The Cato Institute

Does Climate Change Actually Fuel Terrorism?

It is customary for politicians to say that we are beset by dangers, and that they alone are what stands between voters and certain doom, but Bernie Sanders’ claim that “climate change is directly related to the growth of terrorism” is certainly a twofer — hitting two things that people seem most worried about.

Sanders’ claim is woefully misguided. Global surface temperature has risen about 0.8°C in the last 125 years. The surface temperature you experience will rise, on average, that much if you drive 150 miles south. Raleigh, North Carolina, does not typically send terrorists to Washington.

“Politicians are quite adept at identifying a dizzying array of possible threats. But they are lousy at putting those threats in perspective,” say Patrick J. Michaels and Christopher A. Preble.

Read more….

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And Coming Up on the Left, Bernie Sanders

Originally posted by meowatme123

As Hillary Clinton continues to stumble, her leading opponent, Senator Bernie Sanders, is having quite a run…

Sanders continues to lead Clinton in New Hampshire, is running close in Iowa, raised nearly as much money as Clinton during the last quarter, and attracts Trump-like crowds at his events.

If Joe Biden jumps in, splitting the Democratic establishment vote, Sanders could become an even bigger threat to Hillary’s coronation.

Maybe, then, it is time to take Bernie, as his campaign posters style him, seriously.

Read on…

A Big Night for Republicans. Now What?

The midterm elections are finally over, pending runoffs, and it looks as if it was a good night for Republicans. So what are the lessons that we can take away from this election? According to Cato scholar Michael D. Tanner, Republicans will be making a mistake if they interpret this election as an endorsement of the Republican agenda. “If Republicans want to build on last night’s success, particularly for 2016,” says Tanner, “they will have to come up with a positive agenda, and prove that they can govern without surrendering on basic principles. That’s a tough order.”