Now Con

Should the Death Penalty Be Allowed?



"When I was younger, I supported capital punishment. I changed my mind because I recognized that the risks and costs associated with the death penalty are too high. I understand the eye-for-an-eye, tooth-for-a-tooth mentality but, realistically public policy should have room for mistakes. Killing one innocent person who was wrongly accused is not worth executing 99 guilty people. DNA evidence and judicial appeals have shown many people are mistakenly convicted."



Source: Gary Johnson, Seven Principles of Good Government, 2012

Editor's Note: Gov. Johnson reportedly first publicly announced his opposition to the death penalty at a Jan. 16, 2002 news conference following his State of the State speech to the New Mexico State Legislature where he said in part: "I have to come to believe that the death penalty as a public policy is flawed… I believe that this country has put innocent people to death and that in the future this country will put innocent people to death."



Johnson previously expressed a PRO opinion on this question. Read Johnson's Gov. Johnson reportedly first publicly announced his opposition to the death penalty at a Jan. 16, 2002 news conference following his State of the State speech to the New Mexico State Legislature where he said in part: "I have to come to believe that the death penalty as a public policy is flawed… I believe that this country has put innocent people to death and that in the future this country will put innocent people to death."Johnson previously expressed a PRO opinion on this question. Read Johnson's former position on the death penalty .] "When I was younger, I supported capital punishment. I changed my mind because I recognized that the risks and costs associated with the death penalty are too high. I understand the eye-for-an-eye, tooth-for-a-tooth mentality but, realistically public policy should have room for mistakes. Killing one innocent person who was wrongly accused is not worth executing 99 guilty people. DNA evidence and judicial appeals have shown many people are mistakenly convicted."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





None Found

Should the United States Abide by Its Treaties with Native American Tribes?



No position found as of July 27, 2016.



Source: No position found as of July 27, 2016.



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should Private Prisons Be Allowed in the United States?



"[B]uilding two private prisons in New Mexico solved some very serious problems - and saved the taxpayers a lot of money. It [the New Mexico prison system] was a serious and urgent problem, and the legislature was unwilling to address it. I explored the available options, and it quickly became obvious that the solution was private prisons that could be operated at significantly lower cost, meet the standards necessary to get the State out from under Federal oversight, and resolve what was a tremendously costly and, frankly, embarrassing situation. At the time, the 'per-prisoner' cost in the state prisons was $76 per day. The cost to house prisoners in the private facilities was $56 per day. Better service, lower cost."



Source: Gary Johnson, "Private Prisons," Gary Johnson's Tumblr page, Feb. 10, 2016 "[B]uilding two private prisons in New Mexico solved some very serious problems - and saved the taxpayers a lot of money. It [the New Mexico prison system] was a serious and urgent problem, and the legislature was unwilling to address it. I explored the available options, and it quickly became obvious that the solution was private prisons that could be operated at significantly lower cost, meet the standards necessary to get the State out from under Federal oversight, and resolve what was a tremendously costly and, frankly, embarrassing situation. At the time, the 'per-prisoner' cost in the state prisons was $76 per day. The cost to house prisoners in the private facilities was $56 per day. Better service, lower cost."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should Law Enforcement Be Allowed to Use Racial Profiling?



"Stop and frisk policies in New York. 700,000 New Yorkers have been stopped in the last year and basically searched. And we're not talking about getting on an airplane here. We're talking about on the streets of New York and Mayor Bloomberg had criticism for Arizona's law [SB 1070] said it was going to lead to racial profiling. Well I have got to tell you in New York I think racial profiling is going on right now with regard to the whole stop and frisk. Isn't this why we fought wars when it comes to protecting our civil liberties? Well this is civil liberties out the window."



Source: Electad, “Gary Johnson Talks to Alyona Minkovski on The Alyona Show – April 25 2012,” electad.com, Apr. 25, 2012 "Stop and frisk policies in New York. 700,000 New Yorkers have been stopped in the last year and basically searched. And we're not talking about getting on an airplane here. We're talking about on the streets of New York and Mayor Bloomberg had criticism for Arizona's law [SB 1070] said it was going to lead to racial profiling. Well I have got to tell you in New York I think racial profiling is going on right now with regard to the whole stop and frisk. Isn't this why we fought wars when it comes to protecting our civil liberties? Well this is civil liberties out the window."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should Supreme Court Justice Scalia's Replacement Be Chosen by President Obama?



"[T]hey should hold hearings on Obama's nominee. It's Obama's duty to provide that nomination and I think that Congress should follow through on that, which obviously they are not."



Source: Phone Interview with ProCon.org, June 14, 2016 "[T]hey should hold hearings on Obama's nominee. It's Obama's duty to provide that nomination and I think that Congress should follow through on that, which obviously they are not."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should the United States Continue the War on Drugs?



"How is it that the United States, the land of the free, has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world?



The answer is simple: Over time, the politicians have 'criminalized' far too many aspects of people's personal lives. The failed War on Drugs is, of course, the greatest example. Well over 100 million Americans have, at one time or another, used marijuana. Yet, today, simple possession and use of marijuana remains a crime — despite the fact that a majority of Americans now favor its legalization."



Source: Gary Johnson 2016, "Criminal Justice Reform," on his 2016 presidential campaign webite garyjohnson2016.com, available at web.archive.org, June 9, 2016 "How is it that the United States, the land of the free, has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world?The answer is simple: Over time, the politicians have 'criminalized' far too many aspects of people's personal lives. The failed War on Drugs is, of course, the greatest example. Well over 100 million Americans have, at one time or another, used marijuana. Yet, today, simple possession and use of marijuana remains a crime — despite the fact that a majority of Americans now favor its legalization."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should Churches (Defined as Churches, Temples, Mosques, Synagogues, etc.) Remain Tax-Exempt?



"As with almost all aspects of the current tax code, the granting of exemptions, credits, etc., to specific groups is a recipe for favoritism and government manipulation. That is one of the primary reasons I advocate a simple federal consumption tax to replace all income taxes - and eliminate all tax subsidies, credits and exemptions."



Source: Email to ProCon.org from Gary Johnson's Communications Director, Joe Hunter, Oct. 9, 2012 "As with almost all aspects of the current tax code, the granting of exemptions, credits, etc., to specific groups is a recipe for favoritism and government manipulation. That is one of the primary reasons I advocate a simple federal consumption tax to replace all income taxes - and eliminate all tax subsidies, credits and exemptions."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Does Lowering the Corporate Income Tax Rate Create Jobs?



"[A]dopting the tax reforms Governor Johnson advocates will literally create millions of jobs. While most politicians, Democrats and Republicans alike, suggest that modest reductions in business taxes might create jobs, Gary Johnson believes eliminating income taxes on businesses will transform the U.S. into the 'job magnet' of the world. Why would any corporation move its operations off-shore when the best tax 'haven' on the planet is right here at home?"



Source: Gary Johnson 2016, "Jobs," garyjohnson2016.com (accessed Apr. 20, 2016) "[A]dopting the tax reforms Governor Johnson advocates will literally create millions of jobs. While most politicians, Democrats and Republicans alike, suggest that modest reductions in business taxes might create jobs, Gary Johnson believes eliminating income taxes on businesses will transform the U.S. into the 'job magnet' of the world. Why would any corporation move its operations off-shore when the best tax 'haven' on the planet is right here at home?"



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should the Federal Government Continue to Subsidize Oil Companies?



"I really believe that we have got to get rid of all government subsidies."



Source: Town Hall with Grover Norquist, youtube.com, Mar. 19, 2012 "I really believe that we have got to get rid of all government subsidies."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Now Not Clearly Pro or Con

Should Any Federal Taxes Be Increased?



"[W]e need to get rid of the income tax… We need to stop taxing work, savings and investment. I advocate removing all income taxes, all capital-gains taxes, and replacing them with a consumption tax, kind of a national sales tax called the Fair-tax.



