Cato Institute

The Cato Institute is an influential non-profit public policy research foundation (think tank) with strong libertarian leanings (despite wide public perception that it is a "conservative" think-tank), headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is named after Cato's Letters, a series of early 18th century British essays expounding the libertarian principles of John Locke. Collected and published in sets of volumes, Cato's Letters could be found in the libraries of American patriots and helped lay the philosophical foundation for the American Revolution. The pseudonymous authors of the Letters named their essays in turn after Cato the Younger, the defender of republican institutions in Rome.

Stances on Issues

Although it is said to have Republican leanings, Cato frequently differs with Republican Party positions, particularly on social issues. Unlike many Republicans, Cato was opposed to President George W. Bush's 2003 invasion of Iraq. Also, Cato is adamantly opposed to the War on Drugs and the USA Patriot Act. While Cato is against government support of "faith-based organizations," it tends to support school vouchers. Cato also disagreed with President George H. W. Bush's decision to fight the Gulf War. Cato has also criticized the 1998 settlement that many U.S. states signed with the tobacco industry. http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-371es.html. In 2003 the Cato Institute filed a brief in the United States Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas arguing that U.S. Constitution protects the right of citizens to engage in non-fraternal, non-commercial sexual relations between consenting adults in private.

Related Topics:
George W. Bush - 2003 invasion of Iraq - War on Drugs - USA Patriot Act - School vouchers - George H. W. Bush - Gulf War - Tobacco industry - 2003 - Lawrence v. Texas

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