CATO Institute
The Cato Institute is one of the America's most prominent nonprofit public policy research organizations. The foundation is generally viewed as holding a libertarian approach to public policy, advocating less government involvement. Its research and reports cover numerous issues; such as defense spending, social security, monetary policy, natural resource policy, international trade, and many other issues. 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. [1]
History
In 1977, Edward H. Crane and David H. Koch, formed the Institute with a $500,000 grant from Koch Industries, a chemical and petroleum company. They based the foundation in Washington D.C. and named it the Cato Institute, after essays 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."[2]
Goal
According to the Cato Institutes website, it[1],
| “ | 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.[3] | ” |
Position
Although many of Cato’s political positions are held by conservatives, the Institute defers on some social issues. For instance, Cato opposes a federal marriage amendment calling it “unnecessary, anti-federalist, and anti-Democratic.[4]”
The Institute 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.[5]"
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 cooperations. It is classified as a tax-exempt educational foundation, falling under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
References
- ↑ http://www.cato.org/about/about.html
- ↑ http://www.cato.org/about/reports/annual_report_2005.pdf
- ↑ 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
