Cato Event Podcast

Why do so many pundits say that America's health care system is in crisis? Economist Arnold Kling says that the fundamental challenge in American health care today is that we have many highly trained specialists and advanced technologies but do not know when their use is appropriate or how we should pay for them. He calls this a Crisis of Abundance. Kling argues that markets could do a better job of allocating these resources, and he advocates cutting government health care budgets by two-thirds and reducing third-party payment as a way to encourage better medical decisions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On August 22, 1996, President Bill Clinton signed into law the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, the most extensive reform of the nation's welfare laws since the Great Society. Ten years later, welfare rolls have declined dramatically, but poverty and long-term dependence on government programs persist. A panel of leading experts will look back at welfare reform successes and failures and forward to ask what the future of welfare reform holds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Washington today, it seems the biggest impediment to reducing the size and scope of the federal government is not the Democratic Party. It’s the Republicans on Capitol Hill and in the White House. Instead of building a party that stands against Big Government, national GOP leaders have built a party of Big Government. In the book Buck Wild, Stephen Slivinski tells the surprising story of the GOP’s unfortunate transformation and reveals how Republicans have abandoned the limited-government principles that catapulted them to power in the first place and planted the seeds of their own undoing in the coming elections. At the forum, columnist Bob Novak will add his own pointed comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In January 2004, President Bush called upon Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform that would secure our borders, meet our economic needs, and uphold our best traditions as an immigrant nation. In response, the House and Senate will soon begin the difficult task of reconciling two starkly different immigration bills. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, a prominent member of the president’s economic team and an immigrant himself, has called on Congress to pass an immigration bill that not only protects our borders but also “recognizes the needs of a growing economy.” In a major address, the secretary will explain why reform must include a temporary worker program and a "hard-earned path to legalization" for undocumented workers already in the United States. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Against the backdrop of the war in Iraq, the nuclear crisis with Iran, and the deadlocked Israeli-Palestinian peace process, there is a growing sense that U.S. policy in the Middle East has failed to advance American national interests. In his book, Sandstorm: Policy Failure in the Middle East, Cato Research Fellow Leon Hadar surveys the historical evolution of what he calls the U.S. "Middle East Paradigm" and concludes that its costs have outweighed its benefits. Hadar argues instead for a policy of "constructive disengagement" from the Middle East, whereby the United States would transfer greater responsibility for security in the area to other global players while encouraging the formation of regional security institutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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One year after China's modest currency reforms, the issue remains a sticking point in U.S.-China trade relations. Critics argue that China's yuan remains grossly undervalued, bestowing an unfair advantage on imports from China at the expense of U.S. producers. Other observers contend that benefits from trade with China far outweigh any concerns about its currency. Policy options range from doing nothing to aggressive diplomacy to imposing steep tariffs on Chinese imports. Three experts on U.S.-China trade will discuss the status of reform in China, the impact of U.S.-China trade and exchange rates on our economy, and what change, if any, should be made in U.S. economic policy toward China. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's largest corporations have mastered the art of working with government officials at every level to stifle market competition. They reap billions through a complex web of higher taxes, stricter regulations, and shameless government handouts. The Big Ripoff pulls back the curtain to show who is strangling America's tradition of free enterprise and how and why they are doing it. Author Timothy Carney will discuss how the incestuous relationship between big business and even bigger government works to the detriment of consumers, taxpayers, and entrepreneurs. Columnist and Fox News contributor Jim Pinkerton will provide comments on the book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than any other Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson made his reputation on the brilliance of his writing, not least the stirring defense of limited government and individual rights in the Declaration of Independence. Few writers have said so much on so many subjects—and said it so well—as Jefferson. The Quotable Jefferson—the most comprehensive and authoritative book of Jefferson quotations ever published—demonstrates that. John Kaminski of the University of Wisconsin has collected and arranged Jefferson's pronouncements on almost 500 subjects, ranging from the profound and public—the Constitution—to the personal and peculiar—cold water bathing. Please join us to discuss the life and writings of our foremost defender of liberty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S.