Gary Johnson - Libertarian Party Candidate for 2012

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**d-usa**

So in another thread I mentioned that I will probably vote for Johnson even though I don't agree with his stand on the ACA, which resulted in the question of how I could possible support a Libertarian and also be in support of the ACA.

I realize that I am never going to agree with a candidate on 100% of the issues, so I have to evaluate all their positions, rate which ones are the most important that I agree or disagree with, and also think about the chances of actually implementing that position.

So since we already have lots of threads about Obama and Romney I figured I would throw up one for Gary Johnson as well. So what does Dakka think about Gary Johnson?

(I will post my thoughts on his position after somebody replies, just to keep the initial post short in case of quote pyramids)

**sirlynchmob**

his platform is a bit odd.

end wars - good

end the IRS and balance the budget? if you get rid of the IRS then no one would every be charged with tax evasion again. Like capone was. The 1% would have a free ride to do what ever creative accounting they wanted and never pay another cent in taxes and no one could call them on it. SO without that revenue how can you balance a budget?

he really sounds like a closeted republican.

**whembly**

I like him... but he'll never win.

**streamdragon**

He sounds like one because until last year, he was one. Granted current Pubs would probably call him a RINO, as he wasnt for a lot of their social issues.

I like Gary Johnson. He has a lot of stances that I agree with though lime you said I obviously cant agree with him on everything (like FairTax, for instance).

He is for legalization of marijuana, pro-choice, pro gay marriage and holds many other progressive stances.

Thats why, of course, he will never get elected. Hes too spcially liberal for the pubs and too fiscally conservative for the dems.

**Shadowseer_Kim**

It appears that Gary Johnsons stance on issues very closely ressemles my stance on issues. More so than the two more well known candidates.

No suprise though, I am a non party affiliated libertarian.

I am sad to say this is the first time I knew he was running, and had to go look him up. It would really be nice for the Libertarian party to do some serious PR work, advertising, fundraising, etc.

Here is the campaign website to make it easier for the rest of you http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/

**d-usa**

So my thoughts on his position:

Pro-Choice - Agree

Against Roe v. Wade (using the State Issue route and claims that it set a bad precedent for government involvement in our lives) - Neutral

Wants to get out of Afghanistan and stop nation-building there - Agree

Balance Budget - Agree He is proposing a 43% cut of the budget. While I might not agree with the actual number I do like that he doesn't have any sacred cows and actually proposes cutting the military just as much as all the other programs

Typical Libertarian Business Stand (less regulation) - Neutral (I don't think that business = people so my Libertarian streak is pretty low there).

Anti-capital punishment - Agree

Anti-torture - Agree

Pro gay-rights - Agree

Thinks civil rights should extend to the internet - Agree

Against net-neutrality legislation - Disagree

Cuba-friendly - Agree

Get rid of the Department of Education - Disagree

Pull troops from foreign countries, including Europe - Neutral. I am in favor of cutting military spending, and if we need to pull troops to achieve that goal then it is what we need to do.

Get rid of indefinite detention at Gitmo and give everybody a trial - Agree

Anti-Gun control - Agree although I think there could still be regulation to make it safer.

Anti ACA - Disagree

Pro-immigration - Agree

Legalize Marijuana - Agree

Anti-federal minimum wage - Disagree

Wants to reform social security (not abolish it) - Neutral, I think it needs reform, just not sure if I agree with his approach.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

streamdragon wrote:

Thats why, of course, he will never get elected. Hes too spcially liberal for the pubs and too fiscally conservative for the dems.

Which sums me up pretty well. Social liberal, and a fiscal conservative, with the exception that I think that the Government should have a minimum safety net in place to help people get back on their feet (support them as long as people show they are making an effort to get out of welfare, most people don't like being on welfare). And I also don't think that regulating a business is the same as regulating people.

**LoneLictor**

I agree with a lot of his social stances, but he's too fiscally conservative for my tastes.

**d-usa**

LoneLictor wrote:
I agree with a lot of his social stances, but he's too fiscally conservative for my tastes.

I think 43% might easily be too ambitions.

But between the Democrats screaming "Cut the military, but leave welfare alone" and the Republicans screaming "Cut welfare, but leave the military alone" I can appreciate somebody saying "we need to cut everything across the board, nothing can be sacred."

**TheHammer**

Pro-Choice - Agree

Against Roe v. Wade (using the State Issue route and claims that it set a bad precedent for government involvement in our lives) - Neutral

Wants to get out of Afghanistan and stop nation-building there - Agree

Balance Budget - Agree He is proposing a 43% cut of the budget. While I might not agree with the actual number I do like that he doesn't have any sacred cows and actually proposes cutting the military just as much as all the other programs

Typical Libertarian Business Stand (less regulation) - Neutral (I don't think that business = people so my Libertarian streak is pretty low there).

Anti-capital punishment - Agree

Anti-torture - Agree

Pro gay-rights - Agree

Thinks civil rights should extend to the internet - Agree

Against net-neutrality legislation - Disagree

Cuba-friendly - Agree

Get rid of the Department of Education - Disagree

Pull troops from foreign countries, including Europe - Neutral. I am in favor of cutting military spending, and if we need to pull troops to achieve that goal then it is what we need to do.

Get rid of indefinite detention at Gitmo and give everybody a trial - Agree

Anti-Gun control - Agree although I think there could still be regulation to make it safer.

Anti ACA - Disagree

Pro-immigration - Agree

Legalize Marijuana - Agree

Anti-federal minimum wage - Disagree

You realize that there's another candidate that sounds like he would be a better match for you, right?

