Cato Event Podcast

Russian energy policy is reflecting a change in the conduct of the Kremlin's domestic and foreign affairs. Robert Amsterdam, a partner at Amsterdam and Peroff, will explain how the treatment of private energy companies in Russia is part of a broader pattern of political centralization and will describe what he believes are the global goals of Russia's more aggressive, energy-driven foreign policy. Andrei Illarionov, the newest senior fellow at the Cato Institute, will describe the accelerated pace of change in Russia and new ways in which political, economic and civil liberties are being eliminated. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Since January 2004, Slovakia has had a flat tax on income, consumption, and corporate profits. Most other taxes and tax exemptions were eliminated. Other formerly, communist countries, including Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine, have also adopted flat tax rates. Unfortunately, in the United States, where the idea of a flat tax originated, the tax code remains absurdly complicated and inefficient. Ivan Miklos will evaluate the performance of the new tax system and explain how the Slovak government overcame special interests opposed to reform. Chris Edwards will assess the chances for a meaningful tax reform in the United States. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The national election of 2006 may mark a partial or complete partisan change in the control of Congress. At the same time, incumbents are likely to enjoy a high rate of re-election. Does 2006 mark revitalization of American democracy marked by vigorous electoral competition nationally and in the states? Or is 2006 just a closely fought struggle that may yield a narrow majority for one of the political parties? Please join the editors of the new book, The Marketplace of Democracy: Electoral Competition and American Politics along with two leading political analysts to discuss the outcomes and implications of Election 2006. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

America's conventional military supremacy has failed to deliver decisive results against irregular forces employing unconventional military tactics. The U.S. military learned some useful counterinsurgency lessons in Vietnam but had completely forgotten those lessons by the end of the Cold War. Military leaders and defense experts are attempting to resurrect some of those old ideas, while also developing new approaches to counterinsurgency in the age of transnational terrorism. Are there deeper cultural problems that prevent the U.S. military from waging effective counterinsurgency campaigns? Does the American public have the will to risk American lives on such operations, and is the public prepared to wage limited, indecisive military campaigns for long periods of time? What lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan might be applied to future conflicts? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The insurers and government agencies that purchase 80 percent of medical care in America have traditionally ignored quality. As a result, quality is lower than it could be. For over a decade, the private sector has experimented with financial incentives that reward doctors and hospitals for providing recommended care. Some, most recently the Institute of Medicine, argue that the federal Medicare program should do the same. Would Medicare give "pay-for-performance" a much-needed boost? Or would Medicare ruin the promise of P4P? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Constitution was written to protect individual sovereignty, but we have gradually allowed a regime of public morality and intolerance to replace that inheritance from the Founders. That's the thesis of a new book by Elizabeth Price Foley. An expert on health care law and bioethics, Foley explains "the morality of American law," then applies those principles to marriage; sex; reproduction; medical care; and food, drug, and alcohol regulation to show how far we've strayed from the Constitution's promise of liberty for all. William Galston, a former adviser to President Clinton and an expert on family policy, will offer comments. Please join us for what promises to be an entertaining and informative exchange. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Last year, Sir Charles Crawford, the British ambassador to Poland, called the European Common Agricultural Policy "the most stupid, immoral state-subsidized policy in human history, give or take communism." In spite of partial reform, the CAP remains an immensely wasteful farm subsidy program that harms European consumers as well as some producers in developing countries. The CAP is also one the most important obstacles to the successful conclusion of the Doha Round of negotiations on global trade liberalization. Patrick Messerlin, one of the world's leading authorities on agricultural protectionism, will discuss the prospects for CAP's reform and for the future of Doha. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Africa is one of the most protectionist regions in the world. Most imports, including life-saving drugs and medical equipment, continue to be subjected to high tariff and nontariff barriers. Moreover, African countries impose some of their highest tariffs on goods from other African countries. African trade liberalization could increase intra-African trade by 54 percent. It is hypocritical for African leaders to call for greater access to global markets while rejecting trade openness at home. Andrew Mitchell will explain why African governments should support a Pan-African Free Trade Agreement if they are truly serious about the benefits of trade liberalization.PDF of speech "A Pan-African Trading Area" See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Debates over evolution range from Pennsylvania to Kansas to the University of California. Michael Shermer, a former evangelical Christian and creationist, argues that "intelligent design" theory appeals to a human predisposition to look for a designer behind life's complexity. But in fact the theory of natural selection is supported by the scientific evidence and is the foundation on which modern biology rests. Conservatives and Christians should accept evolution because it explains family values, social harmony, human nature, and the origins of morality. Jonathan Wells, author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and Intelligent Design, disagrees with Shermer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Since September 11, but particularly in the wake of the Iraq war, many Americans have been asking questions about the foundations of U.S. foreign policy. Foreign policy realists base their approach to foreign policy on long-standing American traditions, but they have yet to set forward a compelling alternative vision for national security that will appeal to idealistic Americans. In Ethical Realism, Anatol Lieven, former Financial Times foreign correspondent, and John Hulsman, recently of the Heritage Foundation, sketch out a foreign policy framework based on the philosophy of American scholars and statesmen from Hans Morgenthau to George F. Kennan, outlining an approach that promises to restore America's credibility and legitimacy in the world, while advancing American interests without apology or hesitation. Please join us for a lively discussion with the authors and our two distinguished commentators. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Many Americans support campaign finance reform. They believe that private money in politics and elections corrupts and demeans our democracy. These concerns have contributed to a 40-year effort to regulate, restrict, and even eliminate private money in politics. But many Americans know that there is little or no evidence that campaign contributions really influence members of Congress? Or that so-called negative political advertising actually improves the democratic process by increasing voter turnout and knowledge? Or that limits on campaign contributions make it harder to run for office, thereby protecting incumbent representatives from losing their seats of power? The Fallacy of Campaign Finance Reform argues that our most common concerns about money in politics are misplaced. The chance to regulate money in politics allows representatives to serve their own interests at a cost to their constituents. And, ironically, the long crusade against the corruption caused by campaign contributions allows public off