-Japan strategic relationship is evolving. With the United States struggling to meet military commitments abroad, and with Japan increasingly asserting military autonomy, more can be done to equitably distribute security burdens between the two countries. Christopher Preble will discuss his recent Policy Analysis, "Two Normal Countries: Rethinking the U.S.-Japan Strategic Relationship," which explains that a more equitable alliance will provide a durable foundation for addressing the most pressing security challenges in the region and beyond. Preble is joined by two experts on U.S.-Japan strategic relations to discuss the paper and frame the debate over the proper roles and missions for the United States and Japan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The current era of globalization is only a partial return to a liberal economic order. Renowned development economist Deepak Lal will explain why minimal government intervention, free trade, free capital flows, and the abolition of international organizations such as the World Bank offer the best path for growth and healthy international relations. In his view, attempts to ameliorate the impact of the market threaten global economic progress and stability. Ethan Kapstein believes that countries will shape their own destinies only in an international system that emphasizes the central role of states and the diverse social contracts they represent. Can these two views be reconciled? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Senate prepares to debate the Federal Marriage Amendment many scholars are looking at evidence from Scandinavia, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Some observers have argued that experience in those countries shows that legal recognition of same-sex unions leads to a decline in traditional marriage and marital child rearing. A new book challenges that analysis. William N. Eskridge Jr. and Darren R. Spedale find that the argument often advanced is inconsistent with the Scandinavian evidence. In no way, they write, has marriage in the Nordic countries suffered from legalization of same-sex unions. A close look at the data suggests that the sanctioning of gay marriage in the United States would neither undermine marriage as an institution nor harm the well-being of children. Maggie Gallagher argues that the move toward gay marriage in Europe is part of a larger marriage crisis, including a powerful trend away from marriage as a social norm for childbearing and child rearing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tuesday, May 30The Basic Economics of Health Care and Insurance MarketsFeaturingPeter Van Doren, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute, Former professor of public policy at Princeton, Yale, and UNC–Chapel HillPublic debate about health care is often very ill informed about what insurance markets can and cannot do and what effects health care expenditures actually have on morbidity and mortality. This session will explain to Hill staff basic facts and concepts essential to the understanding of insurance and health care markets as well as the political struggles that accompany them.  Watch the Event in Real Video-->Wednesday, May 31How Not to Reform Health CareFeaturing Michael Tanner, Director, Health and Welfare Studies, Cato InstituteIn reforming health care, policymakers should follow the principle "First, Do No Harm." There are many proposals for health care reform that will do more harm than good. This session will look at some of them: a single-payer system, employer and individual mandates, insurance regulation, and managed competition. Listen to the Event in Real Audio (Audio Only)--> Download a Podcast of the Event (MP3) --> Watch the Event in Real Video-->Thursday, June 1Liberalizing the Private Health Care SectorFeaturing Michael F. Cannon, Director, Health Policy Studies, Cato InstituteHealth insurance grows increasingly expensive, and the number of uninsured continues to rise. Is there relief? This session will focus on the problems faced in the private health care sector, how public policy contributes to those problems, and how free-market reforms can make medical care and health insurance more affordable and more valuable. Friday, June 2Reforming Government Health Insurance ProgramsFeaturing Michael F. Cannon, Director, Health Policy Studies, Cato InstituteToday's struggles with Medicare Part D will look like a walk in the park once Congress begins to grapple with large numbers of baby boomers entering the Medicare program. The federal-state Medicaid program poses similar problems. This presentation will introduce Hill staff to those programs and suggest market-based reforms that would save taxpayer dollars and improve the quality of care.Cato Institute luncheon seminars on the Hill are free of charge. Registration for each seminar closes 24 hours in advance. Please arrive early. Seating is limited and not guaranteed. News media inquiries only (no registrations), please call (202) 789-5200. * We recommend attending all four sessions, but you are welcome to register for as many or as few sessions as you wish. Register for the Conference -->  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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In April Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney signed into law one of the most ambitious health care reform proposals in recent history. The legislation mandates that all Massachusetts residents purchase health insurance, provides subsidies for low- and middle-income families, and sets up a new purchasing mechanism to reform the health insurance marketplace. Some observers hail this law as a major step toward achieving universal coverage. Others worry that it is a first step on the slippery slope to national health care. Four experts will examine the benefits and flaws of the Massachusetts plan and whether other states or the nation should follow its example. