Difference between revisions of "CATO Institute"
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| − | [[Image:134 3406.JPG|thumb| | + | [[Image:134 3406.JPG|thumb|200px|The Cato Institute's building in [[Washington D.C.]].]] |
| − | '''The Cato Institute''' is one of the [[United States of America|America]]'s most prominent | + | '''The Cato Institute''', a [[Washington]]-based [[libertarian]] [[think tank]],<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/22/anti-lgbt-discrimination-stifle-free-speech-critics-say/ Gay Discrimination Bill Will Stifle Free Speech, Advance 'Homosexual Agenda,' Critics Say] - [[Fox News]]</ref> is one of the [[United States of America|America]]'s most prominent [[nonprofit]] public policy research organizations, advocating [[limited government|less government involvement]]. Its research and reports cover numerous issues; such as the [[Second Amendment]] and [[gun rights]] versus the [[police state]], defense spending, [[social security]] and the [[Welfare state]], [[monetary policy]] and [[fiscal conservatism]], natural resource policy, international trade. Cato's current president is co-founder [[Edward Crane]]. The organization has approximately 95 full-time employees, 20 fellows, and 70 adjunct scholars, plus interns.<ref>http://www.cato.org/about/about.html</ref> |
| − | + | Despite its many [[conservative]] positions, the CATO Institute also aligns with [[liberal]] [[globalism]] on numerous issues, including support for high [[immigration]] levels, [[open borders]], [[amnesty]] for illegal immigrants, and support for [[free trade]]. | |
| − | + | ||
| − | ==Goal== | + | ==History== |
| − | According to the Cato Institute's website, it[http://www.cato.org/] | + | In 1977, [[Edward H. Crane]] and [[David H. Koch]], formed the Institute with a $500,000 grant from [[Koch Industries]] (see [[Koch brothers]]), a [[chemical]] and [[petroleum]] company. They based the foundation in [[Washington D.C.]] and named it the Cato Institute, after a series essays by John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon <ref>[http://www.libertyfund.org/details.asp?displayID=1595]</ref> written in the 18th century called the [[Cato Letters]]. Cato stated that “Cato’s Letters… presented a vision of a society free from the tyranny of excessive government power. Those same ideals inspired the architects of the [[American Revolution]] and continue to inspire the work of the Cato Institute today."<ref>http://www.cato.org/about/reports/annual_report_2005.pdf</ref> |
| + | |||
| + | ==Goal== | ||
| + | According to the Cato Institute's website, it,<ref>[http://www.cato.org/]</ref> | ||
{{Cquote| Seeks to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, free markets and peace. Toward that goal, the Institute strives to achieve greater involvement of the intelligent, concerned lay public in questions of policy and the proper role of government.<ref>http://www.cato.org/about/about.html</ref>}} | {{Cquote| Seeks to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, free markets and peace. Toward that goal, the Institute strives to achieve greater involvement of the intelligent, concerned lay public in questions of policy and the proper role of government.<ref>http://www.cato.org/about/about.html</ref>}} | ||
==Political Orientation== | ==Political Orientation== | ||
| − | Although many of the Institute's political positions are shared by [[social conservative]]s, the Institute's brand of [[conservatism]] leans more [[libertarian]]. The Institute takes a [[laissez faire]] approach to marriage, calling the federal marriage amendment | + | Although many of the Institute's political positions are shared by [[social conservative]]s, the Institute's brand of [[conservatism]] leans more [[libertarian]] and [[globalist]]. The Institute takes a [[laissez faire]] approach to marriage, calling the federal marriage amendment "unnecessary, anti-federalist, and anti-Democratic."<ref>http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6379</ref> The Institute also supports mass migration and [[open borders]], and it opposes increased border security and attempts to crack down on [[illegal immigration]]. |
| − | The Institute also supports the total abolishment of several federal agencies including the agencies of [[Department of Commerce| Commerce]], [[Department of Education| Education]], [[Department of Energy| Energy]], [[Department of Agriculture| Agriculture]], [[Department of Labor| Labor]], [[Department of Interior| Interior]], [[Department of Transportation| Transportation]] and [[Veteran]]s Affairs. Cato also supports the privatization of several federal services, including [[Social Security]]. | + | The Institute also supports the total abolishment of several federal agencies including the agencies of [[Department of Commerce|Commerce]], [[Department of Education|Education]], [[Department of Energy|Energy]], [[Department of Agriculture|Agriculture]], [[Department of Labor|Labor]], [[Department of Interior|Interior]], [[Department of Transportation|Transportation]] and [[Veteran]]s Affairs. Cato also supports the privatization of several federal services, including [[Social Security]]. |
| − | The [[Washington Post]] referring to Cato’s policies stated, | + | The [[Washington Post]] referring to Cato’s policies stated, "A soup-to-nuts agenda to reduce spending, kill programs, terminate whole agencies and dramatically restrict the power of the federal government."<ref>http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=9261</ref> |
==Funding== | ==Funding== | ||
| − | In 2005, the Cato Institutes revenues amounted to over 22.4 million, with approximately 80 percent of the funding coming from individual donations, and another 8 percent from | + | In 2005, the Cato Institutes revenues amounted to over 22.4 million, with approximately 80 percent of the funding coming from individual donations, and another 8 percent from corporations. It is classified as a tax-exempt educational foundation, falling under Section 501(c)3 of the [[Internal Revenue Code]]. |
| + | |||
| + | ==Milton Friedman Prize== | ||