We also need to get rid of payroll taxes… Some think the Fair-tax is regressive, but in fact it’s progressive - taxing the wealthy more than the poor. Fair-tax issues a ‘prebate’ for families to spend on food, clothing, transportation, medical care or whatever they want to spend it on - it's their money."



Source: Gary Johnson, "Johnson: Let's Get America Moving Again," washingtontimes.com, Feb. 2, 2012

Editor's Note: Johnson previously expressed a CON opinion on this question. Read Johnson's Johnson previously expressed a CON opinion on this question. Read Johnson's former position on increasing federal taxes .] "[W]e need to get rid of the income tax… We need to stop taxing work, savings and investment. I advocate removing all income taxes, all capital-gains taxes, and replacing them with a consumption tax, kind of a national sales tax called the Fair-tax.We also need to get rid of payroll taxes… Some think the Fair-tax is regressive, but in fact it’s progressive - taxing the wealthy more than the poor. Fair-tax issues a ‘prebate’ for families to spend on food, clothing, transportation, medical care or whatever they want to spend it on - it's their money."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should There Be a Flat Tax on Income?



"Governor Johnson advocates the elimination of tax subsidies, the double taxation embodied in business income taxes, and ultimately, the replacement of all income and payroll taxes with a single consumption tax that will allow every American and every business to determine their tax burden by making their own spending decisions. Taxes on purchases for basic necessities would be 'prebated', with all other purchases taxed equally regardless of income, status or purpose."



Source: Gary Johnson 2016, "Taxes," garyjohnson2016.com (accessed Apr. 20, 2016) "Governor Johnson advocates the elimination of tax subsidies, the double taxation embodied in business income taxes, and ultimately, the replacement of all income and payroll taxes with a single consumption tax that will allow every American and every business to determine their tax burden by making their own spending decisions. Taxes on purchases for basic necessities would be 'prebated', with all other purchases taxed equally regardless of income, status or purpose."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should Glass-Steagall Be Reinstated?



"TCR [The Casey Report]: What about Glass-Steagall, the law repealed in the last year of the [Bill] Clinton administration, that had kept the investment banks and the commercial bank separate? Some people blame the crisis largely on the loss of that law. Do you think we should reinstate it? GJ [Gary Johnson]: I understand how that may have exacerbated all this, so I think reinstating it might be a good thing."



Source: Casey Research, "The Best Presidential Candidate No One’s Heard Of," caseyresearch.com, Oct. 20, 2011 "TCR [The Casey Report]: What about Glass-Steagall, the law repealed in the last year of the [Bill] Clinton administration, that had kept the investment banks and the commercial bank separate? Some people blame the crisis largely on the loss of that law. Do you think we should reinstate it? GJ [Gary Johnson]: I understand how that may have exacerbated all this, so I think reinstating it might be a good thing."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should the US Return to the Gold Standard in Which Coin and Currency Are Backed by Gold?



"[Reading question from listener] Would you support a return to a gold or commodity-based currency standard? Yes, I would. I think that, I think that would be very positive. And I understand the whole notion of competing currencies and how you could bring about a change from paper currency to commodity-based and I think that would be very very positive for the currency. It's the way the currency started out. It would bring increased value to the dollar as opposed to what we're facing, which is a monetary crisis where, hey, today our dollars are worth something and tomorrow they’re not and that’s just how quickly it happens."



Source: GaryJohnsonChannel, "Gold or Commodity Based Currency Standard vs Paper Monetary Crisis - Gary Johnson - Town Hall 11-2," youtube.com, Apr. 17, 2012 "[Reading question from listener] Would you support a return to a gold or commodity-based currency standard? Yes, I would. I think that, I think that would be very positive. And I understand the whole notion of competing currencies and how you could bring about a change from paper currency to commodity-based and I think that would be very very positive for the currency. It's the way the currency started out. It would bring increased value to the dollar as opposed to what we're facing, which is a monetary crisis where, hey, today our dollars are worth something and tomorrow they’re not and that’s just how quickly it happens."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should Social Security Be Privatized?



"Social Security is flawed. When it was brought into existence the life expectancy was 55. Benefits started at 65. Now, life expectancy is 75, and benefits start at about the same age. It's a Ponzi scheme. A combination of benefit reduction and/or privatization are necessary. At least part of Social Security should include private accounts that are counted in your estate."



Source: Mitchell Langbert, "Interview with Governor Gary Earl Johnson," www.rlc.org, Jan. 19, 2010 "Social Security is flawed. When it was brought into existence the life expectancy was 55. Benefits started at 65. Now, life expectancy is 75, and benefits start at about the same age. It's a Ponzi scheme. A combination of benefit reduction and/or privatization are necessary. At least part of Social Security should include private accounts that are counted in your estate."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Trade Agreement Good for America?



"My understanding is that it does advance the ball. When I say advance the ball, my understanding is that it is more free trade than not. Is it a perfect document? Based upon what I understand it is not, but I could not tell you what the specifics are for why that's not the case other than that it's better than nothing given the current state of trade. So I would be in support of TPP."



Source: Phone Interview with ProCon.org, June 14, 2016 "My understanding is that it does advance the ball. When I say advance the ball, my understanding is that it is more free trade than not. Is it a perfect document? Based upon what I understand it is not, but I could not tell you what the specifics are for why that's not the case other than that it's better than nothing given the current state of trade. So I would be in support of TPP."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Is the Growth of Charter Schools Good for Education in America?



"I am pleased to sign these bills [allowing more charter schools in New Mexico], which will allow some students in New Mexico to go to public schools that are freed from educational bureaucracy and free to be more innovative and focus on results."



Source: Michael Coleman, "Johnson Signs Charter-Schools Bills. (New Mexico)," business.highbeam.com, Apr. 9, 1999 "I am pleased to sign these bills [allowing more charter schools in New Mexico], which will allow some students in New Mexico to go to public schools that are freed from educational bureaucracy and free to be more innovative and focus on results."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Are the Common Core Standards Good for Education in America?



"More broadly, Gov. Johnson believes there is no role for the Federal Government in education. He would eliminate the federal Department of Education, and return control to the state and local levels. He opposes Common Core and any other attempts to impose national standards and requirements on local schools, believing the key to restoring education excellence in the U.S. lies in the innovation, freedom and flexibility that federal interference inherently discourages."



Source: Gary Johnson 2016, "Education," garyjohnson2016.com (accessed Apr. 20, 2016) "More broadly, Gov. Johnson believes there is no role for the Federal Government in education. He would eliminate the federal Department of Education, and return control to the state and local levels. He opposes Common Core and any other attempts to impose national standards and requirements on local schools, believing the key to restoring education excellence in the U.S. lies in the innovation, freedom and flexibility that federal interference inherently discourages."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should K-12 Teachers Get Tenure?



"Tenure removes accountability that might otherwise exist. Problem w unions is u can't reward the best/get rid of worst."



Source: Gary Johnson, Twitter post, twitter.com, Jan. 26, 2011 "Tenure removes accountability that might otherwise exist. Problem w unions is u can't reward the best/get rid of worst."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should Any Public Colleges or Universities Be Tuition-Free?



"I would not believe that colleges or universities should be free. So from a federal standpoint… they would be too expensive from a federal standpoint. If states want to do that of course, that's their prerogative. But should they be free? No, they shouldn't be free… In my opinion the high cost of college tuition has everything to do with guaranteed student loans. I believe that if guaranteed government student loans were to have never existed then college tuition today would be half of what it is."



Source: Phone Interview with ProCon.org, June 14, 2016 "I would not believe that colleges or universities should be free. So from a federal standpoint… they would be too expensive from a federal standpoint. If states want to do that of course, that's their prerogative. But should they be free? No, they shouldn't be free… In my opinion the high cost of college tuition has everything to do with guaranteed student loans. I believe that if guaranteed government student loans were to have never existed then college tuition today would be half of what it is."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Was the Citizens United Supreme Court Decision Good for America?



