John Locke Foundation

Last updated
John Locke Foundation
Founded1990
Founder Art Pope
Type Think tank
56-1656943
Location
  • 4800 Six Forks Rd., #220
    Raleigh, NC 27609
Area served
North Carolina
Key people
Paul Slobodian, Chairman
Donald Bryson, CEO & President
Budget
Revenue: $1,794,897
Expenses: $5,153,263
(FYE June 2022) [1]
Employees
32
Website www.johnlocke.org

The John Locke Foundation (JLF) is a Free market think tank based in North Carolina. [2] The organization was founded in 1990 to work "for truth, for freedom, and for the future of North Carolina." [3] [4] It is named after the philosopher John Locke, who was a primary contributor to classical liberalism. JLF was co-founded by Art Pope, a North Carolina businessman active in politics. [5] Pope's family foundation provides most of the support for the center. [6]

Contents

JLF advocates lowering taxes, and encouraging free markets. The organization's stated mission is to "employ research, journalism, and outreach programs to transform government through competition, innovation, personal freedom, and personal responsibility. JLF seeks a better balance between the public sector and private institutions of family, faith, community, and enterprise." [7]

The organization is concerned primarily with state-based issues. But under Donald Bryson, its current president, the foundation has become more concerned with national politics and growing threats from both the left and the right. [8] The John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy was in its initial stages a project of the John Locke Foundation.

Activities

The John Locke Foundation's research staff regularly publishes scholarly articles and reports on topics such as budget and tax policy; regulatory, legal, and environmental policy; education policy; and county and local government, including transportation and land-use policies. [9] In 2015, JLF initiated the publication of an index of freedom, ranking each of the states in their relative freedom. [10] [11]

According to North Carolina's WRAL news, John Locke Foundation staff are frequently quoted in news outlets across the state and appear as guests on public affairs programs, and columns by foundation staff appear in local newspapers. [3]

Every two years, JLF produces an agenda document that focuses on issues that JLF believes the North Carolina state government must address. [12] The organization also publishes the Carolina Journal, a bi-monthly publication, as well as CarolinaJournal.com.

See also

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References

  1. "Quickview data". ProPublica.
  2. McGrath, Gareth (November 20, 2014). "Hood stepping down as president of John Locke Foundation". Wilmington Star News. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 "John Locke Foundation". WRAL. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  4. Campbell, Colin (November 20, 2014). "John Locke Foundation's John Hood to lead John William Pope Foundation". The News & Observer. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  5. "State for Sale". The New Yorker . October 10, 2011.
  6. Miller, John J. (December 4, 2009). "The Fisherman's Friend".
  7. "About the John Locke Foundation". John Locke Foundation. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  8. Bryson, Donald (July 13, 2023). "Freedom Conservatism stands against authoritarianism of the left and right". Carolina Journal. Retrieved 23 Mar 2024.
  9. "Research – John Locke Foundation". johnlocke.org. 10 November 2021.
  10. Tuccille, J.D. (February 23, 2015). "Florida, the Freest State in the Country?". Reason. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  11. Stoops, Terry (March 1, 2015). "High taxes, regulations make NY dead last in freedom". New York Post. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  12. Kulba, Leslee (June 22, 2014). "Agenda 2014 Urges Realistic Economic Analysis". The Tribune. Retrieved 9 June 2015.