The Election Day Narrative The Media Has Crafted Is Forming, And It's Scary.

a reply to: diggindirt

Considering Johnson is for the TPP and stands against repealing Citizen's United I don't think he's the golden boy you think he is.

Personally I think Johnson is set up quite nicely as the PTB's back up plan.

a reply to: Puppylove

As I have said many times, I don't support every plank in the platform. However, the platform overall is one that I can support. Especially this:

2.0 Economic Liberty
Libertarians want all members of society to have abundant opportunities to achieve economic success. A free and competitive market allocates resources in the most efficient manner. Each person has the right to offer goods and services to others on the free market. The only proper role of government in the economic realm is to protect property rights, adjudicate disputes, and provide a legal framework in which voluntary trade is protected. All efforts by government to redistribute wealth, or to control or manage trade, are improper in a free society.

But the real kicker is here:

3.3 International Affairs
American foreign policy should seek an America at peace with the world. Our foreign policy should emphasize defense against attack from abroad and enhance the likelihood of peace by avoiding foreign entanglements. We would end the current U.S. government policy of foreign intervention, including military and economic aid. We recognize the right of all people to resist tyranny and defend themselves and their rights. We condemn the use of force, and especially the use of terrorism, against the innocent, regardless of whether such acts are committed by governments or by political or revolutionary groups.

And in view of the upcoming push for another national draft of our young into the military, this is a very important plank:

3.1 National Defense We support the maintenance of a sufficient military to defend the United States against aggression. The United States should both avoid entangling alliances and abandon its attempts to act as policeman for the world. We oppose any form of compulsory national service.

As I said, we're electing a president, not a dictator. Johnson will have to work with Congress. In his position as independent of both major parties, he's more likely to be able to actually accomplish some of the goals that both parties agree on in private. I can't even begin to count the number of times that sensible legislation has failed due to the party politics---neither party wants the other to have the advantage. With a third party at the helm, he could work with the people who actually want to get something done other than lining their own pockets.

I'm of the firm belief that the foundations of our nation are sound. We don't need to start over in building a system of governance, just do some much needed renovations. But that's not going to happen as long as we keep electing people whose sole purpose is to move on to the next campaign.

a reply to: diggindirt

Your first point does nothing but protect the PTB and empower them, as well as give them every right to benefit from slave labor and sweat shops in poor countries. It benefits the common man in no way, while protecting the PTB by making sure we have zero protections against them legally.

Your second point is he's against the draft. Whoopty fricken do. We're the U.S we're technologically superior, we rely on tech like drones, bombs, a ground war is pretty much non-existent for us. A draft is not and will never be a threat for us. We don't need that many ground troops and have more than enough volunteers.

So what we have here is Protect and Empower the filthy rich, and enable them to commit any atrocity under the sun in the name of profit.

Or,

We're gonna force your kids into dying overseas because a draft is a real threat just like Godzilla and the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man.

Him winning would be the PTB's wet dream. The first part being one of his biggest platform points would mean we're straight up giving the PTB our leash, bending over and pulling our pants down for them. The second part is nothing more than an empty threat to scare us into voting for him. Is like threat of overturning Roe vs. Wade to pro-choicers. Never gonna happen, but I'll be damned if they won't vote on that issue alone ignoring everything else anyway.

a reply to: Puppylove
You're thinking like a party adherent. He's not a Republican that wants to hand over more power to corporations. He's not a Democrat that wants the government to have even more power. He's a Libertarian that wants to hand more power and responsibility back to the people---as was intended by the foundation documents of our country.

Here's the link to the entire platform, (Sorry, I forgot to include it in the post above.)
www.lp.org...

Holding corporations to the rule of law would go a long way towards taking their current power. Same with charitable organizations. Transparency can put us on the road to taking back the power we've let slip through our hands. Johnson and Weld have proven that they can not only talk the talk but also walk the walk on reigning in government spending. That's the number one issue I see in this campaign. Neither major party candidate can say they have any sort of record on this issue. They're offering smoke and mirrors.

You may not worry about the draft but I'm old enough to have lost dear friends to it. I now have grandchildren who would be eligible should the Dems get their way. Charles Rangle wants the draft back and to include women.
www.congress.gov...
Members of my family have served in the military since the Revolution. One member is career USAF. I believe in and support our volunteer military. IF we confine our activities to those outlined in the Constitution, we won't need to draft folks to fight for the defense of our country.

The great, big, huge, gigantic difference I see between Johnson and the other two is that Johnson believes in people, their ability to be responsible and their basic good will toward others. He doesn't want to control our behavior in every aspect of our lives. That's a refreshing change! The Republicans want to control who I marry, what I do with my body and take away all my privacy. The Democrats want to control what I think, punish me if I don't think in an approved manner and take away my privacy and my money. Holy Crap, I just want to be left alone to do my work and enjoy my life.

