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Cato Institute VP David Boaz at the 2012 International Students for Liberty Conference on big government and the importance of individual liberty.
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It's I want to introduce you to someone who's taught me a great deal about liberty.
David -- of the Cato Institute think tank here in DC with motto.
They're dedicated to the dignity of the individual.
Why that.
What's that book cause that's the most important thing in political life in the relationship of the individual to the state.
Every individual has the right and responsibility.
To be treated with dignity and respect and to make important decisions about his or her own life and I think most Americans would say what are you talking about the most important thing is that the the individual that selfish the most important thing is that government.
Keep us safe and take care of us and help the weak in the -- I don't think most people in America don't think the government is more important in the individual may be in some parts of the world I don't think they do in America now.
Most people in America want -- bigger government than I did they -- that individuals need more help and I think they need and they think that their own ideas ought to be imposed on people.
Through force and I don't agree with that and so those -- the things we debate.
And wider in the eyes of the Cato Institute the big issues threatening the country today.
Well certainly the fact that we -- in two wars that have gone on forever that's a big problem.
I'm concerned about sort of a growing trend toward a police state in America that.
You know somebody wrote a book recently called three felonies today and there are so many federal laws and federal regulations you may be breaking the law every day.
And then there's the looming.
Bankruptcy crisis we're already seeing -- in Greece we're seeing it in Europe.
And it's coming here that we simply can't afford all the promises the government has -- And I am gonna do a show with this three felonies me guidance and I probably commitment six.
Television I have an active life.
But most Americans say.
We want government to protect us we need more regulation.
We need government to fix more problems well in fact if you ask people if we need more regulation most Americans say we don't.
Now but if you ask him about color on the phone -- their cars and -- well if you ask about specific regulations sometimes people do think we need that and part of that it is that's what they banks we studied the effects of regulations and if you were came at the -- as to what laws -- you repeal.
Well if I were king first I would repeal the law that made -- -- because -- And you're.
Think George Washington as they offered to make it McCain pennies and I think his successor is what does that yes well that's right.
So I would I would start by repealing laws that Q1 man that kind of party.
But certainly let's start by making taxes lower flatter and simpler on the way to getting rid of the federal income tax.
Let's get rid of the Department of Education.
Let's transition and way.
Way from a government mandated retirement plan to a system where people save for their own retirement and end up with a lot more money at age 65 than they do under Social Security.
Those are some laws we could repeal.
-- -- them from the University of North Texas.
So I'm wondering if there's any historical examples you can point you where social safety nets have been provided in a private setting.
Sure there have been books published about the way those systems used to work in both the United States and Great Britain.
That there were clubs there were associations.
There were religiously based groups there were ethnically based groups the polish in one neighborhood would have a group the Jews.
In another neighborhood would have their group where they would all put money into a common pool for their friends relations.
Club members.
And one of the things that happened was when the welfare state came along in both England and the United States.
It kind of made these systems redundant people said well I guess we don't need the private system.
And now people say what would we have if it weren't for the welfare state in the answer is well you would have had these systems that the welfare state destroyed.
And before the welfare state was created the poverty was declining quite sharply.
After the war and poverty began in welfare continue to drop and then stack progress stopped thanks to these programs and now we say.
Why might not I don't need to help the poor because there's this thirty billion dollar welfare system taking care of it what can -- We have come a very long way but they're still is race gender.
And it economic status inequality.
So Huckabee is the retains address this issue aside -- the answer the market will take care.
A lot of what.
We need to say is -- what you said at the very beginning we've come a long way.
Because sometimes we forget that we are a country of more than 300 million people the most diverse country probably in the history of the world and we need to make the point.
One of the things that creates a racial gap in America is terrible schools in the inner city.
And who provide those schools -- What kept black people down in America for many years.
First slavery then Jim Crow.
Big government programs.
When we got rid -- then.
There was a lot more equality a lot more mobility and still -- what kept women.
Down laws that restricted them from certain occupations and -- What kept gay people out sodomy laws and other losses discriminated against and so what we want is in fact a free society and free market.
Which is not a panacea it will not be perfect but it's better than the alternatives.
-- -- About smaller government.
In terms of dollars less spending less regulation.
But I haven't heard a lot of talk about.
A lot of concepts that us that we libertarians -- about that don't have dollar values like the rule of law and equal rights and.
-- you -- a lot of times it does sound like when we say smaller government we just mean one that taxes and stands less.
What I like talk about is I want to reduce the size scope.
And power of government over individuals and so absolutely sending people off to war spending our money costing people's lives.
That's bigger government and in equality in marriage claw backs big government that conservatives often support.
So there -- a lot of areas that's right.
Where small government shouldn't be -- government that has less intrusiveness into your life.
Well thank you David both I have to say I think we're getting our clocks cleaned everywhere I turn they're making government bigger and restricting our freedom and -- I look at this presidential race who can I get excited about and look at the leaders met.
Romney who wants that started trade war with China.
Rick Santorum says the state should limit individual's wants and passions.
Newt Gingrich wants a more aggressive drug war and wants us to pay to send.
All that to me is bad news but there is -- nose and our next guest.
