Catching up with Cato

Cato reports that government spending has increased by 68% under Bush and this year's deficit will be $482 billion next year. We need dramatic spending cuts ASAP or the US will suffer an economic, social, and political crisis that will dwarf the Soviet breakup.

Cato comments on the mercantile nature of the WTO. Cato reports that trade is growing despite institutional barriers.

Cato explains that the tobacco industry favors FDA regulation because then the big tobacco companies can guarantee rulings that favor them. Competition is the best regulator.

Cato explains that the expansion of NATO drives China and Russia together and polarizes the world. China and Russia are totalitarian states and natural allies. NATO is nothing but US security welfare for Europe, and NATO's expansion illustrates that.

Cato reports that Pakistan's intelligence agents aid the Taliban, so upgrading their F-16 fleet is dangerous.

Contrary to reports that state governments have had to slash jobs because of poor revenue, Cato shows that state revenue growth has been tremendous the last 4 years. The problem with state governments isn't revenue growth, it's out of control spending. And we should never think of governments as employers. All jobs, including government jobs, are paid for by the private sector. All wealth is created in the private sector. We want people working in the private sector instead of government.

Cato explains how minimum wage increases hurt the young, unskilled and minorities.