"I think it [the Citizens United case] comes under the First Amendment, that they should be able to contribute as much money as they want."



Source: Thomas R. Eddlem, "The 'Other' Candidates for President," thenewamerican.com, Aug. 20, 2012 "I think it [thecase] comes under the First Amendment, that they should be able to contribute as much money as they want."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should the Presidential Debates Include Third Party Candidates?



“A request to all of you [the audience at the 2016 Conservative Political Action Committee] – you have the ability to do this: get me in the presidential debates. Get the Libertarian nominee for president in the presidential debates."



Source: David Sherfinski, "Libertarian Gary Johnson to CPAC: Get Me into 2016 Presidential Debates," washingtontimes.com, Mar. 3, 2016

[ Editor's Note: On Sep. 29, 2015, Gary Johnson joined a lawsuit against the Commission on Presidential Debates, accusing the organization of "keeping Americans from hearing anyone but the two old parties in debates" and requesting that all candidates who could potentially secure a majority in the Electoral College be in the debates.] “A request to all of you [the audience at the 2016 Conservative Political Action Committee] – you have the ability to do this: get me in the presidential debates. Get the Libertarian nominee for president in the presidential debates."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should Felons Who Have Completed Their Sentences (Incarceration, Probation, and Parole) Be Allowed to Vote?







Source:

[ Editor's Note: Gary Johnson, former Governor of New Mexico, signed into law Senate Bill 204 (8 KB) on Mar. 15, 2001, An Act Relating to Elections; Restoring the Right to Vote to a Person Convicted of a Felony who has Satisfied All Conditions of a Sentence; Amending, Repealing and Enacting Sections of the NMSA 1978, available at www.nmlegis.gov. Senate Bill 204 stated in part: "A person who has served the entirety of a sentence imposed for a felony conviction, including a term of probation or parole shall, upon his request to the corrections department, be issued a certificate of completion by the corrections department. Presentation of the certificate of completion to a county clerk shall entitle the person to register to vote." Senate Bill 204, www.nmlegis.gov, Mar. 15, 2001]



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should Voters Be Required to Show Photo Identification in Order to Vote?



"I'm in the camp that believes we should make it as easy as possible to vote. When you start talking about restricting the right to vote or voter ID, ultimately that's about less people voting."



Source: Jim Malewitz, "Libertarian Eyes a Third-Party Presidential Chance," texastribune.org, Apr. 12, 2016 "I'm in the camp that believes we should make it as easy as possible to vote. When you start talking about restricting the right to vote or voter ID, ultimately that's about less people voting."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should US Election Campaigns Be Publicly Financed?



"No. Absolutely not. Any sort of public financing empowers incumbency. Any sort of limiting of campaign contributions, any sort of public funding, is just going to give advantage to those who already have a name.”



Source: Phone Interview with ProCon.org, June 14, 2016 "No. Absolutely not. Any sort of public financing empowers incumbency. Any sort of limiting of campaign contributions, any sort of public funding, is just going to give advantage to those who already have a name.”



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





None Found

Should New Fossil Fuel Leases on Federal Land Be Allowed?



No position found as of Aug. 3, 2016



Source: No position found as of Aug. 3, 2016



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Now Pro

Should Fracking Be Allowed?



"[Natalie Leppard:] In 2012 we have you saying you were going to keep an open mind about fracking. I'm curious if you think now that fracking should be allowed?



[Gary Johnson:] I have spoken to my former environmental secretary… I thought he was terrific… and what he says regarding fracking is that it's only 10% effective, that there are environmental concerns, and that he believes that more research needs to be done on fracking. Number one, it could become much more effective, meaning it could have a much higher yield. So it sounds very pragmatic to me, but that would be where I'm at."



Source: Phone Interview with ProCon.org, June 14, 2016

Editor's Note: Johnson previously expressed a NOT CLEARLY PRO OR CON opinion on this question. Read Johnson's Johnson previously expressed a NOT CLEARLY PRO OR CON opinion on this question. Read Johnson's former position on fracking .] "[Natalie Leppard:] In 2012 we have you saying you were going to keep an open mind about fracking. I'm curious if you think now that fracking should be allowed?[Gary Johnson:] I have spoken to my former environmental secretary… I thought he was terrific… and what he says regarding fracking is that it's only 10% effective, that there are environmental concerns, and that he believes that more research needs to be done on fracking. Number one, it could become much more effective, meaning it could have a much higher yield. So it sounds very pragmatic to me, but that would be where I'm at."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Not Clearly Pro or Con

Should the United States Build Additional Nuclear Power Plants?



"In a free market approach to energy, I don't know if we build any new nuclear facilities given that no private underwriter is really going to underwrite the liabilities associated with nuclear. I'm open to seeing the government in a role to do that. It's an exciting notion to me that we have zero carbon emission from nuclear and the new... electrical generation facilities are a one refuel for fifty years of life. To me that's an exciting, a really exciting, prospect."



Source: GaryJohnsonChannel, "Green Energy vs Fossil Fuels vs Nuclear – Gary Johnson Online Town Hall Q&A 11-2," youtube.com, Apr. 24, 2012 "In a free market approach to energy, I don't know if we build any new nuclear facilities given that no private underwriter is really going to underwrite the liabilities associated with nuclear. I'm open to seeing the government in a role to do that. It's an exciting notion to me that we have zero carbon emission from nuclear and the new... electrical generation facilities are a one refuel for fifty years of life. To me that's an exciting, a really exciting, prospect."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Is China an Economic or Military Threat to the United States?



"When people understand that the United States spends 52 cents out of the worldwide dollar on military spending and that China spends 9 cents, what arms race are we gonna engage them in? I mean really, is China a threat? No, they're not."



Source: Tim Murphy, "Gary Johnson: I'm Not. Dead. Yet.," motherjones.com, Aug. 1, 2011 "When people understand that the United States spends 52 cents out of the worldwide dollar on military spending and that China spends 9 cents, what arms race are we gonna engage them in? I mean really, is China a threat? No, they're not."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should the United States Maintain Its Embargo against Cuba?



"While reasonable people can disagree about the negotiations that were involved, easing restrictions and opening the door to broader economic and cultural relations with Cuba is the right thing to do — and long overdue. Free markets, open communications and opportunities for the Cuban people to see the benefits of a less antagonistic relationship with the U.S. will accomplish that which five decades of barriers clearly has not accomplished. Make no mistake, the Castro regime has done nothing to deserve reward. But the Cuban people have done nothing to deserve being locked out of the opportunities that a better relationship with the U.S. will bring. The free market is a more powerful, and certainly more positive, force for good than is a government-imposed embargo. Congress should act to remove the barriers the President cannot remove administratively, and end the failed policy of trying to reform another nation by isolating it."



Source: Our America Initiative, "Governor Gary Johnson on Easing Relations with Cuba: 'The Free Market Is a More Powerful Force for Good Than Is a Government-Imposed Embargo,'" Our America Initiative Tumblr, Dec. 19, 2014 "While reasonable people can disagree about the negotiations that were involved, easing restrictions and opening the door to broader economic and cultural relations with Cuba is the right thing to do — and long overdue. Free markets, open communications and opportunities for the Cuban people to see the benefits of a less antagonistic relationship with the U.S. will accomplish that which five decades of barriers clearly has not accomplished. Make no mistake, the Castro regime has done nothing to deserve reward. But the Cuban people have done nothing to deserve being locked out of the opportunities that a better relationship with the U.S. will bring. The free market is a more powerful, and certainly more positive, force for good than is a government-imposed embargo. Congress should act to remove the barriers the President cannot remove administratively, and end the failed policy of trying to reform another nation by isolating it."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Not Clearly Pro or Con

Is the Nuclear Arms Deal with Iran Good for America?