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deluged by indecency complaints since Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction," Congress continues to look for ways to respond that may or may not be constitutional, even as the FCC imposes multi-million-dollar fines on TV networks. But those measures may soon be eclipsed by a new campaign underwritten by TV stations, cable systems, DBS, movie studios, TV programmers, and the Consumer Electronics Association to inform parents about a recently developed, simplified program that will enable parents to control all TV programming coming into their homes. Please join us for a discussion of this nongovernmental effort to address the issue, with comments from the FCC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Ben Bernanke settles into his new role as chairman of the Federal Reserve, now is an opportune time for him to reassess certain aspects of the central bank's activities and practices. The Shadow Open Market Committee will discuss some of the dimensions of the challenges facing the Fed. How much further should the Fed tighten monetary policy? As the Fed considers inflation targeting, what would be an appropriate measure of inflation to target? To improve transparency, the Fed needs to provide a more open discussion of what it considers the most important drivers of inflation and why. In addition, the Fed might consider ways of conducting policy based on alternative sets of rules or guidelines. The SOMC will also review the appropriate role of the Fed in select nonmonetary activities that the Fed has taken on over the years. Do they contribute to the Fed's performance of its monetary policy responsibility, or are they time-consuming distractions? Examples include setting margin requirements for equity purchases, supervising consumer finance, regulating banks, and intervening in the foreign exchange markets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since it was revealed recently by the New York Times, the administration's previously secret NSA surveillance program has brought to the fore a number of novel and complex legal questions. Does the executive branch have inherent authority to conduct the program? What is Congress's authority to set limits on the executive branch? What role should the courts play? Those and other questions have led to different conclusions even within the Cato Institute. Please join us for a debate between two Cato scholars on this most timely issue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The single most important economic and sociological change in our society in the past 60 years has been the entry of women into the labor market. Our public policy institutions have not kept apace. Tax law, labor law, and a host of other institutions are still designed to favor women who remain in the home and are often unfair to married women who enter the labor market. Many changes in tax law, employee benefits, and retirement policy are needed to bring aging institutions in sync with the way people live in the 21st century. Just before Mother's Day, join us for a discussion of women living and working in a 21st-century economy with 20th-century laws and policies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although Americans generally think of global trade only in terms of economics, the free exchange of goods and services between nations can also have important political effects. With America's attention increasingly turned toward the Middle East, the role of free trade in sparking peaceful reform must not be forgotten. To counter the threat from al-Qaeda we must fight with ideas as well as bullets.Cato senior fellow Tom G. Palmer, who has recently made three visits to Iraq, will be joined by Rep. Paul Ryan of the Congressional Middle East Economic Partnership Caucus and Zainab Al-Suwaij from the American Islamic Congress for a discussion of the importance of trade and ideas in furthering the twin goals of economic freedom and geopolitical stability. At the event the Cato Institute will unveil its Arabic-language edition of the U. S. Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Belarus attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Since he took power in 1994, however, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has cracked down on his opponents and rigged successive elections. Today, Belarus lacks basic political freedoms, including the freedoms of the press, association, and expression. The Belarusian economy continues to be run according to the discredited socialist principle of central planning. Jaroslav Romanchuk, a prominent Belarusian opposition figure, and Anders Aslund, renowned specialist in post-Soviet economics, will discuss the state of political and economic freedom in Belarus and the role that Russia plays in keeping Lukashenko in power. Please join us for a discussion of life under what the State Department and the European Union have called "the last dictatorship in Europe." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the War on Drugs continues to fill America's prisons with nonviolent offenders, many cities and states are looking at mandatory treatment as an alternative to incarceration. Although treatment is generally preferable to prison, not all methods of treating drug addiction are the same. Some methods, particularly the "tough love" programs aimed at teens and adolescents, have documented records of mental abuse, physical abuse, and even death.In her new book, Help at Any Cost, Maia Szalavitz takes a critical look at the history, controversy, and effectiveness of "tough love" rehabilitation programs. Blending personal stories and anecdotes with the detached narrative of a reporter, Szalavitz paints a troubling picture of the increasingly popular "get tough" approach to drug abuse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since Enron's collapse in 2002, the federal government has stepped up its campaign against white-collar crime. In Trapped: When Acting Ethically Is against the Law, John Hasnas compellingly illustrates how the campaign against corporate fraud has gone overboard. Hasnas debunks the common assumption that the law only mandates ethical behavior. That may have been true 20 years ago, but no longer. Hasnas points out that business executives have responsibilities to their stockholders, employees, customers, and suppliers. And in addition to their contractual obligations, CEOs have ordinary ethical obligations as human beings to honor their informal commitments. Those ethical complexities are rarely acknowledged by contemporary federal policies that demand compliance with myriad rules and regulations. The result is increasingly a Catch-22 situation in which businesspeople must act either unethically or illegally.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The idea that the United States needs a standing nation-building office has gained strong bipartisan support in Congress. The arguments in favor of such an office are rooted in the belief that failed states are threats to U.S. national security. But do failed states pose such a threat? Further, to the extent that they do, would a permanent nation-building office succeed in averting or remedying state failure? When interventions are absolutely necessary, do we need a standing nation-building corps to plan for the missions?Justin Logan will discuss his and Christopher Preble's recent Policy Analysis, "Failed States and Flawed Logic: The Case against a Standing Nation-Building Office," which explains why the presumption that state failure poses a threat to the United States is flawed. He will also explore the likely costs and risks of a foreign policy dedicated to nation building, given that U.S. nation-building projects in the past have had a highly dubious track record. Preble will explore the greatest foreign policy challenge facing the United States today — looming state failure in Iraq — and describe why it is unlikely that a standing nation-building office would have reduced the costs and risks of the current military mission there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The election of Mwai Kibaki to the Kenyan presidency in 2002 was meant to put an end to the pervasive culture of corruption in that country. One of Kibaki's first acts as head of state was to appoint John Githongo as his anti-corruption czar. Under Kibaki's rule, however, corruption in Kenya continued unabated, and Githongo resigned his position in 2005 and moved to Great Britain. Githongo has implicated Kenya's vice president and three senior ministers in a corruption racket that has cost Kenyan taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Githongo will discuss the extent of corruption in Kenya, its effect on development, and the implications for foreign aid donors.View Event Pictures Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, March 28, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case of Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, which concerns a legal challenge to the military tribunals that are seeking to try certain prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay for war crimes. The Bush administration maintains that the president can convene military tribunals to try and punish enemy combatants for offenses against the law of war. Others dispute the idea that the president can presume to decide what rights a prisoner will have and to adjudicate the prisoner's guilt or innocence. Join us for a debate on these matters one day before the Supreme Court hears the controversy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congress has been moving rapidly toward enacting new ethics and lobbying regulations. Such regulations have consequences for the elections in the fall, the public's views of Congress as an institution, and the basic political rights of all Americans. Please join us for an examination of the proposed ethics and lobbying regulations by Bradley A. Smith, former chairman of the Federal Election Commission and senior adviser to the Center for Competitive Politics, and Nan Aron, president of the Alliance for Justice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many conservatives questioned the wisdom and efficacy of using the U.S. military for humanitarian missions in Somalia in 1993 and Haiti in 1994. More recently, however, voices on both the left and the right have called for U.S. military intervention in Darfur, Congo, and elsewhere.What should trigger U.S. military intervention? Some observers advocate an expansive definition of the national interest to include consideration of America's moral obligations. Those who favor a more constrained view of American interests worry that so-called moral missions carry high and frequently overlooked costs, and could therefore distract us from the business of defending America. Should policymakers focus their attention solely on U.S. security, or is the United States obligated to prevent