With only four short months left until the pivotal day all of us of voting age go out and choose the next head honcho of America, many are beginning to panic. Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are both officially the Republican and Democrat nominees, and many people are feeling that there is no where else to turn. Both Trump and Clinton, while both have head strong followers, if you will, they are also two very hated people at the moment. Donald Trump continues to offend and degrade anyone who isn't a white male, and Hillary Clinton is still feeling the burn of Benghazi and email scandal, not to mention the recent release of thousands of emails corresponding with the DNC, the Democratic National Committee, about sabotaging Bernie Sanders' campaign during the primaries. One is seen as representing everything that is wrong with America, and the other is seen as a corrupted liar. So, if you're feeling like both options make you start fearing for the apocalypse, then luckily there is another option.
You may or may not have heard of Gary Johnson thus far in the political season, as a third party candidate, it's pretty normal to see almost zero media coverage of them and their campaign. If not already formally introduced, meet Gary Johnson, the third party Libertarian candidate for president. Gary Johnson served as Governor of New Mexico from 1995, re-elected in 1998, to 2003 as a Republican. Johnson is no stranger to presidential campaigning as he also ran for president as the third party in the 2012 election.
Now, on to the man's politics. Gary Johnson, in almost every video or interview has explained that he is fiscally conservative, while being socially liberal. Another fun quote from him and his running mate, former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, believe in keeping the government out of the bedroom and the billfold. Now that all may sound like rainbows and sunshine but that probably doesn't mean much to a country full of people having dealt with unfair political games and antics during the past six months. On the issues Johnson is very to the point, no-nonsense, and makes no empty promises to the people that aren't realistic. He offers no endless rambling that leaves voters with more questions than answers and has a very good record, as former Governor, of keeping his word on what he's promised the people.
As a Libertarian, Johnson is very much for what he calls personal freedoms. For example, he believes the government should stay out of things along the lines of same-sex marriage, abortion and the use of marijuana. Johnson believes the people should be able to make their own decisions with such personal topics without the government's interference. Speaking of the government, Johnson is against the government's rich history of endless, and wasteful spending, as well as government involvement with the internet. A quote from the man himself on the subject of internet privacy and freedom is, "There is nothing wrong with the internet that I want the government to fix." In other words, Johnson is against regulations and government intrusion with the internet. On to taxes — Johnson believes in cutting, not raising. He proposes that we cut taxes on our basic necessities of life, while taxes remain equal on all other items, no matter your income or personal status. The last issue, but not the last that Johnson discusses on, is term limitations. Like most of us these days, Johnson wants to see actual change come about in our capital. He proposes limiting our congress members terms, so that no matter the party, different people with different ideas can come in and shake things up every so many years.
I encourage those who want to know more to do some research of their own. I recommend going to Johnson and Weld's website for all of their information on their platform and campaign. I also encourage people to watch interviews and videos with Gary Johnson because after watching only a few, it's easy to see how, not only straight forward he is, but how goofy and sarcastic he is as well. As Gary Johnson continues to go up in the polls, currently at 11 percent, I'm confident that the country will get to see more of him as distaste in Trump and Clinton also continue. So America, here's your other option. Are you in?
