The Bob Zadek Show

It’s tempting to divide the world, in its unyieldingly complexity, into "good guys" and "bad guys." This provides endless plots and ratings for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but it often hides the messy reality of our criminal justice system, where overzealous prosecution can make new victims out of innocent people. Sarah Stillman is an award-winning journalist and staff writer for The New Yorker, with a talent for bringing clarity and nuance to murky topics. The last time Stillman joined the show, she had written a gripping exposé on civil asset forfeiture – the unconstitutional takings of private property by police from suspects who have not been convicted of any crime. Now, she joins Bob to discuss her latest New Yorker piece, *The List,* on an even more delicate subject: minors placed on the sex-offender registry for their youthful mistakes. Stillman reports on a sampling of tragic cases, which cast doubt on laws that lead to harsh sentences and life-long scarlet letters for kids – some as young as 10 years old. We all want to protect victims. Tune in, and you may be surprised to learn how poorly the system works, even by that measure.

LINKS

The List - The New Yorker, March 14, 2016 issue

---

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

Get Weekly Updates & Free Show Notes

1-800-345-5639 (1-800-FILL-NEW)

An unknown sage once quipped, “There may be two libertarians in the world who agree on absolutely everything, but I am not one of them.” This condition of free-thinking individualism applies to much – if not all – of the freedom movement. How then can a movement based on the ideas of liberty be nurtured in a world that is divided not only by language barriers and artificial borders, but ideological and cultural distinctions as well? Enter Atlas Network, which coordinates and promotes outstanding work from 470 think tanks across 90 countries. Brad Lips is CEO of Atlas Network, making him responsible for overseeing this vast web of individuals, major think tanks, and regional organizations – each with their own needs, aims, and solutions. Atlas Network strives to help its members achieve growth and impact in the marketplace for ideas, where there are no prices to guide decisions. Brad joins Bob to talk about how he applies a private-sector mindset to managing a network of independent nonprofits. Even the most ardent individualist will learn something from his approach to enlisting partners in the cause.

LINKS

AtlasNetwork.org

Institute for Economic Affairs

An unknown sage once quipped, “There may be two libertarians in the world who agree on absolutely everything, but I am not one of them.” This condition of free-thinking individualism applies to much – if not all – of the freedom movement. How then can a movement based on the ideas of liberty be nurtured in a world that is divided not only by language barriers and artificial borders, but ideological and cultural distinctions as well? Enter Atlas Network, which coordinates and promotes outstanding work from 470 think tanks across 90 countries. Brad Lips is CEO of Atlas Network, making him responsible for overseeing this vast web of individuals, major think tanks, and regional organizations – each with their own needs, aims, and solutions. Atlas Network strives to help its members achieve growth and impact in the marketplace for ideas, where there are no prices to guide decisions. Brad joins Bob to talk about how he applies a private-sector mindset to managing a network of independent nonprofits. Even the most ardent individualist will learn something from his approach to enlisting partners in the cause.

LINKS

AtlasNetwork.org

Institute for Economic Affairs

If there’s a silver lining on the homogenous new “Common Core” educational standards, it is that over a dozen states have responded by providing or expanding educational choice opportunities to their citizens. Research has consistently shown that increasing choice and competition in education improves outcomes – at least for the students who have been lucky enough to participate in the handful of experiments with charter schools, vouchers, education savings accounts and the like. However, a new study on a Louisiana voucher program has unearthed a troubling finding for supporters of a freer market in education. Students zoned to failing public schools who applied for and received a voucher by lottery performed worse on math and English tests than those who lost the voucher lottery in the first two years of the voucher program. Jason Bedrick, a policy analyst with Cato’s Center for Educational Freedom, has a theory on the outlier research paper. He joins Bob to solve the puzzle.

LINKS

The Folly of Overregulating School Choice - Education Next by Jason Bedrick, 1/5/16

School Choice Regulation: Friend or Foe? | Cato Institute March 4, 2016

The Year of Educational Choice: Final Tally | Cato @ Liberty December 14, 2015

If there’s a silver lining on the homogenous new “Common Core” educational standards, it is that over a dozen states have responded by providing or expanding educational choice opportunities to their citizens. Research has consistently shown that increasing choice and competition in education improves outcomes – at least for the students who have been lucky enough to participate in the handful of experiments with charter schools, vouchers, education savings accounts and the like. However, a new study on a Louisiana voucher program has unearthed a troubling finding for supporters of a freer market in education. Students zoned to failing public schools who applied for and received a voucher by lottery performed worse on math and English tests than those who lost the voucher lottery in the first two years of the voucher program. Jason Bedrick, a policy analyst with Cato’s Center for Educational Freedom, has a theory on the outlier research paper. He joins Bob to solve the puzzle.

