Gary Johnson - A very "Objectivist" Presidential candidate

[CapitalistSwine]

Gary Johnson to launch 2012 presidential bid in April

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51993.html

http://reason.com/archives/2001/01/01/americas-most-dangerous-politi

His official website for his political organization:

http://ouramericainitiative.com/

Governor Gary Johnson’s “Seven Principles of Good Government.”

“government only needs to ensure that no one is harmful to anyone else.”

1. Become reality driven. Don’t kid yourself or others.

Find out what’s what and base your decisions and actions

on that.

2. Always be honest and tell the truth. It’s extremely

difficult to do any damage to anybody when you are

willing to tell the truth–regardless of the

consequences.

3. Always do what’s right and fair. Remember, the more

you actually accomplish, the louder your critics become.

You’ve got to learn to ignore your critics. You’ve got to

continue to do what you think is right. You’ve got to

maintain your integrity.

4. Determine your goal, develop a plan to reach that

goal, and then act. Don’t procrastinate.

5. Make sure everybody who ought to know what you’re

doing knows what you’re doing. Communicate.

6. Don’t hesitate to deliver bad news. There is always

time to salvage things. There is always time to fix

things. Henry Kissinger said that anything that can be

revealed eventually should be revealed immediately.

7. Last, be willing to do whatever it takes to get your

job done. If you’ve got a job that you don’t love enough

to do what it takes to get your job done, then quit and

get one that you do love, and then make a difference.

In the late 1990′s, Gary Johnson was probably considered the most successful Governor in the United States. He is not to be underestimated in 2012. Many believe his marital problems prevented him from running for President in 2004 (he refused to endorse President Bush). Johnson endorsed Ron Paul in 2008 and is poised to attract most of Paul’s supporters in 2012. Unlike Congressman Paul, Johnson is a baby-boomer, has a softer delivery and a successful track-record of governing on his resume. Governor Johnson has an extremely interesting and attractive biography.

Some of Gary Johnson’s accomplishments as Governor:

During his tenure, New Mexico experienced the longest period without a tax-increase in the state’s entire history.

He cut the rate of government growth in half, left the New Mexico state government with a budget surplus and 1000 fewer employees (without firing anyone), privatized half of the prisons in the state, brought a state-wide school voucher system to New Mexico.

Vetoed 750 bills (more than all the vetoes of the other 49 Governors in the country at that time, combined) with only 2 overrides, earning him the nickname Gary “Veto” Johnson.

In 1999, Johnson became the highest-ranking elected official in the United States to advocate the legalization of drugs.

Shifted Medicaid to managed care.

Gary Johnson is a Republican and serves as the Honorary Chairman of the Our America Initiative. He has been an outspoken advocate for efficient government, lower taxes, winning the war on drug abuse, protection of civil liberties, revitalization of the economy and promoting entrepreneurship and privatization.

He was born on January 1, 1953 and attended the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque from 1971 to 1975, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While in college, Gary Johnson earned money as a door-to-door handyman. His success in this area prompted him to start his own construction business, Big J Enterprises, which was founded in 1976. Johnson grew the company into a multi-million dollar corporation that employed over 1000 people in 1994. When he sold Big J in 1999, no employee lost his job and the company remains very successful to this day.

In 1994, Johnson was elected Governor of New Mexico despite having little experience in politics. He defeated the incumbent Democratic Governor Bruce King in the general election as well as a former Republican Governor in the primary election.

In 1998, Johnson was re-elected as governor, defeating Democratic Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez by a 55% to 45% margin.

As Governor of New Mexico, Johnson was known for his common-sense business approach to governing. He eliminated New Mexico’s budget deficit, cut the rate of growth in state government in half and privatized half of the state prisons.

Johnson also shifted state Medicaid to managed care (which led to better healthcare by creating a statewide healthcare network that previously did not exist and which saved money) and reduced state employees by over 1000, with no firings. During his term, New Mexico experienced the longest period without a tax increase in the state’s history.

While in office, Governor Johnson vetoed 750 bills (which is about equal to all the combined vetoes of the other 49 Governors in the country at the time ) and thousands of line item vetoed bills.

Gary Johnson was term limited and could not run for a third consecutive term as Governor in 2002. He currently lives in New Mexico and has remained very active, competing in numerous athletic competitions. He is an avid skier, adventurer, and bicyclist who abstains from alcohol. In 2003, he climbed Mount Everest with a BROKEN LEG. He also competed in the recent Iowa RAGBRAI a non-competitive bicycle ride across Iowa that draws recreational riders from across the United States and overseas. The length of the route averages 472 miles.

