Gary Johnson quotes - page 2

Everything that I did as Governor, and everything that I think needs to occur right now in the Federal Government, needs to be a cost-benefit analysis. What are we spending our money on, and what are we getting for what we're spending? I am of the belief that we are on the verge of a financial collapse. We can not repay fourteen trillion dollars in debt if we're spending one point six trillion dollars more than we're taking in this year and years to come. That is not sustainable... We landed on the moon, we can balance the federal budget. And that means cutting forty-three cents out of every federal dollar that we're currently spending. (Gary Johnson)
I don't smoke marijuana anymore. I don't drink. Marijuana is a handicap. So is alcohol. Alcohol is a terrible handicap. But in spite of being a handicap, it shouldn't be criminal. View quote
Gary Johnson
We're on the verge of a financial collapse unless we balance the budget, and that means some really, really tough decisions. View quote
Gary Johnson
I'm finding myself really angry over spending and the deficit. I'm finding myself really angry over what's happening in the Middle East, the decision to stay in Afghanistan indefinitely. I'm angry about cap and trade. And I've been on record for a long time on the failed war on drugs. View quote
Gary Johnson
I don't drink, Stephen, I've smoked marijuana, I choose not to smoke marijuana, but when I smoked it the first time, you know what I thought when I smoked it the first time? I thought, "the government lied." I just think that the government should tell the truth when it comes to these drugs. Look, marijuana is safer than alcohol, and don't trust me on this but the City of Denver, five years ago, voted on the decriminalization of marijuana on a campaign based on marijuana being safer than alcohol. View quote
Gary Johnson
BRAC, in the mid-90s suggested that 20 percent more U.S. bases, in fact, could be cut. That hasn't taken place because the political will hasn't been there to accomplish that. We would bring that to the table, a 20 percent reduction in military spending. View quote
Gary Johnson
The argument to raise taxes to pay back the debt, that's one thing, but my experience tells me that it's not possible. Government raises taxes, they're gonna spend that money in other places. I'm gonna do a better job at balancing revenues and expenditures... That was a responsibility that we had, but we prioritized what government should or shouldn't be doing and as a result of that, again showed a fiscal discipline that I don't think anyone else can demonstrate. View quote
Gary Johnson
I was opposed to us going to Iraq from the very 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 roll out any weapons of mass destruction and if they had done that we could have gone in and dealt with that. Afghanistan, originally, I was completely supportive of that. We were attacked, we attacked back. That's what our military is for and after about six months I think we had pretty effectively taken care of al Qaeda. But that was ten years ago! We're building roads, schools, bridges, and highways in Iraq and Afghanistan and we're borrowing forty-three cents out of every dollar to do that. In my opinion, this is crazy. And in looking at Libya right now... my opinion is I'm opposed to it A through Z. View quote
Gary Johnson
I don't believe there should be any restrictions when it comes to firearms. None. View quote
Gary Johnson
This country would be a better place to live in if all the resources we currently put toward criminalizing marijuana were instead spent by law enforcement on protection from real crime, as opposed to victimless crime. View quote
Gary Johnson
Immigration is a good thing. We should make that as easy as possible. (Gary Johnson)
Regardless of who wins, an election should be a time for optimism and fresh approaches. View quote
Gary Johnson
Tonight was a great opportunity to take on the political status quo that has given us trillion dollar deficits and put millions out of work. Our objective was to inject some common sense into the conversation among Republicans at a time when business-as-usual simply won't work. View quote
Gary Johnson
Regardless of my legislation, spending has to be stopped. View quote
Gary Johnson
The current prohibition laws are forcing drug disputes to be played out with guns in our streets. We need to put a stop to this criminal drug element in our country. View quote
Gary Johnson
The excitement right now is coming from the Liberty movement. And the Republicans want a piece of it. View quote
Gary Johnson
I had a 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' experience as governor. View quote
Gary Johnson
I happen to think libertarian kind of encompasses hearts and brains both. And that's what we all are about. View quote
Gary Johnson
As I told the students every time I visited a campus, you are the director of your own movie, and if you aren't enjoying what you are doing, change it. View quote
Gary Johnson
I'm absolutely a Ron Paul fan. View quote
Gary Johnson
It's not 2038 that Social Security is bankrupt. It's now. (Gary Johnson)
Balance the federal budget now, not 15 years from now, not 20 years from now, but now. And throw out the entire federal tax system, replace it with a fair tax, a consumption tax, that by all measurements is just that. It's fair. View quote
Gary Johnson
I hope that people will see that we don't have to sit by the sidelines and watch as the two major parties limit their choices to slightly different flavors of the status quo. It is, in fact, possible to join the fray, stand up for principles and offer a real alternative. View quote
Gary Johnson
I think libertarians need somebody who can articulate getting from A to Z. But you know, if G is achievable, how about it? Let's get there! View quote
Gary Johnson
I'm one of those who believe the bumper sticker: If you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns. The first people who are going to be in line to turn in their guns are law-abiding citizens. Criminals are going to be left with guns. View quote
Gary Johnson