"[Gary Johnson:] I'm skeptical from the standpoint that, this may sound naïve, but when I came to recognize that in fact Iran is the largest funder of terrorism, and that this deal unfroze assets that, from what I can ascertain, are between 100 billion and 155 billion dollars, and Secretary Kerry himself says that some of this money will in fact be spent on terrorism. That makes me a skeptic. On the deal side, which none of us have been privy to the particulars, but on the deal side of it we do have I guess a 10 year no nuke agreement with them and that it is subject to verification. So, I guess I'm a skeptic and at the same time, we do have plenty of monitoring capability, and we’ll just see what happens. So, I'm originally very much in favor, I've come to find out they fund terrorism, ok so now I'm a skeptic. It's been signed, it's been agreed to, so I'm skeptical. Let's see what happens going forward.



[Jay Rakow:] Would you describe that more as being opposed?



[Gary Johnson:] I guess it's really mixed feelings."



Source: Phone Interview with ProCon.org, June 14, 2016 "[Gary Johnson:] I'm skeptical from the standpoint that, this may sound naïve, but when I came to recognize that in fact Iran is the largest funder of terrorism, and that this deal unfroze assets that, from what I can ascertain, are between 100 billion and 155 billion dollars, and Secretary Kerry himself says that some of this money will in fact be spent on terrorism. That makes me a skeptic. On the deal side, which none of us have been privy to the particulars, but on the deal side of it we do have I guess a 10 year no nuke agreement with them and that it is subject to verification. So, I guess I'm a skeptic and at the same time, we do have plenty of monitoring capability, and we’ll just see what happens. So, I'm originally very much in favor, I've come to find out they fund terrorism, ok so now I'm a skeptic. It's been signed, it's been agreed to, so I'm skeptical. Let's see what happens going forward.[Jay Rakow:] Would you describe that more as being opposed?[Gary Johnson:] I guess it's really mixed feelings."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Not Clearly Pro or Con

Should There Be an Independent Palestinian State?



"I've been to Israel. I've met with Netanyahu. I've met with Shimon Perez. I've met with Ariel Sharon. I think that it's a real mistake for us to believe that we have solutions to issues that, really, Israel, only Israel, should be and will be dealing with. Israel is an ally. Will remain an ally. And I think it's a mistake for, for us to think that we're going to dictate to them actions when it comes to Palestinian statehood. It's just a mistake on our part. It's not reality. They're the ones that have to deal with this and they will."



Source: GaryJohnsonChannel, "U.S., Israel & Palestinian Statehood - Gary Johnson & Clarke Cooper Q&A Dec. 9th (2011-12-09)," youtube.com, June 16, 2012 "I've been to Israel. I've met with Netanyahu. I've met with Shimon Perez. I've met with Ariel Sharon. I think that it's a real mistake for us to believe that we have solutions to issues that, really, Israel, only Israel, should be and will be dealing with. Israel is an ally. Will remain an ally. And I think it's a mistake for, for us to think that we're going to dictate to them actions when it comes to Palestinian statehood. It's just a mistake on our part. It's not reality. They're the ones that have to deal with this and they will."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted?



"I am in the camp that if you outlaw guns only the criminals are going to have guns. I supported permitting the concealed carry of handguns in New Mexico. I believe there is a lot less violence in the parking lot, as they say, because the potential perpetrator of a theft or an assault is thinking twice because someone might be carrying a gun. Restrictions on gun ownership will only encourage outlaws to have heavy ammunition and high calibre weapons."



Source: Rachel Ray, "Libertarian Presidential Candidate Gary Johnson Says Time Is Right for 'the Party of Principle' in the White House,” telegraph.co.uk, Jan. 19, 2016 "I am in the camp that if you outlaw guns only the criminals are going to have guns. I supported permitting the concealed carry of handguns in New Mexico. I believe there is a lot less violence in the parking lot, as they say, because the potential perpetrator of a theft or an assault is thinking twice because someone might be carrying a gun. Restrictions on gun ownership will only encourage outlaws to have heavy ammunition and high calibre weapons."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should Schools Be Gun-Free Zones?



"[Natalie Leppard:] Do you believe schools should be gun-free zones?



[Gary Johnson:]I don't. And, for those that are opposed to guns, I realize how incendiary what I'm saying right now sounds, but all of these atrocities, including what happened in Orlando, all of these shootings were in gun-free zones. The theater in Colorado, the night club in Orlando, the college campus shootings, Fort Hood of all places being gun-free, that's where they are all happening."



Source: Phone Interview with ProCon.org, June 14, 2016 "[Natalie Leppard:] Do you believe schools should be gun-free zones?[Gary Johnson:]I don't. And, for those that are opposed to guns, I realize how incendiary what I'm saying right now sounds, but all of these atrocities, including what happened in Orlando, all of these shootings were in gun-free zones. The theater in Colorado, the night club in Orlando, the college campus shootings, Fort Hood of all places being gun-free, that's where they are all happening."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should the Federal Government Study Gun Violence?



"No, I don't think so. I think it could be subject to politicizing."



Source: Phone Interview with ProCon.org, June 14, 2016 "No, I don't think so. I think it could be subject to politicizing."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should People on the No-Fly List or the Terror Watch List Be Allowed to Purchase Guns?



"Yes, and the reason is, and it isn't just the no-fly list, but any list that the government compiles, there’s an error rate to the list. So, in this case three, four percent error rate. My understanding is that the no-fly list includes currently sitting members of Congress."



Source: Phone Interview with ProCon.org, June 14, 2016 "Yes, and the reason is, and it isn't just the no-fly list, but any list that the government compiles, there’s an error rate to the list. So, in this case three, four percent error rate. My understanding is that the no-fly list includes currently sitting members of Congress."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should Abortion Be Legal?



"As Governor, Johnson never advocated abortion or taxpayer funding of it. However, Gov. Johnson recognizes that the right of a woman to choose is the law of the land today, and has been for several decades. That right must be respected, and ultimately he believes this is a very personal and individual decision. He feels that each woman must be allowed to make decisions about her own health and well-being. Further, Gov. Johnson feels strongly that women seeking to exercise their legal right must not be subjected to persecution or denied access to health services by politicians in Washington or elsewhere who are insistent on politicizing such an intensely personal and serious issue."



Source: Gary Johnson 2016, "Abortion and the Right to Life," garyjohnson2016.com (accessed Apr. 20, 2016) "As Governor, Johnson never advocated abortion or taxpayer funding of it. However, Gov. Johnson recognizes that the right of a woman to choose is the law of the land today, and has been for several decades. That right must be respected, and ultimately he believes this is a very personal and individual decision. He feels that each woman must be allowed to make decisions about her own health and well-being. Further, Gov. Johnson feels strongly that women seeking to exercise their legal right must not be subjected to persecution or denied access to health services by politicians in Washington or elsewhere who are insistent on politicizing such an intensely personal and serious issue."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Now Pro

Should Any Vaccines Be Required for Children?



"I've come to find out that without mandatory vaccines, that the vaccines that would in fact be issued would not be effective... it's dependent that you have mandatory vaccines so that every child is immune. Otherwise, not all children will be immune even though they receive a vaccine. So, in my opinion, this is a local issue. If it ends up to be a federal issue, I would come down on the side of science and I would probably require that vaccine. [The position change is] an evolution actually just in the last few months, just in the last month or so. I was always under the belief that requiring vaccines, 'Why require a vaccine? If I don't want my child to have a vaccine and you want yours to, let yours have the vaccine and they'll be immune.' ell, it turns out that that' not the case, and it may sound terribly uninformed on my part, but I didn' realize that."



