Reason Magazine: Matt Welch- 'A Conversation with Cato's David Boaz at Freedom Fest 2012'

Source:Reason Magazine- talking to Cato Institute EVP David Boaz.

"[President Obama has] done more drone strikes than any president in history, he's deported more illegal immigrants, than any president in history [...] more marijuana raids than any president in history. So in that sense, he has a lot to boast about and yet I don't hear him boasting about most of these things," says David Boaz, executive vice president of the Cato Institute.

Reason magazine's Matt Welch sat down with Boaz at FreedomFest 2012 to discuss why progressives should be upset with President Obama, how many libertarians are really out there and control of the Cato Institute.

Held each July in Las Vegas, FreedomFest is attended by around 2,000 limited-government enthusiasts and libertarians a year. ReasonTV spoke with over two dozen speakers and attendees and will be releasing interviews over the coming weeks. For an ever-growing playlist, go here now... 

From Reason Magazine

If your definition of a Libertarian is someone who believes in fiscal responsibility and personal freedom, as well as the U.S. Constitution, property rights, low taxes, the best government is the government that's closest to home and perhaps does the least, then I believe there are a lot of people in and outside of the Republican Party today. Including what's left of the Center-Right of the Republican Party, that could either be considered a Constitutional Conservative or Conservative Libertarian. Just look at Ron Paul, his son Rand Paul, and others in Congress like Senators Mike Lee, Ron Johnson, Jeff Flake, and some House Republicans, as well as the people that they represent. 

But if your definition of a Libertarian is someone who believes that government is essentially incompetent at everything or doesn't have the constitutional authority to do practically anything, who actually takes whacked out, marijuana high, conspiracy theories seriously, like JFK assassination conspiracy theories, or that 9/11 was an inside job, then I believe that 15% number that David Boaz referenced in this interview is probably right.