Andrew Sullivan says that today's conservatives are facing a crisis from within, one that threatens their ideals as never before. Traditionally committed to limited government, balanced budgets, and the rule of law, they see their political leaders today sharply increasing government spending and debt, intruding the federal government into marriage law and a single family's struggle over the end of life, and centralizing power in the federal government and the executive branch. Sullivan says conservatives cannot in good conscience keep supporting a political party that believes that its God-given mission is to change people's souls instead of protect their liberty. Join us for the launch of an important new book. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Two things everyone seems to know about higher education are that it’s extremely expensive and that it gets more so every year. That, however, is about the extent of our collective certainty, because many critical questions never seem to get answered: Why does tuition rise relentlessly? What are students actually learning? What’s the payoff of higher education? In light of all the open questions, it’s no surprise that Americans are getting increasingly uneasy about the prices that colleges and universities are asking them to pay.Last year, the U.S. secretary of education established a commission to inspect America’s ivory tower and formulate a “national strategy” for its renovation. With the commission’s final report now out, we invite you to join our diverse panel of experts for a lively debate of higher education’s problems, and the best ways to fix them. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The collapse of communism led to much euphoria about the future of the former Soviet bloc countries. Today it is clear that some countries, like those in Central Europe and the Baltics, were more successful than others in transitioning from communist dictatorship to free-market democracy. Oleh Havrylyshyn will explain why that was the case. He will also explain how countries with a greater chance of joining the European Union were more successful in establishing the rule of law and democratic government than countries without such an opportunity. Both he and Ambassador Reiter will assess the current state of economic liberalism in transition countries. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Recently, almost all House members running have won reelection. Incumbent senators also enjoy remarkable success, and such results are not limited to Congress. Incumbents running in state elections have also seen their rates of reelection rise over time. This decline in electoral competition has fostered much talk of needed reform to restore competitive elections. Most recently, several states have considered or enacted reforms on redistricting. States have also imposed term limits on elected officials. The question of competition and incumbency also comes up often in arguments about campaign finance regulation. Has electoral competition declined in the United States? If so, what might be done about it? Please join us for a wide-ranging discussion of incumbents, challengers, and the future of American elections, based on the new book The Market of Democracy, edited by Michael McDonald and John Samples. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nations that are more economically free outperform less free nations in growth and levels of prosperity. James Gwartney, coauthor of the annual Economic Freedom of the World report, will review current trends and the latest research on the impact of regulations, the rule of law, and other aspects of economic freedom on the whole range of development indicators. Simeon Djankov will show how excessive bureaucratic procedures and government fees make it prohibitively expensive for the world's poor to join the formal economy. Reform can make it easier for entrepreneurs and businesses to create wealth. Djankov will show which countries are making progress, how they are successfully reforming, and the potentially large growth opportunities they can expect. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 1996 Congress passed the Freedom to Farm Act, which put our country on a new path toward fewer subsidies and less reliance on market-distorting price support programs. In 2002 Congress abruptly and dramatically shifted course in the wrong direction with the enactment of the 2002 farm bill. This legislation formalized the significantly increased "emergency" spending of the previous two years with a massive expansion of the cost and scope of agriculture programs. As Congress prepares to craft a new farm bill in 2007, Rep. Jeff Flake and Sallie James will discuss why it is time to overhaul U.S. agriculture policy once again. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Let's say you're the devil, and you want to corrupt the American republic. How would you do it? According to David Hyman, you might create something like Medicare, the federal health care program for the elderly. In Medicare Meets Mephistopheles, Hyman wryly suggests that Medicare may be the greatest trick the devil has ever played: a massive government program that promotes all seven deadly sins as it drives the United States toward financial ruin. Two leading Medicare scholars will critique Hyman's work. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Americans think negative campaign ads undermine elections and even democratic government itself. But John G. Geer argues that when political candidates attack each other, raising doubts about each other's views and qualifications, voters—and the democratic process—benefit. In Defense of Negativity, Geer's study of negative advertising in presidential campaigns from 1960 to 2004, asserts that proliferating attack ads are far more likely than positive ads to focus on salient political issues, rather than politicians' personal characteristics. Accordingly, the ads enrich the democratic process, providing voters with relevant and substantial information before they head to the polls. Geer concludes that, if we want campaigns to grapple with relevant issues and address real problems, negative ads just might be the solution. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A little over a year ago, the Supreme Court lit a firestorm across America when it upheld the decision of the City of New London, Connecticut, to transfer Susette Kelo's home to another owner who could make "better" use of it. With that, Americans finally came to realize the present perilous state of their property rights — and many state legislatures have responded. But others argue that the Court got it right, that the judiciary, except in extreme cases, should leave the political choice of whether to exercise eminent domain to our elected representatives, and that the state legislatures have so far basically gotten it right by charting different courses for different state circumstances. Please join us as Timothy Sandefur, one of a growing number of young attorneys defending owners today, discusses his new book on the problem, with comments by John Echeverria, who will offer a very different perspective on the issue. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.