Gary Johnson

[PeteHulbert37]

That's why he will never (nor will any Libertarian) be elected in an ossified oligarchical social welfare state.

This is why I have been saying for years...

The Libertarian motto:

We have nothing to offer but less,
AND MORE OF IT!

Most of them voted for the first time ever 8 years ago. They'll never go to the polls again especially not for that crooked ass white lady.

 

[patient1]

What I'm curious about is why the pollsters decided to start including Johnson in their polls. Who knows -- maybe if they had been doing that all along, a previous Libertarian candidate might have hit double digits also.

Well, some of us have made an effort to ask them why they haven't been, considering that Johnson was on 48 state ballots last presidential election and got a measurable % (1% ), and likely will be on all 50 this time. It's true that he was a "None of the above " substitute originally, but with a persistent campaign in social and mainstream media, he got enough traction that he was exceeding the margin of error in test polls, even when competing against the likes of "stay home" undecided, other, and Jill Stein.

Maybe the real reason you are seeing his name in most of the polls now is that master poll analyst Nate Silver of Five-Thirty-Eight said he thinks Johnson should be included in the polls.

Also, a Republican on the commission for presidential debates said Johnson should be included in the polling so that they can see the real strength of his support.

 

[patient1]

Look, I'm voting for Gary BIG Johnson, but viewed from the outside, most people see the Libertarian Party/Movement as only two things, isolationism and legal pot.

(As such, I think he's reached his ceiling.)

They have no idea as to its economic polity and that is the core of what the Party is all about. I haven't read much from BIG Johnson, but I don't think he's all that grounded in economics and thus might be a little leas than solid on actual individual liberty.

I try to read whatever I can find, including his book, both 2012 and 2016 editions, and googling him every day. As you say, a true Libertarian would be pretty hard to elect, but Johnson won a contested Libertarian convention as the pragmatist, even if he suffered in the convention debates with the purists.

In his book, "7 Principles of Good Government" his methods are-

1) Become reality-based
2) Always be honest and tell the truth
3) Always do what's right and fair
4) Determine a goal and set a plan for reaching it
5) Make sure that everyone who should know your goals does.
6) Acknowledge mistakes immediately
7) Love what you're doing; if you don't, find something else to do.

What I find striking in his editorial board interviews is that his default instinct is to uphold the Bill or Rights. When a tragedy like Orlando comes along his first move is to express his feelings for the victims and the loved ones, not to politicize a tragedy, and to wait until the facts are clear. Then he answers in terms of The Bill of Rights, not a new law. Last presidential election, he got the highest score from the ACLU because of his support for The Bill of Rights. I don't have to tell you what that means.

Think of him as a true constitutionalist rather than a pure Libertarian.
Wouldn't it be refreshing to see one of those on the debate stage making the others squirm?

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Have you not caught Trump's act?

He would bury him!



Constitutionalism is not what the majority of voters want to hear any more. They are having no part of a conversation about limiting what the government can do for them. We are on the Road to Serfdom, the quest for welfare is slowly turning us into a banana republic (not the chain, it is better run).

 

[PeteHulbert37]

I try to read whatever I can find, including his book, both 2012 and 2016 editions, and googling him every day. As you say, a true Libertarian would be pretty hard to elect, but Johnson won a contested Libertarian convention as the pragmatist, even if he suffered in the convention debates with the purists.

In his book, "7 Principles of Good Government" his methods are-

1) Become reality-based
2) Always be honest and tell the truth
3) Always do what's right and fair
4) Determine a goal and set a plan for reaching it
5) Make sure that everyone who should know your goals does.
6) Acknowledge mistakes immediately
7) Love what you're doing; if you don't, find something else to do.

What I find striking in his editorial board interviews is that his default instinct is to uphold the Bill or Rights. When a tragedy like Orlando comes along his first move is to express his feelings for the victims and the loved ones, not to politicize a tragedy, and to wait until the facts are clear. Then he answers in terms of The Bill of Rights, not a new law. Last presidential election, he got the highest score from the ACLU because of his support for The Bill of Rights. I don't have to tell you what that means.

Think of him as a true constitutionalist rather than a pure Libertarian.
Wouldn't it be refreshing to see one of those on the debate stage making the others squirm?

This is some really good information, and furthers my interest in him as a viable candidate.

Have you not caught Trump's act?

He would bury him!



Constitutionalism is not what the majority of voters want to hear any more. They are having no part of a conversation about limiting what the government can do for them. We are on the Road to Serfdom, the quest for welfare is slowly turning us into a banana republic (not the chain, it is better run).

Most of them won't vote. Many of them saw Obama as one of them. They feel he hasn't given them anything. They are disenfranchised and won't vote again.

 

[patient1]

Have you not caught Trump's act?

He would bury him!



Constitutionalism is not what the majority of voters want to hear any more. They are having no part of a conversation about limiting what the government can do for them. We are on the Road to Serfdom, the quest for welfare is slowly turning us into a banana republic (not the chain, it is better run).

Maybe so, but I will certainly enjoy hearing America reminded that the presidential, military, and citizenship oaths are to The Constitution, and that ClinTrump's solutions involve restricting the rights of the people and the states.

 

[patient1]

I'll admit I don't know what all his policies are, but I still view him as better than the scociopath and the felon.

From a foreign relations point of view, isolationism would be far better than how Hilary handles things or "I'll nuke your ass!"

While I would agree with you, Gary Johnson's foreign relations point of view is non-intervention, rather than isolation. He strongly believes in trade, tourism and "diplomacy to the hilt" with the rest of the world. Cultural and economic influence.