Source: Taylor Dobbs, "n Reversal, Gov. Gary Johnson Now Supports Mandatory Vaccination," digital.vpr.net, Aug. 24, 2016

Editor's Note: Johnson previously expressed a CON opinion on this question. Read Johnson's Johnson previously expressed a CON opinion on this question. Read Johnson's former position on mandatory vaccines for children .] "I've come to find out that without mandatory vaccines, that the vaccines that would in fact be issued would not be effective... it's dependent that you have mandatory vaccines so that every child is immune. Otherwise, not all children will be immune even though they receive a vaccine. So, in my opinion, this is a local issue. If it ends up to be a federal issue, I would come down on the side of science and I would probably require that vaccine. [The position change is] an evolution actually just in the last few months, just in the last month or so. I was always under the belief that requiring vaccines, 'Why require a vaccine? If I don't want my child to have a vaccine and you want yours to, let yours have the vaccine and they'll be immune.' ell, it turns out that that' not the case, and it may sound terribly uninformed on my part, but I didn' realize that."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Is Obamacare Good for America?



"I would do everything I could to repeal President Obama's health care plan. I think that very simply we can't afford it… The long-term solution to health care is a free market approach to healthcare. And by the way, healthcare in this country is about as far removed from free market as it possibly could be."



Source: Gary Johnson, "Gov. Gary Johnson Responds to Every Question Asked in CNN Debate He Was Excluded From," youtube.com, June 14, 2011 "I would do everything I could to repeal President Obama's health care plan. I think that very simply we can't afford it… The long-term solution to health care is a free market approach to healthcare. And by the way, healthcare in this country is about as far removed from free market as it possibly could be."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should Parental Consent Be Required for Pregnant Minors to Have Abortions?



"I support women's rights to choose up until viability of the fetus. I've supported the notion of parental notification."



Source: Tim Dickinson, "Meet Gary Johnson, the GOP's Invisible Candidate," rollingstone.com, June 15, 2011 "I support women's rights to choose up until viability of the fetus. I've supported the notion of parental notification."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicide Be Legal?



"While individual religious and moral views vary, both Ayn Rand and Mises recognized suicide as one of the most basic rights that not even a totalitarian state could take away from the individual. They are correct, and government efforts to impede that right are doomed to fail."



Source: Email to ProCon.org from Gary Johnson's Communications Director, Joe Hunter, on July 9, 2012 "While individual religious and moral views vary, both Ayn Rand and Mises recognized suicide as one of the most basic rights that not even a totalitarian state could take away from the individual. They are correct, and government efforts to impede that right are doomed to fail."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should Planned Parenthood Receive Federal Funding?



"Look, they [Republicans] want to spend more money on military but they want to cut it from social programs, from healthcare. Look, it's got to be a balanced approach when it comes to government spending with regard to everything. Am I opposed, I’m opposed to cutting the funding, or eliminating funding, to Planned Parenthood. Look, but Planned Parenthood has to take cuts just along with everybody else or we're going to find ourselves in a really perilous situation."



Source: Larry King, "Libertarian Presidential Hopeful Gary Johnson on Libertarian-at-Heart Voters," youtube.com, Feb. 18, 2016 "Look, they [Republicans] want to spend more money on military but they want to cut it from social programs, from healthcare. Look, it's got to be a balanced approach when it comes to government spending with regard to everything. Am I opposed, I’m opposed to cutting the funding, or eliminating funding, to Planned Parenthood. Look, but Planned Parenthood has to take cuts just along with everybody else or we're going to find ourselves in a really perilous situation."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should All Americans Have the Right (Be Entitled) to Health Care?



"I am proposing that the federal government cut Medicaid and Medicare by 43%. Give the programs to the States, and also do away with the strings and the mandates that go along with Medicaid and Medicare... I believe that if the Federal government would have given me complete control of Medicaid and given me 43% less money in New Mexico that I could have effectively delivered health care to the poor in New Mexico... Is Health Care a right, I don't think so."



Source: "Gov. Gary Johnson's First Google+ Hangout," YouTube.com, Sep. 17, 2011 "I am proposing that the federal government cut Medicaid and Medicare by 43%. Give the programs to the States, and also do away with the strings and the mandates that go along with Medicaid and Medicare... I believe that if the Federal government would have given me complete control of Medicaid and given me 43% less money in New Mexico that I could have effectively delivered health care to the poor in New Mexico... Is Health Care a right, I don't think so."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should the Federal Government Use Raids to Enforce Immigration Laws?



"Absolutely not. How are federal raids going to work in New Mexico where 48% of the population is Hispanic. They're going to knock on my door, and 'Oh gee. You're the former governor. I guess you're OK, I guess we won't even come in and look in your closet or your basement.' But statistically the next door they knock on, New Mexico being 48% Hispanic, the next door they knock on is going to be someone who is Hispanic, and they are going to have to produce papers. It is going to be an ugly situation."



Source: Phone Interview with ProCon.org, June 14, 2016 "Absolutely not. How are federal raids going to work in New Mexico where 48% of the population is Hispanic. They're going to knock on my door, and 'Oh gee. You're the former governor. I guess you're OK, I guess we won't even come in and look in your closet or your basement.' But statistically the next door they knock on, New Mexico being 48% Hispanic, the next door they knock on is going to be someone who is Hispanic, and they are going to have to produce papers. It is going to be an ugly situation."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should Checking Employee Immigration Status (as in the E-Verify Program) Be Mandatory for All Employers?



"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."



Source: Our America Initiative, "Immigration," ouramericainitiative.com, June 30, 2010 "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."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should the United States Continue to Build the Fence/Wall along the US-Mexico Border?



"Having served as Governor of a border state, Gary Johnson understands immigration. He understands that a robust flow of labor, regulated not by politics, but by the marketplace, is essential. He understands that a bigger fence will only produce taller ladders and deeper tunnels, and that the flow of illegal immigrants across the border is not a consequence of too little security, but rather a legal immigration system that simply doesn't work. Militarizing the border, bigger fences, and other punitive measures espoused by too many politicians are all simplistic "solutions' to a problem caused by artificial quotas, bureaucratic incompetence and the shameful failure of Congress to actually put in place an immigration system that matches reality."



Source: Gary Johnson 2016, “Immigration,” garyjohnson2016.com (accessed Apr. 20, 2016) "Having served as Governor of a border state, Gary Johnson understands immigration. He understands that a robust flow of labor, regulated not by politics, but by the marketplace, is essential. He understands that a bigger fence will only produce taller ladders and deeper tunnels, and that the flow of illegal immigrants across the border is not a consequence of too little security, but rather a legal immigration system that simply doesn't work. Militarizing the border, bigger fences, and other punitive measures espoused by too many politicians are all simplistic "solutions' to a problem caused by artificial quotas, bureaucratic incompetence and the shameful failure of Congress to actually put in place an immigration system that matches reality."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should Undocumented Immigrants in the United States Be Allowed to Become Legal Residents?



"I think we should make it as easy as possible for somebody who wants to come into this country and work to get a work visa. I'm not talking about a green card. The solution is to create a moving line. Don't put the government in charge of quotas. There will either be jobs or there won't be jobs. And a work visa should include a background check and a Social Security card so that taxes get paid… Yes, there should be a pathway to citizenship, and there should be an embrace of immigration as something really good. They're not taking jobs that U.S. citizens want."



Source: Jim Malewitz, "Libertarian Eyes a Third-Party Presidential Chance," texastribune.org, Apr. 12, 2016 "I think we should make it as easy as possible for somebody who wants to come into this country and work to get a work visa. I'm not talking about a green card. The solution is to create a moving line. Don't put the government in charge of quotas. There will either be jobs or there won't be jobs. And a work visa should include a background check and a Social Security card so that taxes get paid… Yes, there should be a pathway to citizenship, and there should be an embrace of immigration as something really good. They're not taking jobs that U.S. citizens want."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should Sanctuary Cities Continue to Receive Federal Funding for Law Enforcement?



