I spend most of my day doing research for Richard C. Young & Co. Ltd., Young Research & Publishing, and richardcyoung.com. And position papers from the Cato Institute are among my most valued resources. Debbie and I have just returned from the Cato Institute’s three-day policy conclave at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, Florida (wonderful hotel with top-notch staff and food). These events offer seriously thoughtful presentations and breakout sessions. Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI), one of the featured dinner speakers, was outstanding. There is also ample time allotted for afternoon recreation activities and local tours. There is not a more independent, small government, nonintervention-oriented think tank in the world. Not even close. How about Heritage and AEI, you might think. Well, Heritage has now created a politically charged PAC, which for me knocks Heritage out of the running. And AEI, to put it succinctly, is the bastion of neocon thought. No thanks.
It has been a pleasure for Debbie and me to get to know co-founder Ed Crane, Chairman Bob Levy, CEO John Allison, and so many distinguished Cato policy scholars, including Louise Bennetts, David Boaz, Mark Calabria, Michael Cannon, Chris Edwards, Gene Healy, Brink Lindsey, Justin Logan, Dan Mitchell, Roger Pilon, Chris Preble, Julian Sanchez, and most recently Xia Yeliang. A wonderful group. Each is committed to the constitutional federal republic, small central government our Founders intended. Were America managed by this group of individuals, rather than the tragic unconstitutional last two White House administrations, America would be not only safer, but also more prosperous.
I hope that over the course of the coming year—If you believe in the wisdom of Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry and Sam Adams, to name the obvious—you will become a Cato Institute Benefactor and join Debbie and me in achieving a better understanding of the federal republic form of government our Founders spelled out succinctly in the Constitution.
Warm regards,
Dick Young
