(04-02-2012 05:01 PM)I45owl Wrote:  

(04-02-2012 04:53 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(04-02-2012 02:39 PM)I45owl Wrote:  There are, but I don't think any of them have the cachet of Cato. They probably have the highest profile libertarian perspective in the media, and they seem to be influential in the halls of congress as well.

I'll be the first to admit I do not keep close track of the libertarian-think-tank leader board. But just offhand, I feel like the Reason Foundation carries about the same level of influence as Cato.

IMHO the Reason Foundation is more of a popular site than a policy-based think tank. They seem to reach the public directly rather than through mainstream media or direct contact with policy-makers (mainly congress) like Cato does. Cato has a semi-permanent seat on NPR, and frequent appearances on Sunday Morning talking head shows. Their policy papers target members of congress and I think they are in frequent contact with them (although I wouldn't consider them lobbyists, though arguably they are). Other think tanks with Libertarian tendencies are Brookings, the Independent Institute, Mises, and others.

The demise of an independent Cato would not leave a vacuum, but I think they would be missed.

I was going to mention the Reason Foundation as well. I think they would rise quickly should CATO be taken over. There are some other very like minded groups out there but with varying degrees of activism (AEI and IJ come to mind in particular).