I really don't want to spend the rest of my life as an outlaw because some numbskulls in Washington decided that I should pay thousands of dollars to their buddies in the insurance business and lose my right to personal privacy in the same deal. I think Johnson can work on that problem with both parties and find an acceptable compromise.

Johnson and Weld talk about freedom. They are classic Jeffersonian liberals. In our area they are pulling votes from the Democrats and Republicans alike. They think the reason for government is to protect the rights of the people, no matter who is trying to infringe on those rights. I think they have a good plan.

I think that if they get into the debates, they will see a large jump in their poll numbers. Then, you will see the hit pieces start on them. There will be job openings in both campaigns if the Libertarians get a 5% bump. You'll begin to hear how Johnson spit on the sidewalk when he was 13 years old and how Weld jaywalked just last week....that's when you'll know that they've frightened some power mongers.

a reply to: diggindirt

He supports the TPP, that thing is effing scary. Also I can't be a party adherent I'm against both the Republicans and Democrats.

There's two things I'm against pretty much completely, Citizen's United and the TPP, both things he's all good with and both of which once working together kill off all the power of the common man and hand over the worlds economy entirely to the PTB.

I like his transparency he promotes but it's not enough, plus how can he be both for letting the PTB completely off the leash and then somehow hope to enforce transparency?

He just seems to me to be a good plan C for the PTB. Which is why I think he's allowed to poll as well as he has. The PTB are setting up the Libertarians to be the next big thing. It's just what my gut is telling me.

a reply to: Puppylove

Thanks to media, you are trying to counter a nationwide cult of personality.

There policies, and past history, are not the considering factor in the elections.

Libertarianism is a bad idea, the global monopoly companies buy the government, experiment fail.

The only possibility of salvation, is a globally integrated indiscriminate AI to run everything.

a reply to: GodEmperor

Libertarianism is a bad idea, the global monopoly companies buy the government, experiment fail.

You have just described our current situation. It was Democrat and Republican policies that got us to this juncture.

I'm not sure how you think Libertarian policies would allow the spread the monopolistic ambitions? Could you give me an example?

The only possibility of salvation, is a globally integrated indiscriminate AI to run everything.

Good luck with that fantasy. I prefer to try to do things that have effects in the real world. Voting for Johnson/Weld makes me feel good about the future of the country under their leadership. They believe the founding documents of our country were the best yet written to help bring about a civilized society. When those principles are applied, I believe we can once more enjoy the fruits of such a society.
They have a solid background in foreign policy.
They have a solid background in economics.
They have a solid background in executive administration.
Johnson has a solid background in business, having grown one from a one-man operation into a multi-million dollar outfit.
Weld has a solid background in government. He knows his way around DC.
Neither of them needs a team of Sherpas to handle their baggage.
No matter which of the major candidates win, there is going to be much unhappiness and gnashing of teeth. But if a third party is installed, they can act as a uniting force for the nation. Both of these guys are proven leaders.

a reply to: diggindirt

Libertarianism, is akin to socialism, it is a fantasy that assumes a human species devoid of corruption and greed. In either case, the implementation of these systems will result in a hyper-oppressive oligarchical power structure.

Gary supports the TPP, to put it simply: Our wages will be on par with Chinese sweat shop workers (so American companies can stay competitive of course.

No matter what -ism we get, it changes nothing.

A system based on infinite growth, on a finite planet, cannot sustain itself and will collapse. The process of collapse has been delayed by corporate bailouts and expansionary warfare over dwindling fossil fuel resources. This has allowed enough time for the implementation of a transitional globalist system, and requires the erosion of civil liberties to quell widespread domestic unrest during total collapse. Billions will die.

Due to the advent of technology, every aspect of human activity will be monitored and controlled. This cannot be stopped, but it can be mitigated, through the creation and implementation of an AI. Otherwise, it will, and most likely so, be a Global Corporate Empire managed by experts who dictate policy.

a reply to: GodEmperor
That's a nice word salad you've built but your first assertion is so blatantly false that it throws the rest of the post into a really gray area.

These guys are classical liberals---now called Libertarians. Perhaps you should do some actual research on the philosophy before you go making such nonsensical statements.

If you like the technocracy idea, great---vote for Trump. He leans that way. The Libertarians don't. They want the freedom guaranteed by the founding documents.

a reply to: diggindirt

In other words, 'classical liberalism' was a stepping stone towards the political and economic system we now have.

Have you not thought of the real possibility, that because of classical liberalism, we are now faced with the aberration we see today?

If 'libertarianism' was such a great idea, the dominant force, the best system for the world; why did it wither and die? You want to resurrect a failed political ideology, something incompatible with the modern hyper-advanced world.

Not only that, you want to support fake libertarians, ones who have already compromised their principles and are being filled with the ranks of GOP.

Sorry if I sound 'unrealistic', but utopian systems are a fool's errand.