LAS VEGAS, June 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Wall Street and global markets tanked after British citizens surprised the odds makers and voted to leave the European Union (EU). Mark Skousen, economist and producer of FreedomFest said this of the UK decision, "This political and economic earthquake could have repercussions for years, and should not be dismissed lightly. It sends an important message to our government officials, and has major significance on our own elections in the U.S.."

Will this landmark action result in more nationalism and protectionism at a time when the global economy is vulnerable? Or, will the EU pursue entitlement, tax and regulatory reform, and liberalize its markets instead of protecting them? What impact will the UK political bombshell have on United States elections? 

These questions and more will be answered during FreedomFest, the "largest gathering of free minds," July 13-17 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. FreedomFest has added an "in-depth" report and discussion on the topic to its lineup, "Brexit and the Future of the Global Economy, the Markets and the Political Landscape." All of your favorite financial gurus including Alex Green, Keith Fitz-Gerald, Peter Schiff, Bert Dohmen, Adrian Day, Bill Bonner, Steve Moore, and Grover Norquist are featured speakers.

When Steve Forbes says, "Join me at FreedomFest, where the best ideas and strategies are fleshed out," he's serious!  FreedomFest is the ONLY conference that Forbes attends for the entire three days. However, Forbes is not alone as John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, also attends. Mackey is currently in the UK visiting his stores and will provide FreedomFest attendees with his impressions and analysis.

FreedomFest is proudly featuring 250 speakers and welcomes the 1,500 attendees who are already registered, with three weeks still to go before show time.

While the action in the UK is creating uncertainty, FreedomFest is sure to inform and inspire. Skousen says that the most important lesson to take from the UK vote is that the EU overstepped its bounds and engaged in excessive taxation, regulation and political tyranny and is now paying the price with additional consequences possibly lurking in the horizon. Skousen warns this could signal the beginning of the end of the EU, which Milton Friedman predicted.

Concerns over uncontrolled immigration, loss of sovereignty and remote rule from Brussels appear to trump the economic risks of exit for voters in the UK. Similarly, Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders have hit a cord with Americans who also feel disenfranchised by a remote and unresponsive government imposing excessive taxation, regulation and entitlements on them.

Skousen stated, "Neither Trump nor Sanders have the best solutions to the problem, but they know how to reflect American anger. The danger is that Trump and Sanders -- like the EU scaremongers -- will feed too much on nationalism and protectionism at a time of slow growth around the globe. That's what happened in the early 1930s with the passage of the protectionist Smoot-Hawley tariff, which exacerbated the Great Depression." Clearly, the global community is entering a new era of political and economic instability, and it's hard to say what the end result will be. 

About FreedomFest: Started in 2002 as the national convention of the Foundation for Economic Education, FreedomFest has evolved into the signature networking event for American innovators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors and even filmmakers. FreedomFest is produced by Mark and Jo Ann Skousen. Mark is an economist and author, currently a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University and longtime editor of Forecasts & Strategies. Jo Ann teaches English literature at Chapman University and Sing Sing, and is the founding director of the Anthem Film Festival.

To interview Mark or Jo Ann Skousen contact FreedomFest's media relations coordinator, Amy Coombs, at 1-801-404-2627 or via email at amy@prestigegov.com. Press passes are available. For more information go to www.freedomfest.com or call 1-855-850-FREE (3733) Ext. 202. Use special code SALEM (all caps) to get $100 off the registration fee. 

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiJ15hoUJBU

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