A Republic No More: Big Government and the Rise of American Political Corruption

A Republic No More: Big Government and the Rise of American Political Corruption

Author: Cato Institute February 12, 2015 Duration: 1:26:56

The American Founders planned for a republic and feared its corruption. Jay Cost thinks their fears are coming true. His new book reveals that big government has promoted corruption that favors the privileged over the many, corruption that is both legal and too often accepted.

Cost argues that politicians today have professionalized the pathways of corruption so thoroughly that they can more easily defy detection, and, barring that, retain plausible deniability. From the 18th century to today, Cost traces the history of how America ceased being a republic and became a special-interest democracy.

Will the 2016 elections bring change? Cost’s sweeping history of American political corruption does not spare the age of Obama. He demonstrates that a president who promised to change the system became a willing participant, as did both parties in the U.S. Congress — at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars to taxpayers.

Please join us for a disturbing portrait of a nation fostering and fighting political decline.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Step inside the Cato Institute's renowned Washington, D.C. events without leaving your desk. The Cato Event Podcast brings the lecture hall and briefing room directly to you, featuring unfiltered audio from live policy forums, author discussions, and Capitol Hill briefings. Each episode captures the substance of these gatherings, where scholars, policymakers, and leading thinkers engage in detailed conversations about liberty, governance, and current affairs. You'll hear substantive debates and thoughtful commentary that cut through the noise of daily headlines, offering deeper analysis on the issues shaping legislation and public discourse. This isn't a produced studio show; it's a front-row seat to the kind of candid exchanges that happen when experts gather to challenge conventional wisdom. The Cato Institute, through this podcast, provides a direct conduit to these discussions, emphasizing a perspective rooted in individual freedom, limited government, and free markets. Tune in for a raw, intellectual experience that goes beyond soundbites, perfect for anyone who wants to understand the foundational ideas behind today's political news.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 102

Cato Event Podcast
Podcast Episodes
#CatoConnects: Freedom in the 50 States [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:44
Which state is the freest, and what does it mean to be free? Which state has the most heavily taxed and regulated economy? Which state has the best protections for personal freedom? Where does your state rank? Is it amon…
Tomorrow 3.0: Transaction Costs and the Sharing Economy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:44
The economic revolutions of the past have brought vast wealth to average people. So what does the "sharing economy" have to offer? Michael Munger argues in his new book, Tomorrow 3.0, that when we understand how transact…
Cato University 2016: Jefferson’s Elections [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:38
From Cato University 2016: Summer Seminar on Political EconomyThe Cato Institute’s premier educational event, this annual program brings together outstanding faculty and participants from across the country and, often, f…
Cato University 2016: American Revolution of Liberty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:45
From Cato University 2016: Summer Seminar on Political EconomyThe Cato Institute’s premier educational event, this annual program brings together outstanding faculty and participants from across the country and, often, f…
Cato University 2016: Why the Declaration of Independence Was Right [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:43
From Cato University 2016: Summer Seminar on Political EconomyThe Cato Institute’s premier educational event, this annual program brings together outstanding faculty and participants from across the country and, often, f…
Cato University 2016: How Collectivism Nearly Destroyed America [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:31
From Cato University 2016: Summer Seminar on Political EconomyThe Cato Institute’s premier educational event, this annual program brings together outstanding faculty and participants from across the country and, often, f…
Cato University 2016: Is Freedom of Speech Dying? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:42
From Cato University 2016: Summer Seminar on Political EconomyThe Cato Institute’s premier educational event, this annual program brings together outstanding faculty and participants from across the country and, often, f…
Cato University 2016: Freedom in an Historical Perspective [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:47
From Cato University 2016: Summer Seminar on Political EconomyThe Cato Institute’s premier educational event, this annual program brings together outstanding faculty and participants from across the country and, often, f…
Cato University 2016: Origins of State and Government [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:33
From Cato University 2016: Summer Seminar on Political EconomyThe Cato Institute’s premier educational event, this annual program brings together outstanding faculty and participants from across the country and, often, f…
Cato University 2016: The Power of Incentives [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:21
From Cato University 2016: Summer Seminar on Political EconomyThe Cato Institute’s premier educational event, this annual program brings together outstanding faculty and participants from across the country and, often, f…