genocide, ethnic cleansing, or wholesale violations of human rights?The panelists will explore these and other questions in an attempt to frame the debate over the proper role of U.S. power in the world today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia has become richer but less free since President Vladimir Putin came to power in 2000. Andrei Illarionov will describe how the Kremlin's policy decisions in the past few years have given rise to a new corporate state in which state-owned enterprises are governed by personal interests and private corporations have become subject to arbitrary intervention to serve state interests. The reduction in economic freedom is negatively affecting political freedom, civil society, and foreign relations. Illarionov —who, in protest of government policies, recently resigned the post he had held for six years— will discuss the role that oil wealth has played in creating the corporate state, Russia's dim development prospects, and the possibility of restoring basic liberties. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce Bartlett, a veteran of the Reagan White House and Treasury Department, argues that George W. Bush has betrayed the Reagan legacy by expanding the size and scope of the federal government and letting the federal budget mushroom out of control. He charges that the Medicare expansion of 2003 may be "the worst legislation in history" and raises the question of whether Bill Clinton was a better fiscal conservative than Bush. Bartlett writes as a fiscally conservative Republican and worries that his party will have little future if it loses the trust of voters who want small government and fiscal responsibility. Blogger extraordinaire Andrew Sullivan will comment on Bartlett's critique and the state of American conservatism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when large companies and powerful governments reigned supreme over the little guy. But new technologies are empowering individuals like never before, and the Davids of the world—the amateur journalists, musicians, and owners of small businesses—are suddenly making a huge economic and social impact.In An Army of Davids, author Glenn Reynolds, the man behind the immensely popular Instapundit.com, provides an in-depth, big-picture view of a world where the small guys matter more and more. Reynolds explores the birth and growth of the individual's surprisingly strong influence in arts and entertainment, anti-terrorism, nanotech and space research, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Constitution was written and ratified to secure liberty through limited government. Central to its design were two principles: federalism and economic liberty. But at the beginning of the 20th century, Progressives began a frontal assault on those principles. Drawing on the new social sciences and a primitive understanding of economic relationships, their efforts reached fruition during the New Deal when the Constitution was essentially rewritten, without benefit of amendment. In a new Cato book, Richard Epstein traces this history, showing how Progressives replaced competitive markets with government-created cartels and monopolies. Please join us for a discussion of the roots of modern government in the Progressive Era. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite a federal budget deficit of about $400 billion, President Bush and Republicans in Congress say that spending is under control and that the budget outlook is improving. Proposed spending growth in President Bush's fiscal year 2007 budget is below the large increases of prior years. But are the White House and Congress doing enough to restrain spending? What will happen to the budget as entitlement costs explode in coming years? Have Republicans created enough budget room to extend the president's supply side tax cuts? Donald Marron will discuss the newly released CBO projections for federal revenues and spending. Stephen Slivinski will discuss the outlook for spending and the administration's proposed changes in department and agency funding. Chris Edwards will discuss the budget's tax proposals and comment on the danger of rising taxes if spending is not cut in coming years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The federal government grows each year. Taxes rise and regulations pile higher — and our quality of life suffers. Bristling with data and drama, Size Matters warns of big government's measurable negative impact on the lives of ordinary Americans. The book argues that excessive government reduces family income, drives up the cost of housing and health care, hurts employment, and stifles vital marketplace creativity and innovation. Please join us for a discussion of how the federal government impedes the pursuit of happiness with the author, Joel Miller, and award-winning journalist Jonathan Rauch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parental choice is the most contentious educational policy issue in America, and no choice plan is more closely watched than the District of Columbia’s school voucher program. Critics of parental choice frequently allege that such programs would increase costs and that public schools would suffer.In "Spreading Freedom and Saving Money," economists Susan Aud and Leon Michos analyze the impact of the D.C. voucher program and find no support for either allegation. They report that the program saves taxpayers money as it is currently structured and that it would save taxpayers even more money if expanded to include all students. They also find that principals are able to cut spending when enrollment declines. Aud and Michos conclude, however, that the voucher program's