If you’re in D.C.,
you can stop by the Cato Institute today
for the panel ambitiously titled “The Future of American Politics: The Tea Party, Rand Paul, and Young People.” A bit later I’ll give
Slate
readers a preview of what I’ll say; here, for now, is the event’s description.
From hearing about tea parties in the news to seeing FoundingFathers pop up in TV commercials, it’s not hard to sense thatsomething’s going on. The economy is struggling, the governmnet isexpanding, and many people aren’t happy. So what does it all mean?
Undoubtedly, political sentiment in America is changing.
Somebelieve the Tea Party movement in the United States offers a chance toadvance the idea of liberty. Political candidates, such as Senatehopeful Rand Paul, claim support from the Tea Party. Others deny thatthe movement has anything to do with liberty. There are many questionsabout the Tea Party: Will it last and change politics or is it just areflection of economic bad times? Will it be co-opted by the Republicanestablishment or just ignored? What will its impact be in the Novemberelections?
The rising influence of the youth vote and theincreasing volume of those proclaiming “liberty!” threaten to shift thepolitical climate from the status quo. Are these factors simplyoverblown hype? Or are they backed by the winds of true change?Government scholar John Samples (Director of the Center for Representative Government, Cato Institute) and journalist David Weigel (Slate and MSNBC) join with Cato On Campus to bring you an event that will address the future of politics in America.
