We’re excited to announce the Cato Institute‘s presence at the 2015 ISFLC! The Cato Institute is one of the oldest and most well-established libertarian Think Tanks in the world, with a rich history of providing expertise from the top scholars in all aspects of policy. They’re also a huge supporter of the student movement for liberty, providing internships year-round as well as Cato University once a year. Below are the details of the session Cato will be offering at the ISFLC:
Ilya Shapiro, Gays, Guns, and Ganja: The Libertarian Moment at the Supreme Court
With marriage again before the Supreme Court, it seems almost inevitable that gay people will soon be able to marry in all 50 states. This is incredible given that a decade ago barely a third of Americans supported same-sex marriage and a decade before that the idea couldn’t be broached in polite company. Find out how this trend in popular and legal opinion parallels two other libertarian causes: the right to bear arms and the right to smoke up.
Pat Michaels, Crowding Out: How The Government Incentivizes Bad Science
Scientists, as with any group of citizens, respond to incentives. Dr. Pat Michaels, Director of the Cato Institute’s Center for the Study of Science, will speak to distortions created by the public funding of science and its effects on public policy and academia.
I am David Boaz, Executive Vice President of the Cato Institute and author of THE LIBERTARIAN MIND, Ask Me Anything
David Boaz is the executive vice president of the CatoInstitute. Through his 30 years at Cato and his earlier libertarian activities, he has seen how the ideas of liberty can shape politics and civil society. His own writings on the topic, especially The Libertarian Mind and The Libertarian Reader, have introduced many people to the philosophy of libertarianism. He will field questions from the audience on any related topic.
Aaron Powell and Trevor Burrus, Libertarianism.org *LIVE* Podcast Recording and Q&A
The Free Thoughts podcast from Libertarianism.org is a show about the history and philosophy of libertarianism and the ideas that influence it, hosted by Aaron Ross Powell and Trevor Burrus. Join us for a recording of the show featuring a conversation on libertarian theory and an audience Q&A.
Chris Preble, Libertarians and Foreign Policy: Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?
Adam Smith taught that “peace, easy taxes and a tolerable administration of justice” were the essential ingredients of good government, and most libertarians agree on those basic elements. But libertarians do sometimes disagree when these limited governments turn their attention abroad. When, if ever, does the non-aggression principle for individuals yield to the principle of self-defense for nation-states? And what role, if any, does the minimalist libertarian state have in advancing liberty abroad? In thissession, we will explore the nature of this debate, and offer some solutions for bridging the gap.
Mark Calabria, Porn, Pot, Pistols & the Politics of Payments
For almost every transaction you make, from buying a new pair of jeans to downloading your favorite song, a complex payment system stands between you and the merchant. Historically that system has been dominated by both the largest banks and the federal government. Via its control over the payments system, the federal government has increasingly attempted to limit your access to certain merchants, driving many of those merchants out of business. BitCoin and other alt-currencies offer an alternative payments system, not currently under the control of either government or the big banks.