Policy Forum: "Against Leviathan" September 29, 2004

Independent Policy Forum:

?Against Leviathan: Government Power and a Free Society? with economist and political historian Dr. Robert Higgs

Wednesday, September 29
6:30-8:30 pm
The Independent Institute Conference Center
100 Swan Way, Oakland, CA 94621
Admission: $15, ($10 for Institute members)
Contact: Nichelle Beardsley at 510-632-1366 or visit www.independent.org

Description:

What is fundamentally wrong with government today? Since 2001, despite low inflation, federal spending has increased by a massive 28.8%, with the largest deficits in U.S. history and the highest rate of government growth since the Vietnam War-era ?guns-and-butter? presidencies of Richard Nixon and Lyndon Johnson. At the same time, federal agencies have been given new powers to secretly search anyone?s property and intercept phone, Internet, and other communications, as well as all health and financial records. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, respected economist and historian Robert Higgs alone predicted this explosion of government power, as politicians have again taken full advantage of a frightened American public. At this special Independent Policy Forum based on his new book, AGAINST LEVIATHAN, Dr. Higgs will present an unflinching critical analysis of the extensive range of government powers, including corporate welfare, pork, the nanny/welfare state, protectionism, the nature of political leadership, trampling on the Bill of Rights, and governmental responses to a continuing stream of ?crises,? including foreign wars, both hot and cold. Dr. Higgs combines an economist?s analytical scrutiny, a historian?s respect for the facts, and a refusal to accept the standard excuses and cruelties of government officialdom.