"Yes. If what you're saying is that Santa Fe gets federal funding of any sort, and that by not allowing the federal government holding over Santa Fe's head any sort of federal funds that come into Santa Fe, I would be opposed to having those federal funds withheld. I would not hold federal funding over the head of any city that declared themselves a sanctuary city."



Source: Phone Interview with ProCon.org, June 14, 2016 "Yes. If what you're saying is that Santa Fe gets federal funding of any sort, and that by not allowing the federal government holding over Santa Fe's head any sort of federal funds that come into Santa Fe, I would be opposed to having those federal funds withheld. I would not hold federal funding over the head of any city that declared themselves a sanctuary city."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should the United States Allow Syrian Refugees into the Country?



“Reason[.com]: What would your refugee policy toward Syria be? Johnson: We need to take our share, and I'm not sure what that share should be. I'd like to come up with a formula based on our coalition partners. I wouldn't say zero, but I don't know if 65,000 puts us in the category of 'our fair share.'"



Source: Anthony L. Fisher, "Exclusive: Gary Johnson Talks ISIS, Refugees, Black Lives Matter and Marijuana Legislation," reason.com, Nov. 19, 2015 “Reason[.com]: What would your refugee policy toward Syria be? Johnson: We need to take our share, and I'm not sure what that share should be. I'd like to come up with a formula based on our coalition partners. I wouldn't say zero, but I don't know if 65,000 puts us in the category of 'our fair share.'"



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should the Federal Government Guarantee Paid Family and Medical Leave?



"I would be opposed to that."



Source: Phone Interview with ProCon.org, June 14, 2016 "I would be opposed to that."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should the Federal Minimum Wage Be Increased?



"Having had my own business, having had a thousand employees at one point, minimum wage was not an issue because we paid so much more than minimum wage. We had to have people that showed up, wore clean clothes, and, you know, on top of that a few of them could add and subtract, and a few of them could say please and thank you. Those were the people that had my job. But, minimum wage, look, I think he's [not clear to whom he is referring] missing the boat. Why doesn't he raise it to seventy-five dollars an hour? Well, of course he can't raise it to seventy-five dollars an hour because then prices would go way up and nobody would be able to afford to hire anybody. Oh, I see seventy-five is too high but $10.10 is just the right number? How do you arrive at that? Why not let the market place arrive at that? And I just think it's much to do, minimum wage is much to do about nothing. I mean, nobody works for minimum wage, back to this whole notion of showing up on time and wearing clean clothes gets you way above the minimum wage… I just think when government gets involved in setting wages, there's no stopping what government will intervene in doing."



Source: HuffPost Live, "Gary Johnson: Minimum Wage Is 'Much Ado about Nothing,'" huffingtonpost.com, Jan. 29, 2014 "Having had my own business, having had a thousand employees at one point, minimum wage was not an issue because we paid so much more than minimum wage. We had to have people that showed up, wore clean clothes, and, you know, on top of that a few of them could add and subtract, and a few of them could say please and thank you. Those were the people that had my job. But, minimum wage, look, I think he's [not clear to whom he is referring] missing the boat. Why doesn't he raise it to seventy-five dollars an hour? Well, of course he can't raise it to seventy-five dollars an hour because then prices would go way up and nobody would be able to afford to hire anybody. Oh, I see seventy-five is too high but $10.10 is just the right number? How do you arrive at that? Why not let the market place arrive at that? And I just think it's much to do, minimum wage is much to do about nothing. I mean, nobody works for minimum wage, back to this whole notion of showing up on time and wearing clean clothes gets you way above the minimum wage… I just think when government gets involved in setting wages, there's no stopping what government will intervene in doing."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Not Clearly Pro or Con

Do Labor Unions Provide an Overall Benefit to Their Workers in the United States?



"I support the notion of right-to-work [legislation that lets employees decide for themselves whether or not they want to join a union or financially support it] and worked hard to see that happen in New Mexico. It didn't while I was governor of New Mexico, but that didn't take away from my support. The only basic problem that I have with unions is the union gives me two workers. One is the worst worker that I've ever seen, the other is the best worker that I've ever had. I can't reward the best, I can't get rid of the worst. Right-to-work, I think, is a decision that states should make. I think based on right-to-work legislation in states across the country, those states that have passed right-to-work have shown much greater economic prosperity as a result of that legislation."



Source: Gary Johnson, "Gov. Gary Johnson Responds to Every Question Asked in CNN Debate He Was Excluded From," youtube.com, June 14, 2011 "I support the notion of right-to-work [legislation that lets employees decide for themselves whether or not they want to join a union or financially support it] and worked hard to see that happen in New Mexico. It didn't while I was governor of New Mexico, but that didn't take away from my support. The only basic problem that I have with unions is the union gives me two workers. One is the worst worker that I've ever seen, the other is the best worker that I've ever had. I can't reward the best, I can't get rid of the worst. Right-to-work, I think, is a decision that states should make. I think based on right-to-work legislation in states across the country, those states that have passed right-to-work have shown much greater economic prosperity as a result of that legislation."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should the Minimum Legal Drinking Age Be Lowered from 21 to a Younger Age?



"I'm always the guy to advocate for lower ages. I just believe that the lower the age the better you come to grips with what these substances are... If you can go to Iraq and die, or Afghanistan and die as a service man or women at 18, and you can’t drink — I'm sorry I don't buy into that... Hypothetically no, there shouldn't be [a drinking age]... but the lower the age the better."



Source: Steven Nelson, "Gary Johnson: Lower the Drinking Age!," dailycaller.com, Apr. 10, 2012 "I'm always the guy to advocate for lower ages. I just believe that the lower the age the better you come to grips with what these substances are... If you can go to Iraq and die, or Afghanistan and die as a service man or women at 18, and you can’t drink — I'm sorry I don't buy into that... Hypothetically no, there shouldn't be [a drinking age]... but the lower the age the better."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option?



"Rather than using painkillers, which I have used on occasion before, I did smoke pot, as a result of having broken my back, blowing out both of my knees, breaking ribs, really taking about three years to recover."



Source: John McCormack, "Gov. Gary Johnson: I Smoked Marijuana from 2005 to 2008," The Weekly Standard, Dec. 6, 2010 "Rather than using painkillers, which I have used on occasion before, I did smoke pot, as a result of having broken my back, blowing out both of my knees, breaking ribs, really taking about three years to recover."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should Recreational Marijuana Be Legal?



"On the recreational side, I have always maintained that legalizing marijuana will lead to overall less substance abuse because it's so much safer than everything else that's out there starting with alcohol."



Source: Rachel Chason, "Gary Johnson: Marijuana Doesn't Make You Stupid," cnn.com, June 17, 2016

[ Editor's Note: Gary Johnson was the President and CEO of Cannabis Sativa, a marijuana marketing company, from July 1, 2014 to Jan. 1, 2016.] "On the recreational side, I have always maintained that legalizing marijuana will lead to overall less substance abuse because it's so much safer than everything else that's out there starting with alcohol."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should the United States and Russia Collaborate to Combat Terrorism?



"[Gary Johnson:] With regard to Syria, I do think that it's a mess. I think that the only way that we deal with Syria is to join hands with Russia to diplomatically bring that at an end.



[Willie Geist:] So an alliance with Russia is the solution to Syria? Do you think Vladimir Putin and Russia are a good and reliable partner?



[Johnson:] Well, I think diplomatically that that is the, that that has to be the solution. Is joining hands with Russia to bring, to bring the civil war to an end."



