Bob Levy, current chairman of Cato, describes a conversation with David Koch: In early November, David Koch met with Bob Levy, chairman of Cato’s board of directors, at Dulles International Airport. They were joined by Richard Fink, Koch’s chief adviser, and Kevin Gentry, a vice president of Charles Koch’s charitable foundation who’d been put on…
Libertarians
Libertarians
Clarity about the Kochs
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s deep sadness, but little surprise, in watching prominent libertarians come slowly and ruefully to the conclusion that Charles & David Koch’s attempt to seize control of the Cato Institute is a bad thing. So many of these gentlemen (outside of Cato) approach the topic hesitantly, cautiously. That hesitation and caution is an embarrassment: the…
Libertarians
Destroying Cato to Save It
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at the Volokh Conspiracy, Jonathon Adler’s March 2nd Post, Koch v. Cato, describes the inevitable consequence of a Koch-controlled Cato Institute: Whatever the merits of the Kochs’ claim, I cannot understand how their actions can, in any way, advance the cause of individual liberty to which they’ve devoted substantial sums and personal efforts over…
Libertarians
The Kochs Sue to Control the Cato Institute
by JOHN ADAMS •
Since 1977, the Cato Institute has been America’s chief libertarian think tank. Cato had four shareholder-founders: Ed Crane, Charles Koch, George Pearson, and William Niskanen. Following Niskanen’s death last fall, there’s been an ongoing, behind-the-scenes controversy about what would happen to Niskanen’s shares in the organization. Would the shares go to his widow, or does…
Libertarians
‘Is Libertarianism Part of the Conservative Movement?’
by JOHN ADAMS •
Libertarians
Eric Sanders on ‘The Beautiful Optimism of Libertarianism’
by JOHN ADAMS •
Eric Sanders has begun a new blog, Action in Action, at Big Think. His first post discusses ‘The Beautiful Optimism of Libertarianism.’ Sanders writes that I am now starting to believe that libertarianism — at least for those who espouse it honestly — stems from incredible optimism, an unshakable belief in human dignity, honesty, and…
Libertarians, Politics, Presidential race 2012
The Tea Party’s Tepid Support for Ron Paul
by JOHN ADAMS •
The Tea Party’s not even warm for Ron Paul, and CNN anchor Ashleigh Banfield asks Dick Armey why that’s so. Armey doesn’t speak for every Tea Party group (Banfield’s introduction actually inflates his role within that movement). Still, why? Although I don’t think Paul’s libertarian enough, that shouldn’t stop the Tea Parties from favoring him…
Federal Government, Libertarians, Politics, Presidential race 2012
Libertarian Live Blog of the 2012 State of the Union Address and GOP Response
by JOHN ADAMS •
Government Spending, Libertarians, Poverty
How Selfish Politicians Use the Poor or Children to Protect Wasteful Programs that Have Nothing to Do with the Poor or Children
by JOHN ADAMS •
It’s a cruel game to defend government spending on the well-fed with the lament that spending cuts must be stopped, lest the poor and vulnerable suffer. The poor and vulnerable will not suffer in a society that reduces spending on corporate welfare, sham job-creation programs, so-called business-development grants, and spending on weapons so expensive and…
Libertarians
May 2nd to May 6th: the Libertarian National Convention
by JOHN ADAMS •
The LP’s announced its national convention, 5.2.12 to 5.6.12 in, of course, Las Vegas. (The convention is there not principally for the freewheeling atmosphere, but because flights and hotel deals are cheaper for some activists on a budget. It’s a simple affair compared with the GOP or Democratic Conventions.) Press release follows: The 2012 National…
Law, Laws/Regulations, Libertarians
LP Calls for Regulating Marijuana like Wine
by JOHN ADAMS •
America regulates marijuana, mostly, by prohibition. Despite criminalizing cannabis, and spending vast sums to find, fine, arrest, and jail pot smokers, the level of actual consumption seems unchanged. (Americans, by the way, are increasingly supportive of marijuana decriminalization. Government officials can only sell expensive ineffectiveness for so long. The trend toward decriminalization is clear.) I’ve…
Libertarians, Presidential race 2012
The LP’s Monday Message: Mitt Romney = Big Government
by JOHN ADAMS •
Indeed he does. Quite the mess: Gov. Romney pushed big-government solutions while he was in public office, and his GOP rivals have pushed anti-market rhetoric as criticism of his private-sector career. Hard to find, other than Paul, a consistently free-market man in the lot. Via Libertarian Party press release.
Libertarians, Presidential race 2012
Brian Doherty on a Night at the Caucus, and a Ron Paul Victory that Wasn’t
by JOHN ADAMS •
Brian Doherty, an historian of libertarian politics, surveys the scene in Iowa. Libertarian-leaning Ron Paul came in a respectable third, as all America now knows. Is there any doubt that he would have done even better without the newsletter controversy (something Doherty has assured couldn’t matter, and about which he does not write in his…
Libertarians, Politics, Presidential race 2012
Rick Santorum’s nephew supports Ron Paul
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve had some doubts about whether Ron Paul is libertarian enough, but I’ve no doubt that he’s better on issues of market and political freedom than Rick Santorum. Santorum’s nephew feels the same way about his uncle, and so is supporting Paul: It is not the government’s job to dictate to individuals how they must…