LINKS

The Folly of Overregulating School Choice - Education Next by Jason Bedrick, 1/5/16

School Choice Regulation: Friend or Foe? | Cato Institute March 4, 2016

The Year of Educational Choice: Final Tally | Cato @ Liberty December 14, 2015

Cuban dissidents and political prisoners have waited a long time for meaningful reforms in their country – and the wait isn’t over. Even since 2006, when Fidel “El Libertador” Castro ceded power to his younger brother Raul, the government has continued to oppress its people and shackle its economy. Despite rumors of a sunny socialist utopia 90 miles from the Florida Keys, the reality is that Cuba remains mired in poverty and human rights abuses at the hands of its authoritarian leaders. However, there have been doubts about the effectiveness of the United States’ attempts to undermine the Castro regime, especially when it comes to the long-standing trade embargo. Such policies may just provide ammunition to the Cuban government in the form of an external excuse for the widespread misery brought about by central planning. Ian Vasquez claims that freer travel and (eventually) trade with the U.S. may not defeat the communist regime, but they will help advocates for a free Cuba by growing the small, “informal” private sector in an economy mostly run by and for the state. Vasquez is director of the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity. He joins the show against the backdrop of President Obama’s recent visit to Cuba to discuss the changes that are taking place. Bob looks to uncover a realistic view of the prospects for a free Cuba, and find out how Americans can help support a thriving civil society, as philanthropists, consumers and tourists.

LINKS

@VasquezIan

The Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity

Cato Handbook for Policymakers: Relations with Cuba, 2009

Now Let’s End the Embargo on Cuba, Washington Examiner, December 26, 2014

Ian Vasquez discusses Cuba on CNBC | Cato Institute, October 8, 2015

Cuban dissidents and political prisoners have waited a long time for meaningful reforms in their country – and the wait isn’t over. Even since 2006, when Fidel “El Libertador” Castro ceded power to his younger brother Raul, the government has continued to oppress its people and shackle its economy. Despite rumors of a sunny socialist utopia 90 miles from the Florida Keys, the reality is that Cuba remains mired in poverty and human rights abuses at the hands of its authoritarian leaders. However, there have been doubts about the effectiveness of the United States’ attempts to undermine the Castro regime, especially when it comes to the long-standing trade embargo. Such policies may just provide ammunition to the Cuban government in the form of an external excuse for the widespread misery brought about by central planning. Ian Vasquez claims that freer travel and (eventually) trade with the U.S. may not defeat the communist regime, but they will help advocates for a free Cuba by growing the small, “informal” private sector in an economy mostly run by and for the state. Vasquez is director of the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity. He joins the show against the backdrop of President Obama’s recent visit to Cuba to discuss the changes that are taking place. Bob looks to uncover a realistic view of the prospects for a free Cuba, and find out how Americans can help support a thriving civil society, as philanthropists, consumers and tourists.

LINKS

@VasquezIan

The Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity

Cato Handbook for Policymakers: Relations with Cuba, 2009

Now Let’s End the Embargo on Cuba, Washington Examiner, December 26, 2014

Ian Vasquez discusses Cuba on CNBC | Cato Institute, October 8, 2015

When video surfaces featuring scores of Yale students signing a petition to repeal the First Amendment, “hope” seems to be the hardest word to say. Sadly, the Bill of Rights appears to be on life support, and the up-and-coming generation of Ivy-educated citizens seems less than enthusiastic about resuscitating it. At the same time, the ideas of individualism and free enterprise are still alive and well in the general population, and it’s difficult to imagine anything replacing them. This Sunday, Bob will be embracing this silver lining with Skip Young, a SF-based entrepreneur and author of The Wisdom of 76: Young America’s Way to Wealth. In his debut book, Skip aims to inspire young audiences to the magic of the “invisible hand” – an idea which Adam Smith first put into print the same year that the Declaration of Independence was written. In just 10,000 words, Skip leads readers on a poetic journey of hope and discovery through the Declaration, The Wealth of Nations, Common Sense, and the “Way to Wealth.” A mix of engaging history and hypnotic monetary metaphors, Skip’s tract makes a compelling case that everyone can share in the American Dream with modest effort and a bit of bravery. The Wisdom of 76 may just hold the secret to saving the next generation before they are indoctrinated by the educational system.

LINKS:

Book: The Wisdom of 76: Young America’s Way to Wealth

When video surfaces featuring scores of Yale students signing a petition to repeal the First Amendment, “hope” seems to be the hardest word to say. Sadly, the Bill of Rights appears to be on life support, and the up-and-coming generation of Ivy-educated citizens seems less than enthusiastic about resuscitating it. At the same time, the ideas of individualism and free enterprise are still alive and well in the general population, and it’s difficult to imagine anything replacing them. This Sunday, Bob will be embracing this silver lining with Skip Young, a SF-based entrepreneur and author of The Wisdom of 76: Young America’s Way to Wealth. In his debut book, Skip aims to inspire young audiences to the magic of the “invisible hand” – an idea which Adam Smith first put into print the same year that the Declaration of Independence was written. In just 10,000 words, Skip leads readers on a poetic journey of hope and discovery through the Declaration, The Wealth of Nations, Common Sense, and the “Way to Wealth.” A mix of engaging history and hypnotic monetary metaphors, Skip’s tract makes a compelling case that everyone can share in the American Dream with modest effort and a bit of bravery. The Wisdom of 76 may just hold the secret to saving the next generation before they are indoctrinated by the educational system.

LINKS:

Book: The Wisdom of 76: Young America’s Way to Wealth