| + | Every second year since 2002, the Cato Institute has awarded ''The Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty'' (named after British economist [[Milton Friedman]]) to an individual judged to have made a "significant contribution to advance human freedom".<ref>http://www.cato.org/special/friedman/about.html</ref> The recipients have been: | ||
| + | |||
| + | * 2002: [[British]] economist [[Peter Bauer]] | ||
| + | * 2004: [[Peruvian]] economist [[Hernando de Soto (Economist)|Hernando de Soto]] | ||
| + | * 2006: former [[Estonian]] President [[Mart Laar]] | ||
| + | * 2008: [[Venezuelan]] political activist [[Yon Goicoechea]] | ||
| + | * 2010: [[Iranian]] writer and journalist [[Akbar Ganji]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == See also == | ||
| + | * [[Cato Letters]] | ||
| + | * [[Conservative think tanks]] | ||
| + | * [[List of conservative, neoconservative and libertarian think tanks]] | ||
| + | * [[Fiscal conservatism]] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | + | {{reflist}} | |
| − | ==External | + | |
| + | ==External links== | ||
*[http://www.cato.org/ The Cato Institutes official website] | *[http://www.cato.org/ The Cato Institutes official website] | ||
*[http://www.cato.org/people/directors.html Cato Board of Directors] | *[http://www.cato.org/people/directors.html Cato Board of Directors] | ||
| − | [[Category:Organizations]] | + | |
| + | [[Category:United States Political Organizations]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Conservative Organizations]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Reagan Era]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Pro Second Amendment]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Anti-Communism]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Libertarian Media]] | ||
| + | [[Category:American Gun Rights Advocates]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Libertarian Organizations]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Globalism]] | ||
Revision as of 19:17, November 24, 2017
The Cato Institute, a Washington-based libertarian think tank,[1] is one of the America's most prominent nonprofit public policy research organizations, advocating less government involvement. Its research and reports cover numerous issues; such as the Second Amendment and gun rights versus the police state, defense spending, social security and the Welfare state, monetary policy and fiscal conservatism, natural resource policy, international trade. Cato's current president is co-founder Edward Crane. The organization has approximately 95 full-time employees, 20 fellows, and 70 adjunct scholars, plus interns.[2]
Despite its many conservative positions, the CATO Institute also aligns with liberal globalism on numerous issues, including support for high immigration levels, open borders, amnesty for illegal immigrants, and support for free trade.
Contents
History
In 1977, Edward H. Crane and David H. Koch, formed the Institute with a $500,000 grant from Koch Industries (see Koch brothers), a chemical and petroleum company. They based the foundation in Washington D.C. and named it the Cato Institute, after a series essays by John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon [3] written in the 18th century called the Cato Letters. Cato stated that “Cato’s Letters… presented a vision of a society free from the tyranny of excessive government power. Those same ideals inspired the architects of the American Revolution and continue to inspire the work of the Cato Institute today."[4]
Goal
According to the Cato Institute's website, it,[5]
| “ | Seeks to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, free markets and peace. Toward that goal, the Institute strives to achieve greater involvement of the intelligent, concerned lay public in questions of policy and the proper role of government.[6] | ” |
Political Orientation
Although many of the Institute's political positions are shared by social conservatives, the Institute's brand of conservatism leans more libertarian and globalist. The Institute takes a laissez faire approach to marriage, calling the federal marriage amendment "unnecessary, anti-federalist, and anti-Democratic."[7] The Institute also supports mass migration and open borders, and it opposes increased border security and attempts to crack down on illegal immigration.
The Institute also supports the total abolishment of several federal agencies including the agencies of Commerce, Education, Energy, Agriculture, Labor, Interior, Transportation and Veterans Affairs. Cato also supports the privatization of several federal services, including Social Security.
The Washington Post referring to Cato’s policies stated, "A soup-to-nuts agenda to reduce spending, kill programs, terminate whole agencies and dramatically restrict the power of the federal government."[8]
Funding
In 2005, the Cato Institutes revenues amounted to over 22.4 million, with approximately 80 percent of the funding coming from individual donations, and another 8 percent from corporations. It is classified as a tax-exempt educational foundation, falling under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Milton Friedman Prize
Every second year since 2002, the Cato Institute has awarded The Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty (named after British economist Milton Friedman) to an individual judged to have made a "significant contribution to advance human freedom".[9] The recipients have been:
- 2002: British economist Peter Bauer
- 2004: Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto
- 2006: former Estonian President Mart Laar
- 2008: Venezuelan political activist Yon Goicoechea
- 2010: Iranian writer and journalist Akbar Ganji
See also
- Cato Letters
- Conservative think tanks
- List of conservative, neoconservative and libertarian think tanks
- Fiscal conservatism
References
- ↑ Gay Discrimination Bill Will Stifle Free Speech, Advance 'Homosexual Agenda,' Critics Say - Fox News
- ↑ http://www.cato.org/about/about.html
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ http://www.cato.org/about/reports/annual_report_2005.pdf
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ http://www.cato.org/about/about.html
- ↑ http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6379
- ↑ http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=9261
- ↑ http://www.cato.org/special/friedman/about.html