Johnson was raised Lutheran and throughout his life has attempted to live according to those Christian principles. He considers his spirituality to be an important aspect of his personal foundation. Gary Johnson has two grown children.

ISSUE POSITIONS:

Economics:

See videos on website. Laissez-faire.

Civil Rights:

Pro-choice

Pro-Gay Marriage

Pro-Prostitution

Social Issues:

Pro-Marijuana

Anti-Drugwar

Foreign Policy:

Cut defense budget to sensible levels to assist with debt.

Cut down on unnecessary foreign bases. (I believe we have something like 700+?)

Leave Iraq

Leave Afghanistan

Fight where we really need to fight. Defend ourselves from terrorism.

Pro-relationship with Israel. Believes they have right to exist, should be given military aid if it is needed.

Immigration Plan:

http://www.420magazine.com/forums/international-cannabis-news/123139-governor-gary-johnson-unveils-six-point-plan-effective-immigration-reform.html

Governor Johnson's immigration proposal focuses on the following six key points:

1. Establish real and cost-effective border security.

- Continue to encourage and allow legal immigration.

- Support current border deterrents and security measures, with an understanding of the low cost benefit analysis of these methods.

2. Create a temporary guest worker program that makes sense.

-Expand and streamline a market-based temporary guest worker program.

-Enact an application and tracking procedure for guest workers, such as an e-verify system. Procedures must be quick, simple and efficient in providing documentation information, and must meet the needs of both employers and willing workers.

-Require guest workers to not only pay income taxes, but provide proof of adequate health care coverage through insurance, secured savings programs, bonds, or a combination thereof.

-Allow spouses and dependents to enter the U.S. with guest workers, but only with proof of adequate health coverage and subject to the same background checks and health requirements.

3. Impose meaningful enforcement of immigration laws.

-Establish procedures and devote the resources to actually identify illegal immigrants and deport them. Implement a "one strike, you're out" policy toward illegal immigrants with regard to future eligibility for guest worker programs.

-Impose and enforce sanctions and fines for noncompliance with immigration laws by employers that are sufficiently costly, ensuring that the risks simply are not worth the rewards.

4. Enact a reality-based process for current illegal workers to earn legal status.

-Allow a two-year grace period during which illegal immigrants already in the U.S. can come forward, pay any taxes owed, provide proof of consistent employment, pass a criminal background check, and apply for guest worker status.

5. Reduce border crime.

-Address the root cause of most border crime by legalizing marijuana, thereby removing 70% of the current cross-border illegal drug trade and replacing cartel and prohibition-related violence with legal, regulated and nonviolent commerce.

6. Achieve a better working relationship with Mexico.

-Stimulate cross-border investment through a robust, above-board and legal guest worker program.

-Strengthen the Mexican government by dramatically weakening the cartels through the legalization of marijuana.

-Aggressively negotiate mutually beneficial agreements with Mexico regarding such issues as funds transfers, taxation of income earned in the U.S. by guest workers, and deportation and incarceration of Mexican nationals arrested in the United States.

Edited April 14, 2011 by CapitalistSwine

[CapitalistSwine]

More Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxbms8VJ7Fg

There is also one that tops all of these content wise that I found awhile ago that was taped like a month ago, but I can't find it at the moment.

Edited April 14, 2011 by CapitalistSwine

[Black Wolf]

Although his approach to illegal immigrants is rather disappointing, overall he is impressively aligned with the Objectivist approach to politics

[Jennifer]

Black Wolf, what would you suggest his stance be on immigration. I didn't think there was anything that bad about that plan. It's more sensible than most of the plans they seem to cook-up and seems like it would be more effective as well.

[CapitalistSwine]

Presidential Candidate Gary Johnson is holding a money bomb (for those that don't know, this is what they call grassroots fundraising events for campaign funds) today by the way:

http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/

Just click donate now on the top right.

Edited April 22, 2011 by CapitalistSwine

[Sisco55]

Johnson was an excellent governor. Seeming him as president... the idea gives me the chills.

[Boris Rarden]

He needs lessons in public speaking in order to overshadow the legacy of Obama and Bush, who are amazing public speakers that take control of the crowd.