What he doesn't believe in is military incursion, regime change and nation building. That exceeds the mandate of "provide for the common defense". In the long run he thinks that destabilizing dictatorships and other governments we disagree with tends to have consequences which make us less safe. He would fight no war without a Congressional Declaration, as per The Constitution.

 

[underguy1]

He is a candidate who has views that make sense. The government should be minimal. Don't take away my social rights. And don't spend all my tax money on stupid shit and people who don't want to help themselves and government programs that are a waste.

Except that the reality is that Federal government spending is private sector income and every dollar that is taxed away has been spent into existence by the Federal government.

The Federal government is the monopoly issuer of US$.

Which makes all the 'libertarian' arguments moot.

 

[Sean]

While I would agree with you, Gary Johnson's foreign relations point of view is non-intervention, rather than isolation. He strongly believes in trade, tourism and "diplomacy to the hilt" with the rest of the world. Cultural and economic influence.

What he doesn't believe in is military incursion, regime change and nation building. That exceeds the mandate of "provide for the common defense". In the long run he thinks that destabilizing dictatorships and other governments we disagree with tends to have consequences which make us less safe. He would fight no war without a Congressional Declaration, as per The Constitution.

That was pretty much Bush 43's policy until the US got fucked up the arse on 911.

 

[patient1]

That was pretty much Bush 43's policy until the US got fucked up the arse on 911.

Shit happens, 9/11 , Pearl Harbor, the USS Maine, etc. I think less of it happens when you aren't meddling in other countries.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Except that the reality is that Federal government spending is private sector income and every dollar that is taxed away has been spent into existence by the Federal government.

The Federal government is the monopoly issuer of US$.

Which makes all the 'libertarian' arguments moot.

Actually it makes them more than relevant since someone needs to be speaking the truth and economic theory behind the why of why they are losing ground no matter how hard they work.

 

[Que]

Actually it makes them more than relevant since someone needs to be speaking the truth and economic theory behind the why of why they are losing ground no matter how hard they work.

I have found it impossible to convey the simple truth that boatloads of Federal cash is not free. People want to believe that making up money out of thin air adds to, rather than subtracts from the wealth of a nation.

Plenty of people look at personal debt as wealth because look at all the stuff it bought.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

I feel your pain...


I ask them, if monetarism is doing so well, why are Fed rates so low?

 

[PeteHulbert37]

Drew Carey is on board.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articl...ts-libertarian-gary-johnson-as-president.html

 

[pointless]

what!? a libertarian wants a libertarian to be our next president!?! how can this be?!?! WHEN DID THE WORLD STOP MAKING SENSE!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

 

[PeteHulbert37]

what!? a libertarian wants a libertarian to be our next president!?! how can this be?!?! WHEN DID THE WORLD STOP MAKING SENSE!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Well according to Trump, Libs are becoming Republican to support him. So, I thought it would worthwhile to point out a little political loyalty for a change. My God, people need to be learn how to be more politically loyal!

 

[Que]

I feel your pain...


I ask them, if monetarism is doing so well, why are Fed rates so low?

They see that as the compassion of a beneficeint government.

Unlsss they are dependant on interest rates. Then it's the fault of the greedy bankers who won't pay a fair interest rate.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Yes, remember social security under Bush?

Too risky to put any money in the stock market, privatization is national suicide!

Yet, when the Fed keeps rates low and makes stocks the only way to beat Fed inflation and building a huge bubble, they point to the market and say, this is our proof that our economic policies are working.

 

[Sean Renaud]

I have found it impossible to convey the simple truth that boatloads of Federal cash is not free. People want to believe that making up money out of thin air adds to, rather than subtracts from the wealth of a nation.

Plenty of people look at personal debt as wealth because look at all the stuff it bought.

Because it's true. The reality is that it's a lie that the government takes money from us and spends it on things. What they do in reality is take money out of the system and essentially light it on fire because there is too damn much of it and then create new wealth in places where it is needed. They could do one without the other if they so chose.

 

[Que]

Because it's true. The reality is that it's a lie that the government takes money from us and spends it on things. What they do in reality is take money out of *the system and essentially light it on fire because there is toodamn much of it and then create new wealth in places where it is needed. They could do one without the other if they so chose.

That is not how the value of money works. Manipulate the money and you can hide the cause of inflation which is a defacto tax on everyone.

 

[PeteHulbert37]

Because it's true. The reality is that it's a lie that the government takes money from us and spends it on things. What they do in reality is take money out of the system and essentially light it on fire because there is too damn much of it and then create new wealth in places where it is needed. They could do one without the other if they so chose.

Pure nonsense.

 

[Sean Renaud]

Not at all, that is exactly how the modern world works. To the point that taxation would be necessary even if your government didn't spend any money on anything.

That is not how the value of money works. Manipulate the money and you can hide the cause of inflation which is a defacto tax on everyone.

The causes of inflation are births out pacing deaths and creation outpacing destruction. Manipulating the money supply does help mask that to some degree yes. But that is exactly how the value of money works.

 

[PeteHulbert37]

So, is anyone surprised that the felon rigged the primaries. Look at Bernie towing that party line. He's such a good boy.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

She says she didn't know anything about it and since she always leads with the truth you have to engage in a willing suspension of disbelief...

 

[RobDownSouth]

Yes, remember socia security under Bush?

Too risky to put any money in the stock market, privatization is national suicide!

Yet, when the Fed keeps rates low and makes stocks the only way to beat Fed inflation and building a huge bubble, they point to the market and say, this is our proof that our economic policies are working.

Not everyone has the investment acumen that you have, Chief:

• Timing the past 8 market peaks...a Wall Street record, btw
• Your incredible simultaneous "100% invested in the market AND 100% invested in precious metals" strategery