Source: MSNBC, "Gary Johnson Asks: What Is Aleppo?," msnbc.com, Sep. 8, 2016 "[Gary Johnson:] With regard to Syria, I do think that it's a mess. I think that the only way that we deal with Syria is to join hands with Russia to diplomatically bring that at an end.[Willie Geist:] So an alliance with Russia is the solution to Syria? Do you think Vladimir Putin and Russia are a good and reliable partner?[Johnson:] Well, I think diplomatically that that is the, that that has to be the solution. Is joining hands with Russia to bring, to bring the civil war to an end."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should the United States Continue Its Use of Drone Strikes Abroad?



"When it comes to drones, I think it makes a bad situation even worse. We end up killing innocents and fueling hatred as opposed to containing it. It just hasn't worked. We need to educate ourselves on the root causes of this, which is Islamic terrorism and the ideology of sharia law. In this country, we've become so politically correct that in the name of freedom of religion we have allowed sharia law and its adherents to advance. We need to differentiate between freedom of religion and the politics of sharia law. Freedom of religion, absolutely. But if you're talking about allowing sharia law that runs contrary to the US Constitution, that is ideologically the war that we need to take on."



Source: Anthony L. Fisher, "Exclusive: Gary Johnson Talks ISIS, Refugees, Black Lives Matter and Marijuana Legislation," reason.com, Nov. 19, 2015 "When it comes to drones, I think it makes a bad situation even worse. We end up killing innocents and fueling hatred as opposed to containing it. It just hasn't worked. We need to educate ourselves on the root causes of this, which is Islamic terrorism and the ideology of sharia law. In this country, we've become so politically correct that in the name of freedom of religion we have allowed sharia law and its adherents to advance. We need to differentiate between freedom of religion and the politics of sharia law. Freedom of religion, absolutely. But if you're talking about allowing sharia law that runs contrary to the US Constitution, that is ideologically the war that we need to take on."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should the United States Send Ground Troops to Fight ISIS?



"Putting tens of thousands of American troops on the ground in Iraq or, especially, Syria, won't work. We have learned that the hard way."



Source: Our America Initiative, "Gary Johnson: ISIS Is Today's Nazi Fascism," Our America Initiative Tumblr website, Nov. 19, 2015 "Putting tens of thousands of American troops on the ground in Iraq or, especially, Syria, won't work. We have learned that the hard way."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should the United States Close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp?



"[Interviewer:] Governor, should we close Guantanamo Bay? Should the people who are there either be tried in federal district courts or returned to their country or should we keep it open and let them stay there uncharged, untried for the rest of their lives? [Gary Johnson:] Well, when President Obama didn't close Guantanamo, when that was one of his promises, I really looked into the issue and I've had really a lot of prominent Libertarians tell me that, if it weren’t for Guantanamo, that we would have to create that situation somewhere else. So I've kind of been sold on the notion that this is something that we have to have whether, if it's not Guantanamo, it's going to be somewhere else. That these are enemy combatants so and not US citizens so I'm on, I've been, I've been wooed over to side that there’s a reason for keeping it open."



Source: Erik Kain, "Gary Johnson Would Not Close Gitmo," forbes.com, Apr. 29, 2011 "[Interviewer:] Governor, should we close Guantanamo Bay? Should the people who are there either be tried in federal district courts or returned to their country or should we keep it open and let them stay there uncharged, untried for the rest of their lives? [Gary Johnson:] Well, when President Obama didn't close Guantanamo, when that was one of his promises, I really looked into the issue and I've had really a lot of prominent Libertarians tell me that, if it weren’t for Guantanamo, that we would have to create that situation somewhere else. So I've kind of been sold on the notion that this is something that we have to have whether, if it's not Guantanamo, it's going to be somewhere else. That these are enemy combatants so and not US citizens so I'm on, I've been, I've been wooed over to side that there’s a reason for keeping it open."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should the US Have Attacked Iraq in 2003?



"I was opposed to us going into Iraq from the beginning, I really thought that there was no threat to our national security, I really thought that if we went into Iraq we would find ourselves in a civil war to which there would be no end and I thought we had the military surveillance capability to see Iraq rollout any weapons of mass destruction and if they would have done that, we could have gone in and dealt with that… But that was 10 years ago, we're building roads, schools, bridges and highways in Iraq and Afghanistan and we're borrowing 43 cents out of every dollar to do that. In my opinion, this is crazy."



Source: Fox News, Republican presidential debate, May 5, 2011 "I was opposed to us going into Iraq from the beginning, I really thought that there was no threat to our national security, I really thought that if we went into Iraq we would find ourselves in a civil war to which there would be no end and I thought we had the military surveillance capability to see Iraq rollout any weapons of mass destruction and if they would have done that, we could have gone in and dealt with that… But that was 10 years ago, we're building roads, schools, bridges and highways in Iraq and Afghanistan and we're borrowing 43 cents out of every dollar to do that. In my opinion, this is crazy."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should the US Military Budget Be Increased?



"The important question is: Can we cut military spending and still provide for a strong national defense? Yeah, we can, the operative word being defense rather than offense. And as opposed to nation building. So how do you do that? Well, you go down the line, looking at: military in uniform; civilian support to the military in uniform; the conflicts we're currently engaged in; decisions on research and development, how we're going to spend our money going forward; a reduction in our base levels all across the planet; a reduction in nuclear warheads from 2,300 to 500. Given all that, I believe we can provide a strong military defense with a 43% cost reduction. Recognizing that the biggest threat to our national security is our overspending."



Source: Casey Research, "The Best Presidential Candidate No One's Heard Of," caseyresearch.com, Oct. 2, 2011 "The important question is: Can we cut military spending and still provide for a strong national defense? Yeah, we can, the operative word being defense rather than offense. And as opposed to nation building. So how do you do that? Well, you go down the line, looking at: military in uniform; civilian support to the military in uniform; the conflicts we're currently engaged in; decisions on research and development, how we're going to spend our money going forward; a reduction in our base levels all across the planet; a reduction in nuclear warheads from 2,300 to 500. Given all that, I believe we can provide a strong military defense with a 43% cost reduction. Recognizing that the biggest threat to our national security is our overspending."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should the United States Have Mandatory National Service (Military or Civilian)?



"No."



Source: Gary Johnson via Joe Hunter, Email to ProCon.org, July 9, 2012 "No."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should the National Security Agency (NSA) Continue to Collect Phone and Email Metadata on US Citizens?



"[T]here are increasing calls for government regulation and intrusion into the Internet. From some politicians' suggestions of a government 'kill switch' to recently-passed so-called Cyber Security legislation, the government is determined to insert itself into our freedom to communicate, conduct business and seek information via the Web. The government is even demanding that it be granted special 'back doors' into encrypted, private information held and moved by Internet providers. The excuse is security — a laughable concept from a government that has proven time after time to be incapable of protecting even the most basic data. Gary Johnson has consistently opposed these attempts at government interference with the Internet, and as President, would return the government to the side of freedom and innovation — not regulation."



Source: Gary Johnson 2016, "Government Spending," garyjohnson2016.com (accessed Apr. 20, 2016) "[T]here are increasing calls for government regulation and intrusion into the Internet. From some politicians' suggestions of a government 'kill switch' to recently-passed so-called Cyber Security legislation, the government is determined to insert itself into our freedom to communicate, conduct business and seek information via the Web. The government is even demanding that it be granted special 'back doors' into encrypted, private information held and moved by Internet providers. The excuse is security — a laughable concept from a government that has proven time after time to be incapable of protecting even the most basic data. Gary Johnson has consistently opposed these attempts at government interference with the Internet, and as President, would return the government to the side of freedom and innovation — not regulation."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should Interrogation Techniques That Some Consider Torture, Such as Waterboarding, Be a Legal Option?



"Torture and the practice of detainment without being charged are practices that need to stop."



Source: Gary Johnson, "I Am Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Candidate for President. AMA [Ask Me Anything]," reddit.com, Sep. 11, 2012 "Torture and the practice of detainment without being charged are practices that need to stop."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should the Veterans Health Administration Be Privatized?



