Attn, DC Reasonoids: Welch & Gillespie Talk Declaration of Independents at Cato, Thurs. 6/30

Reason's Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch will discuss their new book, The Declaration of Independents: How Libertarian Politics Can Fix What's Wrong With America, at the Cato Institute on Thursday, June 30, at 4pm. A reception will follow.

Declaration argues that the forces innovation and personalization are expanding our options and bettering the way we live. Everywhere, that is, except in our politics. Using case studies ranging from airline deregulation to the role of rock music in undermining authoritarian regimes to the profusion of Pop Tart flavors, the book explores how democratization and decentralization of power have allowed us to express ourselves more fully in the home, workplace, and broader culture. And it shows how to bring those same forces to bear on the parts of our lives such as education, health care, and retirement planning that are still dominated by politics.

Called a "an important book and a lively read" (Timothy Carney, Washington Examiner) and "the up-to-date statement on libertarianism" (Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution), The Declaration is a political manifesto that hopes to squeeze politics down the smallest role possible. Even if we live to be 200 years old - here's hoping - time is too short to waste worrying about whether Nancy Pelosi or John Boehner is Speaker of the House.

What: Book Forum at the Cato Institute for The Declaration of Independents. Followed by a reception

Where: The Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC

When: Thursday, June 30, 4pm

RSVP: Email [e-mail] or go here for more information. The event is free and open to the public.

Comments

[35N4P2BYY]

Shouldn't that Gingrich book be in the fiction section?

[PIRS]

Yes, along with Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth".

[Captain Holly]

I get a kick out of the "Bush's Wars" book -- as if US policy in Iraq and Afghanistan has been significantly different under Obama.

[PIRS]

Two words: cognitive dissonance.

[35N4P2BYY]

Emergency actions for progressives and conservatives when faced with a rational point or fact that does not fit your narrative:

1. Extend both your right and left index fingers.

2. Rotate your wrists inward until your extended fingers are parallel with the ground & place your extended index fingers firmly in your ears.

3. Begin reciting the following:

"I can't hear you... la la la la la."

repeatedly at a high decibel level.

4. Wait for the individual bearing the offending idea leaves.

Repeat as necessary to ensure a pure ideological environment.

[Old Mexican]

Matt, Nick,

I catched you both on Stossel the other night. Nice job! I will be looking forward to buying the book! Uh, once it's on sale, of course.

Just one quibble: I did not agree with that lady that abortion "rights" should be more part of a libertarian view than a leftist view. By the principles of non-aggression and property rights, abortion is not a "right," it's a medical procedure someone else performs on you, not unlike an appendectomy. One does not have a right to an abortion any more than one has a right to mowed grass - or an appendectomy.