there is fading. The proposed deployment of antiballistic missiles, a potential flashpoint in Kosovo, and the growing tension between Russia and some of its neighbors all have the potential to divide members of the alliance. Meanwhile, NATO’s inability to deter a cyber attack that virtually paralyzed NATO member Estonia’s access to the Internet raises questions about the alliance’s ability to protect its newest members. The panelists will discuss these and other challenges confronting NATO, offering their thoughts on the future of the alliance, and recommendations for U.S. policymakers. Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cpf-01-31-08.m4v Featuring [Stanley Kober], Research Fellow in Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute; [Susan Eisenhower], Chairman Emeritus, The Eisenhower Institute; [Lawrence S. Kaplan], Emeritus Director of the Lemnitzer Center for NATO and European Union St... The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is facing a host of new challenges. In Afghanistan, NATO’s forces are being relentlessly attacked by the Taliban, and popular support for maintaining troops there is fading. The proposed deployment of antiballistic missiles, a potential flashpoint in Kosovo, and the growing tension between Russia and some of its neighbors all have the potential to divide members of the alliance. Meanwhile, NATO’s inability to deter a cyber attack that virtually paralyzed NATO member Estonia’s access to the Internet raises questions about the alliance’s ability to protect its newest members. The panelists will discuss these and other challenges confronting NATO, offering their thoughts on the future of the alliance, and recommendations for U.S. policymakers. 01:26:00 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4297 In his new book, The Mind of the Market: Compassionate Apes, Competitive Humans, and Other Tales from Evolutionary Economics, Michael Shermer examines such questions as: How did we evolve from ancient hunter-gatherers to modern consumer-traders? Why are people so irrational when it comes to money and business? He argues that the new science of evolutionary economics provides an answer to both of those questions. Shermer shows how evolution and economics are both examples of a larger phenomenon of complex adaptive systems. Along the way, he answers such provocative questions as, Do our tribal roots mean that we will always be a sucker for brands? How is the biochemical joy of sex similar to the rewards of business cooperation? How can nations increase trust within and between their borders? Finally, Shermer considers the consequences of globalization and why free trade promises to build alliances between nations. Michael Shermer is the founding publisher of Skeptic magazine, a monthly columnist for Scientific American, and the author of Why People Believe Weird Things and Why Darwin Matters. Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbf-01-11-08.m4v Featuring [Michael Shermer].... In his new book, The Mind of the Market: Compassionate Apes, Competitive Humans, and Other Tales from Evolutionary Economics, Michael Shermer examines such questions as: How did we evolve from ancient hunter-gatherers to modern consumer-traders? Why are people so irrational when it comes to money and business? He argues that the new science of evolutionary economics provides an answer to both of those questions. Shermer shows how evolution and economics are both examples of a larger phenomenon of complex adaptive systems. Along the way, he answers such provocative questions as, Do our tribal roots mean that we will always be a sucker for brands? How is the biochemical joy of sex similar to the rewards of business cooperation? How can nations increase trust within and between their borders? Finally, Shermer considers the consequences of globalization and why free trade promises to build alliances between nations. Michael Shermer is the founding publisher of Skeptic magazine, a monthly columnist for Scientific American, and the author of Why People Believe Weird Things and Why Darwin Matters. 01:05:22 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4292 John McCain is one of the most familiar figures in American politics, a figure with great appeal to many. However, his concrete governing philosophy and actual track record have been left unexamined. Matt Welch’s new book McCain: The Myth of a Maverick gives a flesh-and-bones political portrait of a man onto whom people project their own ideological fantasies. It is the first realistic assessment of what a John McCain presidency might look like. Welch lays out the root cause of the senator's worldview: his personal transformation from underachieving youth to war hawk, in which he used the "higher power" of American nationalism to save his life and soul. Please join us to discuss this new work on the day that New Hampshire decides the fate of Senator McCain’s enduring aspiration to attain the presidency. Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.catomedia.org/archive-2008/cbf-01-08-08.m4v Featuring the author, [Matt Welch], Editor-in-Chief, Reason Magazine, and [Lance Tarrance, Jr.], Former Senior Strategist, McCain for President.... John McCain is one of the most familiar figures in American politics, a figure with great appeal to many. However, his concrete governing philosophy and actual track record have been left unexamined. Matt Welch’s new book McCain: The Myth of a Maverick gives a flesh-and-bones political portrait of a man onto whom people project their own ideological fantasies. It is the first realistic assessment of what a John McCain presidency might look like. Welch lays out the root cause of the senator's worldview: his personal transformation from underachieving youth to war hawk, in which he used the "higher power" of American nationalism to save his life and soul. Please join us to discuss this new work on the day that New Hampshire decides the fate of Senator McCain’s enduring aspiration to attain the presidency. 01:08:32 no Cato,Institute,forums,events,briefings