"From elder care to PTSD to the specific health challenges of women who have served in uniform, veterans have a wide range of urgent needs. For some, the VA medical system is the best or only option. That system must function efficiently, provide timely care, and meet the standards we would expect for our own family members. For those who need care from private physicians or hospitals, that option must be available. A strong believer in the power of competition and the marketplace, Gary Johnson will bring that power to bear in the provision of care to our veterans."



Source: Johnson/Weld 2016, "Support Veterans," Johnson Weld campaign website (accessed Sep. 27, 2016) "From elder care to PTSD to the specific health challenges of women who have served in uniform, veterans have a wide range of urgent needs. For some, the VA medical system is the best or only option. That system must function efficiently, provide timely care, and meet the standards we would expect for our own family members. For those who need care from private physicians or hospitals, that option must be available. A strong believer in the power of competition and the marketplace, Gary Johnson will bring that power to bear in the provision of care to our veterans."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should Women Be Allowed to Serve in Military Combat Positions?



"Yes... yes they should."



Source: Phone Interview with ProCon.org, June 15, 2016 "Yes... yes they should."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should Colleges and Universities Use Affirmative Action for Admissions?



"OK, so I get elected President of the United States, and Congress somehow makes legislation to abolish affirmative action, I would sign that legislation. Would I actively seek that legislation? No, I wouldn't go out beating the drum on ending that. But if presented with the ability to end it I would."



Source: Phone Interview with ProCon.org, June 14, 2016 "OK, so I get elected President of the United States, and Congress somehow makes legislation to abolish affirmative action, I would sign that legislation. Would I actively seek that legislation? No, I wouldn't go out beating the drum on ending that. But if presented with the ability to end it I would."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Is the Black Lives Matter Movement Good for America?



"Ah, I think so. The other day I made the statement that all lives matter, and someone in the audience came up to me afterwards and said 'ah you really don’t understand the issue' then he gave me his card… let me follow up with you and tell you why black lives matter. So, I have more to understand about it clearly."



Source: Phone Interview with ProCon.org, June 14, 2016 "Ah, I think so. The other day I made the statement that all lives matter, and someone in the audience came up to me afterwards and said 'ah you really don’t understand the issue' then he gave me his card… let me follow up with you and tell you why black lives matter. So, I have more to understand about it clearly."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Is the Criminal Justice System Unfair to Black People?



"Libertarians have led the charge with regard to drug legalization and I really believe that at the heart of the militarization of police has been the War on Drugs. A person of color has a much greater likelihood of going to jail for drugs than a white person. As governor of New Mexico, I supported the legalization of marijuana and was threatened with impeachment. Libertarians aren't coming up to speed on this, they've been at the tip of this from the beginning. I've maintained that the root of police abuse is the war on drugs. Drugs are a health issue, not a criminal justice issue. I watched a recruitment video for police in southern New Mexico that depicted young men in body armor with assault rifles and tanks knocking down doors. I just couldn't believe it."



Source: Anthony L. Fisher, "Exclusive: Gary Johnson Talks ISIS, Refugees, Black Lives Matter and Marijuana Legislation," reason.com, Nov. 19, 2015 "Libertarians have led the charge with regard to drug legalization and I really believe that at the heart of the militarization of police has been the War on Drugs. A person of color has a much greater likelihood of going to jail for drugs than a white person. As governor of New Mexico, I supported the legalization of marijuana and was threatened with impeachment. Libertarians aren't coming up to speed on this, they've been at the tip of this from the beginning. I've maintained that the root of police abuse is the war on drugs. Drugs are a health issue, not a criminal justice issue. I watched a recruitment video for police in southern New Mexico that depicted young men in body armor with assault rifles and tanks knocking down doors. I just couldn't believe it."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Is Human Activity Primarily Responsible for Global Climate Change?



"I accept the fact that there is global warming and I accept the fact that it's man caused. That said, I am opposed to cap and trade. I'm a free market guy when it comes to the clean environment the number-one factor when it comes to the clean environment is a good economy."



Source: Tim Dickinson, "Meet Gary Johnson, the GOP's Invisible Candidate," rollingstone.com, June 15, 2011 "I accept the fact that there is global warming and I accept the fact that it's man caused. That said, I am opposed to cap and trade. I'm a free market guy when it comes to the clean environment the number-one factor when it comes to the clean environment is a good economy."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should Genetically Modified (GMO) Foods Have Mandatory Labeling?



"I have celiac disease, so I need food labeled. I think food should be labeled, and that would include GMOs in food."



Source: Gary Johnson, "I Am Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Candidate for President. AMA [Ask Me Anything]," reddit.com, Sep. 11, 2012 "I have celiac disease, so I need food labeled. I think food should be labeled, and that would include GMOs in food."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Should the United States Authorize the Keystone XL Pipeline to Import Tar Sand Oil from Canada?



"I completely support the Keystone Pipeline if, if it's not an issue of the government implementing eminent domain to procure right of ways... I really don't understand where the regulatory hurdles are... I would certainly remove the regulatory hurdles."



Source: Internet town hall meeting, www.yowie.com, Mar. 1, 2012 "I completely support the Keystone Pipeline if, if it's not an issue of the government implementing eminent domain to procure right of ways... I really don't understand where the regulatory hurdles are... I would certainly remove the regulatory hurdles."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should the United States Transition Away from Fossil Fuels and Towards Renewable Energy?



"If we did have the 100% efficiency improvement [in renewable energy] every 5 years, the green space would provide us 15% of our energy needs in 15 years. That doesn’t cut it. We really have to rely on traditional [energy] sources. That's the reality. And that is coal. And that's nuclear. And that's natural gas. And oil."



Source: Gary Johnson Channel, "Gov. Gary Johnson - University of California Town Hall Q&A (2011-11-17)," youtube.com, May 1, 2012 "If we did have the 100% efficiency improvement [in renewable energy] every 5 years, the green space would provide us 15% of our energy needs in 15 years. That doesn’t cut it. We really have to rely on traditional [energy] sources. That's the reality. And that is coal. And that's nuclear. And that's natural gas. And oil."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Pro

Was the US Supreme Court Decision Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage a Good Decision?



"Responsible adults should be free to marry whom they want, arm themselves if they want, make their own decisions about their bodies, and lead their personal lives as they see fit — as long as no harm is done to others. And they should be able to do so without unconstitutional scrutiny by the NSA, the ATF, the DEA or any other government agency."



Source: Gary Johnson 2016, "Personal Freedom," garyjohnson2016.com (accessed Apr. 20, 2016) "Responsible adults should be free to marry whom they want, arm themselves if they want, make their own decisions about their bodies, and lead their personal lives as they see fit — as long as no harm is done to others. And they should be able to do so without unconstitutional scrutiny by the NSA, the ATF, the DEA or any other government agency."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top





Con

Should Religious Liberty Give People the Right to Deny Goods and Services for Gay Marriage?



"[Interviewer:] Do you personally support law that would prohibit discrimination in the workplace or towards customers? I mean, if a Christian bakery wants to deny a gay couple from making a wedding cake for them, should they be allowed to? [Gary Johnson:] Oh boy. That's a, you know, let's equate it, let's equate it to civil rights and say no. That this has to be an awareness and there has to be consequences to discrimination. And there should not be discrimination. This is America."



Source: jeff4justice, “Gay Johnson on Anti-Gay Discrimination,” youtube.com, Nov. 19, 2014 "[Interviewer:] Do you personally support law that would prohibit discrimination in the workplace or towards customers? I mean, if a Christian bakery wants to deny a gay couple from making a wedding cake for them, should they be allowed to? [Gary Johnson:] Oh boy. That's a, you know, let's equate it, let's equate it to civil rights and say no. That this has to be an awareness and there has to be consequences to discrimination. And there should not be discrimination. This is America."



Compare Johnson's Positions

to Other Candidates Back to Top