current design is problematic, rewarding D.C. Public Schools for declining enrollment instead of creating incentives for improved fiscal responsibility and accountability.Former D.C. city councilman Kevin Chavous will conclude the program by sharing his insights on the struggle for educational freedom in the nation's capital.Please join us for a discussion of these nationally relevant findings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is one issue that could lead to a disastrous war between the United States and China. That issue is the fate of Taiwan. A growing number of Taiwanese want independence for their island and regard mainland China as an alien nation. Mainland Chinese consider Taiwan a province that was stolen from China more than a century ago, and their patience about getting it back is wearing thin. Washington officially endorses a “one China” policy but also sells arms to Taiwan and maintains an implicit pledge to defend it from attack. That vague, muddled policy invites miscalculation by Taiwan or China--or both. The three parties are on a collision course, and unless something dramatic changes, an armed conflict is virtually inevitable within a decade. Carpenter explains what the United States must do quickly to avoid being dragged into war. Please join the author and our distinguished commentators for a discussion of this timely and important book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Franklin is back! With the creative assistance of a direct descendant, Ben Franklin has now finished writing his memoirs. When Franklin died in 1790, he left unrecorded the last 33 years of his illustrious career as signer of the Declaration of Independence, ambassador to France, and delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Now the rest of the story can be told. Mark Skousen, a university professor and professional economist, drew upon Franklin's private letters and journals to publish The Compleated Autobiography — all in Franklin's own words. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The United States has signed free trade agreements with four Middle Eastern countries--Israel, Jordan, Morocco, and Bahrain--and plans to sign a fifth with Oman this month. The hope behind the U.S. policy is that expanding economic freedom and openness in the Middle East will create private-sector opportunities in a region plagued by high trade barriers and stagnant growth. Can freer markets bring more democracy and peace to the region? Two speakers from Oman, one of the freest and most open economies in the Muslim world, will offer their insights from the government and private sectors, with comments from a leading expert on economic freedom in the Middle East. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The promotion of democracy is a top foreign policy priority for both Republicans and Democrats. Many political scientists argue that promoting democracy is sound policy because democracies do not go to war with each other; thus, more democracies should equal less war. But what are the risks of democratization? In Electing to Fight: Why Emerging Democracies Go to War, Edward D. Mansfield and Jack Snyder argue that the process of democratization -- when incomplete or undertaken prematurely -- often leads to an increase in war and instability. Drawing on nearly 200 years of historical data, Mansfield and Snyder find that the transition to democracy is often characterized by a belligerent nationalism that substantially increases the risk of war. Their findings call into question the existing U.S. policy of pushing the democratic envelope in the Muslim world and China. Please join the authors and our distinguished commentators for a discussion of this timely and important book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The federal criminal justice system is in disarray. Each week some 1,200 people are sentenced in federal court, but the legality of these sentences is suddenly in doubt. That is because the Supreme Court recently held that the constitutional right to trial by jury requires that any factor that can be used to increase the amount of prison time that a defendant will serve must be proven to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. The ruling in Blakely v. Washington initially invalidated the sentencing system in the State of Washington, but it has called into question the power of federal judges to make certain factual findings and increase prison time on the basis of those findings. Chief Judge Young had already declared the federal guidelines unconstitutional and now the Justice Department is urging the Supreme Court to clarify its ruling and preserve the federal sentencing regime. Please join us for a discussion of whether the federal sentencing rules ought to be saved or scrapped. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Boaz is the executive vice president of the Cato Institute, and has played a key role in both the Institute's development and the growth of the American libertarian movement at large.Charles Murray is a political scientist, author, and scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.William A. Galston currently holds the Ezra Zilkha Chair in the Brookings Institution's Governance Studies Program, where he serves as a senior fellow.Robert J. Shapiro is co-founder and chairman of Sonecon, LLC, and former Undersecretary of Commerce in the Clinton administration.In this 1997 policy forum at the Cato Institute, Boaz and Murray present their books, respectively titled Libertarianism: A Primer and What it Means to be a Libertarian. Galston and Shapiro offer their comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.