http://www.americasfuture.org/ Podcasts of America's Future Foundation roundtable discussion events. en-us Copyright 2006. All Rights Reserved. Tue, 17 oct 2006 13:00:00 GMT 60 http://www.americasfuture.org/events-archive/affarch-rt.php The attempt in the 1950s and 1960s to reconcile the philosophical divide between traditionalists and libertarians-dubbed "fusionism" by National Review's Frank Meyer-was politically successful, culminating in the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980. In recent years, however, that broad coalition has shown signs of fraying amidst conservative frustration with Republican governance. What is the future of the alliance for 2008-and beyond? To create a winning coalition for limited government, should traditional conservatives accommodate libertarians, or vice versa? Is a new liberal-libertarian, or "liberaltarian," coalition possible? Panelist included: David Boaz, executive vice president, Cato Institute; Ramesh Ponnuru, senior editor, National Review; Brink Lindsey, vice president for research, Cato Institute; and, Jonathan Chait, senior editor, New Republic. This discussion was moderated by David Kirby. Sun, 25 jan 2007 13:00:00 GMT http://www.americasfuture.org/events-archive/affarch-rt.php A prominent Russian journalist shot dead outside her home. A Russian dissident and writer poisoned in London. An American company building pipelines off Russia's Pacific coast threatened with fines and sanctions. The former CEO of oil and gas giant Yukos still behind bars. Despite a rapprochement between President George W. Bush and Russia's Vladimir Putin following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a chill seems to have settled on relations between the two countries. After Vice President Dick Cheney's strongly-worded speech in Lithuania that all but announced the start of a new Cold War, the world is forced to wonder where Russia is headed next -- and whether that direction pits Russia against the West. This is what we discussed at AFF's roundtable on Wednesday, January 10. Discussing these issues were Nick Gvosdev of the National Interest, Igor Khrestin of the American Enterprise Institute, Ivan Eland of the Independent Institute, and Washington Times Editorial Writer Russ McCracken. James Poulos moderated. Sun, 14 jan 2007 13:00:00 GMT http://www.americasfuture.org/events-archive/affarch-rt.php D.C. bans smoking, Chicago outlaws foie gras, and New York is thinking of forbidding transfats. Is this the return of prohibition? What ever happened to consumer freedom? That's what we discussed at a roundtable on Wednesday, December 13, 2006. Panelists were Justin Wilson of the Center for Consumer Freedom, Amy Phillips of the Institute for Humane Studies, Phillip Ugelow of the Corporate Executive Board, and Blake Dvorak of The Washington Times. David White moderated. Sun, 17 dec 2006 13:00:00 GMT http://www.americasfuture.org/events-archive/affarch-rt.php On Wednesday, November 15th, America's Future Foundation hosted the roundtable discussion, "Iran: Clear Problem, Unclear Solution." Unlike previous world crises that have come as a curprise, the Iranian nuclear crisis is visible far in advance, which gives us the luxury of debating our response in advance. We have a strong understanding of what we don't want: a nuclear-armed Iran foursquare against American interests. But are we ultimately alone in that judgment? There are costs to incur in defending our interests. What are they? What are we prepared to bear? And what responsibilities do we have now to offset an even deeper crisis later? Discussing these issues were Nick Gvosdev, editor of The National Interest, Ken Timmerman, author of "Countdown to Crisis: the Coming Nuclear Showdown in Iran," Justin Logan of the Cato Institute, and Omeed Jafari of the American Enterprise Institute. James G. Poulos moderated the event. Tue, 19 nov 2006 13:00:00 GMT http://www.americasfuture.org/events-archive/affarch-rt.php On Wednesday, October 11, America's Future Foundation hosted the roundtable "Election 2006: Should conservatives and libertarians support Republicans? Or do Republicans deserve to lose?" Washington is a buzz with election speculation. After several years of controlling both the legislature and executive, the GOP risks losing the House, and perhaps even the Senate this fall, and faces strong criticism over their record. Federal spending is through the roof. The war in Iraq continues to divide America. The GOP majority passed admirable tax cuts but fell short on other important initiatives such as Social Security reform and health care reform. Republicans and Libertarians have much to criticize, but are we really ready to face the reality of a Nancy Pelosi majority? Who should right-of-center voters support in the coming month? Please join us as we discuss the implications of the 2006 elections and ask, do Republicans deserve to lose? Discussing these issues were Ryan Sager, author of The Elephant in the Room: Evangelicals, Libertarians and the Battle to Control the Republican Party, Rob Bluey, editor of Human Events Online, Jonathan Collegio, Press Secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee, and Andy Roth, Director of Government Affairs at the Club for Growth. Brainwash editor Eric Pfeiffer moderated. Tue, 16 oct 2006 13:00:00 GMT http://www.americasfuture.org/events-archive/affarch-rt.php On Tuesday, September 12, 2006, AFF hosted the roundtable "Latin America: Which Way Now?" It was only a few years ago that the rise of Hugo Chavez seemed to signal a new Latin wave of hard leftism. Yet today paints a more complicated picture, with center-right victories in Mexico and Colombia and center-left politicians gaining traction against radicals across the region -- even as Chavez consolidates his rule. Attendees discussed the implications of these trends for both Latin America and the United States. Panelists included Marc Wachtenheim of the Pan American Development Foundation, independent Brazilian journalist Olavo de Carvalho, Reason assistant editor David Weigel, and Mario Villarreal of the American Enterprise Institute. Ivan Osorio of the Competitive Enterprise Institute moderated the discussion. Tue, 15 aug 2006 13:00:00 GMT http://www.americasfuture.org/events-archive/affarch-rt.php On Tuesday, Aug. 