Also, if you care about budget deficits and believe that you can balance the budget by cuts alone you are a ridiculous person who literally believes in magic.

**d-usa**

TheHammer wrote:

Pro-Choice - Agree

Against Roe v. Wade (using the State Issue route and claims that it set a bad precedent for government involvement in our lives) - Neutral

Wants to get out of Afghanistan and stop nation-building there - Agree

Balance Budget - Agree He is proposing a 43% cut of the budget. While I might not agree with the actual number I do like that he doesn't have any sacred cows and actually proposes cutting the military just as much as all the other programs

Typical Libertarian Business Stand (less regulation) - Neutral (I don't think that business = people so my Libertarian streak is pretty low there).

Anti-capital punishment - Agree

Anti-torture - Agree

Pro gay-rights - Agree

Thinks civil rights should extend to the internet - Agree

Against net-neutrality legislation - Disagree

Cuba-friendly - Agree

Get rid of the Department of Education - Disagree

Pull troops from foreign countries, including Europe - Neutral. I am in favor of cutting military spending, and if we need to pull troops to achieve that goal then it is what we need to do.

Get rid of indefinite detention at Gitmo and give everybody a trial - Agree

Anti-Gun control - Agree although I think there could still be regulation to make it safer.

Anti ACA - Disagree

Pro-immigration - Agree

Legalize Marijuana - Agree

Anti-federal minimum wage - Disagree

You realize that there's another candidate that sounds like he would be a better match for you, right?

Also, if you care about budget deficits and believe that you can balance the budget by cuts alone you are a ridiculous person who literally believes in magic.

Not Obama or Romney, not from everything I have researched about them.

**Amaya**

d-usa wrote:
So my thoughts on his position:

Pro-Choice - Agree Neutral. I support preventing abortions via preventing unwanted pregnancies.

Against Roe v. Wade (using the State Issue route and claims that it set a bad precedent for government involvement in our lives) - Neutral Disagree

Wants to get out of Afghanistan and stop nation-building there - Agree BIG AGREEMENT HERE

Balance Budget - Agree He is proposing a 43% cut of the budget. While I might not agree with the actual number I do like that he doesn't have any sacred cows and actually proposes cutting the military just as much as all the other programs Agree

Typical Libertarian Business Stand (less regulation) - Neutral (I don't think that business = people so my Libertarian streak is pretty low there). Agree

Anti-capital punishment - Agree Disagree. Execute them or put them to work.

Anti-torture - Agree Agree. No evidence that it works sufficiently to justify it.

Pro gay-rights - Agree Agree

Thinks civil rights should extend to the internet - Agree Neutral.

Against net-neutrality legislation - Disagree Neutral

Cuba-friendly - Agree Agree

Get rid of the Department of Education - Disagree Agree

Pull troops from foreign countries, including Europe - Neutral. I am in favor of cutting military spending, and if we need to pull troops to achieve that goal then it is what we need to do. Agree. Why the feth are we still in Europe? Oh wait...for staging operations for wars launched under false pretenses.

Get rid of indefinite detention at Gitmo and give everybody a trial - Agree Agree

Anti-Gun control - Agree although I think there could still be regulation to make it safer. Disagree

Anti ACA - Disagree Agree

Pro-immigration - Agree Agree. Only a narrow sighted racist isn't. We're all immigrants. Feth.

Legalize Marijuana - Agree Agree

Anti-federal minimum wage - Disagree Disagree, but this is largely irrelevant as most states have higher minimums IIRC.

Wants to reform social security (not abolish it) - Neutral, I think it needs reform, just not sure if I agree with his approach. Disagree. End it.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

streamdragon wrote:

Thats why, of course, he will never get elected. Hes too spcially liberal for the pubs and too fiscally conservative for the dems.

Which sums me up pretty well. Social liberal, and a fiscal conservative, with the exception that I think that the Government should have a minimum safety net in place to help people get back on their feet (support them as long as people show they are making an effort to get out of welfare, most people don't like being on welfare). And I also don't think that regulating a business is the same as regulating people.

Added my responses.

**d-usa**

That light blue is hard to read.

I agree with the need to provide as many alternative options to abortions as possible.

**Amaya**

I didn't know that when I made it. Oh well.

**d-usa**

Well, looks like a mood point now. Oklahoma has decided to keep him off our ballot after all, so my only options are going to be Romney or Obama.

**sirlynchmob**

can you write him in?

**streamdragon**

Can you not do a write in vote? (On my phone, cant handle the link.)

**d-usa**

No write-in candidates allowed in the great State of Oklahoma. Only the candidates hand picked for approval by our election office.

Google the restrictions for forming a third party in Oklahoma for a depressing read.

**sebster**

Meh, he's really just another Libertarian. I like his social policy views, and admire his neutral policy to Israel given the current political climate.

But then you come to fiscal policy and it's the same old nuttiness. Flat tax and boo the Federal Reserve. Whatever.

**Ahtman**

Third Party candidate?

Spoiler:

**streamdragon**

sebster wrote:
Meh, he's really just another Libertarian. I like his social policy views, and admire his neutral policy to Israel given the current political climate.

But then you come to fiscal policy and it's the same old nuttiness. Flat tax and boo the Federal Reserve. Whatever.

I was under the impression Flat Tax was still a tax on income (albeit a non-scaling one) whereas the so-called "FairTax" is a consumption tax instead. Not quite the same, if still a horrible plan like FlatTax.