Liberty for all: why I vote for Johnson

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Flickr\Gage Skidmore

Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson.

Patrick O'Malley, Crier Staff

This year’s election has been unlike any in recent history. Concerns about the electability of the Democratic and Republican candidates have led many people to consider a third-party nominee.

The Libertarian Party, the third-largest political party in the United States, has again selected Gary Johnson for the 2016 Presidential Election. For those who do not know much about the party, Libertarians believe in small government, and base their principles on freedom, individual liberty, and the principles of the American Constitution.

Gary Johnson served as governor of New Mexico for two terms as a Republican. He emphasized the idea of a small government by cutting spending, reducing taxes, and focusing on education reform. His policies helped him get reelected in a Democratic state, and led the Libertarian Party to choose him as its 2012 Presidential candidate. He won just under one percent of the general election vote. This year, alongside Vice Presidential candidate Bill Weld of Massachusetts, they hope to win even more of the vote.

The Libertarian philosophy emphasizes, above all else, small government. This means tax cuts, reduced government spending, increasing individual liberty, and adhering to the principles of the Constitution.

A large part of Libertarian policy is avoiding foreign conflicts. Mr. Johnson opposed the government’s involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which has cost the United States over four trillion dollars, and more than 6,000 American lives. This is in contrast to both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Clinton supported the war in Iraq as a Senator, and Mr. Trump has not been shy about his willingness to put boots on the ground in support of foreign conflicts. Mr. Johnson believes that avoiding wars is best for the country in two ways; both for our economy, and for those who serve in the military. To many Libertarians, it is an obvious choice to avoid spending trillions of dollars and losing American lives in foreign wars.

Mr. Johnson also believes in tax cuts and cuts to government spending. In New Mexico, he cut both spending and taxes, while improving schools, infrastructure, and all the other necessary government functions. He has a plan to cut wasteful and excessive spending to get us back on track. This is in contrast with the other candidates, who plan to continue the outrageous government spending and growth of our national debt, which is now almost $20 trillion.

His belief in personal liberty is demonstrated by his opposition to things like the Patriot Act and the War on Drugs. Mr. Johnson believes that the Patriot Act, which allows for unwarranted surveillance of American citizens, is contrary to the fourth amendment. The War on Drugs, likewise, has cost America billions in tax dollars, and has led to the rise of violent gangs profiting from the drug trade. He is in favor of the legalization of marijuana, which will raise billions in tax dollars, and put the drug gangs out of business.

Not only are his ideas on the issues something most Americans can support, he is a more viable candidate than both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Mr. Trump has proven himself unfit for office by his inappropriate behavior, misconduct, sexual assault allegations, and inability to act professionally. Mrs. Clinton has a long history of blatant corruption, both in her time in the Senate, and her time as Secretary of State. Mr. Johnson has proven he can serve in public office, and has no history of corruption or misconduct.

It is clear that he is not a perfect candidate. When asked in an interview about the situation in Aleppo, Syria, he readily admitted he was not sure what Aleppo was. That being said, it was respectable for him to admit he did not know the answer, rather than give a political non-answer as we have come to expect from most candidates.