15, AFF hosted a debate on "Big Business: Friend or Foe of Big Government?" Major corporations have long been viewed as a natural -- indeed, essential -- ally of free markets and, by extension, classical liberalism. But is that conventional wisdom correct? Just how strongly does big business really support free markets? How strong of an ally is it for those who want to shrink the size of the state? Has the Republican Party�s own efforts to pare back government and regulations been helped or impeded by its alliance with corporations? These issues were debated in a special AFF roundtable dedicated to the new book, The Big Ripoff: How Big Business and Big Government Steal Your Money, by Tim Carney, longtime columnist for AFF�s online magazine Brainwash. Carney, also a former reporter for Human Events, the Evans/Novak Report and a recent fellow at both the Phillips Foundation and the Competitive Enterprise Institute, laid out his argument that today the largest corporations have mastered the art of working with, and expanding the size of, big government. Joining him in the debate was Veronique de Rugy, resident fellow for tax and budget policy at the American Enterprise Institute, and J. Peter Freire of The New York Times. Sean Higgins, Washington correspondent for Investor�s Business Daily, moderated. Tue, 15 aug 2006 13:00:00 GMT http://www.americasfuture.org/events-archive/affarch-rt.php On Tuesday, July 18th, AFF hosted its 10th Anniversary Roundtable featuring Jonah Goldberg of National Review and Nick Gillespie of Reason magazine in a reprise of the legendary AFF debate on the relationship between conservatives and libertarians. Matthew Yglesias of The American Prospect moderated. They hilariously tackled such questions as "What is the state of the friendship between conservatives and libertarians after 9/11?" and "While they can agree that they're both against the left, are they both against the state?" The event took place at the Heritage Foundation, and with over 200 attendees was AFF's largest roundtable to date. Tue, 18 jul 2006 13:00:00 GMT http://www.americasfuture.org/events-archive/affarch-rt.php On Thursday, April 13, 2006, AFF hosted the roundtable "Network Neutrality: Should Government Regulate the Internet?" Supporters of network neutrality paint a bleak picture of the Internet's future absent neutrality provisions, claiming that network providers will degrade or block the content of competitors or otherwise unfairly interfere with the delivery of content to consumers. Meanwhile, opponents say that the regulations will inhibit network innovation, limit consumer choice in network provision, and protect companies like Google, Amazon, and eBay from competition. Will the dire predictions of advocates on both sides of the debate really come true, or is net neutrality just business as usual in the annals of rent-seeking? And can a conservative case be made in favor of government regulation? Answering those questions will be James Gattuso, senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, Patrick Ross, senior fellow and VP for communications at Progress and Freedom Foundation, Alex Curtis of government affairs manager at Public Knowledge, and Frannie Wellings of Free Press. Jerry Brito of the Mercatus Center will moderate the discussion. Thu, 15 jun 2006 13:00:00 GMT http://www.americasfuture.org/events-archive/affarch-rt.php On Thursday, May 18, AFF hosted the roundtable, "What's your Bottom Line: A Debate on Corporate Social Responsibility." Is corporate social responsibility�or CSR for short�a new way of thinking about "doing well by doing good?" Or, is CSR simply privatizing socialism by demanding corporations do something more what they should be doing: maximizing profits for investors? Moderator Sean Higgins of Investors Business Daily, and panelists Steve Milloy, Free Enterprise Action Fund, Katherine Mangu-Ward, New York Times, Ivan Osorio, Competitive Enterprise Institute, and John Friedman, Washington DC Sustainable Business Network, debated whether there's a "business case" to be made for corporations pursing social good. Thu, 18 may 2006 13:00:00 GMT http://www.americasfuture.org/events-archive/affarch-rt.php On Thursday, April 13, 2006, AFF hosted the roundtable "Pork: Why Is It Still What's for Dinner?" With spending far from being "cut to the (ham)bone," has the Republican Congress's appetite for bringin' home the bacon clogged the arteries of appropriations bills, or is there a conservative argument to be made for letting Congress target spending through earmarks? Moderator Timothy P. Carney, author of the forthcoming book, The Big Ripoff: How Big Business and Big Government Steal Your Money, and Warren T. Brookes Journalism Fellow at CEI; along with panelists Tom Schatz, president, Citizens Against Government Waste; Brian Wild, lobbyist, the Nickles Group; Russ Vought, policy director, Republican Study Committee; and John Barry, AFF chairman, debated the issues of spending, earmarks, and budget reform. Thu, 13 apr 2006 13:00:00 GMT http://www.americasfuture.org/events-archive/affarch-rt.php What does the Right want from its women? In time for Women's History Month, AFF members and distinguished guests discussed that question at a roundtable on Thursday, March 9, 2006. Panelists Christina Hoff Sommers, Carrie L. Lukas, Allison Kasic, and moderator Brooke Oberwetter discussed the seeming contradictions in a movement that celebrates housewives and soccer moms as post-feminist heroines, elevates tough-talking single career gals like Condoleeza Rice and Ann Coulter to icon status, and is populated more and more by women who are trying to strike the right balance between families, relationships, and careers. Sun, 19 mar 2006 13:00:00 GMT http://www.americasfuture.org/events-archive/affarch-rt.php On February 8, 2006, AFF hosted a roundtable discussion on the topic, "Dating in the Age of Constant Communication: Why 'I Missed Your Call' Doesn't Cut it Anymore." In time for Valentines Day, we explored the impact technology has had on dating. Moderated by Ken Wolfe, panelists included Charlotte Hays of the Independent Women's Forum, Julian Sanchez of Reason magazine, AFF Doublethink Sex Columnist Mollie Ziegler, and Martin Reape, a jaded survivor of the Match.com experience. Wed, 15 feb 2006 13:00:00 GMT