2012 Endorsement: Gary Johnson

In a previous post during the Republican primary, I endorsed Ron Paul for President in 2012.  With the Republican convention over, Mitt Romney officially nominated, and Ron Paul out of the race (he is not running as a third party candidate and in many states would not qualify to be on the ballot as a third party candidate due to "sore loser" laws), I endorse Gary Johnson, now the Libertarian Party candidate, for President of the United States in the upcoming general election.

In my Ron Paul endorsement, I gave serious thought to Gary Johnson, who at the time was also in the Republican primary.  Ron Paul was the more electable candidate in the GOP primary because of his abortion position that was more in line with rank and file Republicans, his ability to raise money, his organization, and his poll numbers that kept him included in the debates.  Despite lacking these advantages, Governor Johnson was and remains a credible candidate for President of the United States.  A former two-term Governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson has executive experience and is the only candidate in the race ever reelected to executive office.  As governor, Gary Johnson engaged in the type tax cutting and spending cutting that other Republicans merely talk about.

As President, Governor Johnson would submit a plan to balance the federal budget next year.  This plan would include meaningful entitlement reform, a massive reduction in military spending by ending our involvement in unnecessary foreign wars, and the elimination of corporate welfare and industrial subsidies.  Governor Johnson would abolish the IRS and replace the income tax with a national sales tax, a position I also advocated in a previous post.  While Governor Johnson has not advocated a position on tighter monetary policy, he has promised a credible audit of the Federal Reserve.  As President, he would not sign extensions of the PATRIOT Act or reauthorizations of the NDAA that allow for infinite detention of American citizens.  He would end the practice of targeted assassinations of American citizens without real due process and stop the aggressive raids of medical marijuana clinics.  He is the only candidate in the race who will avoid a war with Iran.  If we are serious about limiting the scope of government, promoting peace, dealing with our debt crisis to create an atmosphere in which sustainable economic growth is possible, and restoring our civil liberties, then the only credible candidate is Gary Johnson.  Governor Johnson has both the principles and the executive experience to get the job done.

Some would argue that voting for Governor Johnson, or any third party candidate that isn't likely to win, is wasting your vote.  Both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney represent the status quo.  With only minor differences, they both represent continuing the same failed policies of the last twelve years.  The same government tinkering with the marketplace, the same relentless assault on civil liberties in the name of security, and the same overseas military adventurism.  How is voting for that not a waste of a vote?  While I acknowledge that Governor Johnson is unlikely to prevail in November, it is equally important to acknowledge that real change, the kind of change we need to protect both our liberty and our security, is not going to come from either major party if we continue to endorse their maintenance of the status quo.  On the other hand, if enough Americans take a stand in November, if enough object to the two party duopoly, if enough make it clear that the status quo is unacceptable, then maybe, just maybe, the seeds of change can be sown.  If Gary Johnson can achieve a meaningful share of the vote, say 5% nationally or 1-2% in a swing state that decides the result in that state, then perhaps one of the two major parties would get the message and understand that those of us that believe in liberty and limited government can no longer be ignored (or face irrelevancy as a consequence of ignoring us).  Don't waste your vote on the status quo this November.  Strike a blow for liberty and vote for Gary Johnson!