Gary Johnson HOT: Gary Johnson Interview with Robert Wenzel - Just How Libertarian is Gary Johnson?

[green73]

I haven't read any of these books. Does that mean I'm not libertarian? Does that mean I'm not allowed to run for office? Does that mean I should take back my vote for Ron Paul because I'm not a real supporter?

Might I recommend the first book you read be on logic?

 

[tttppp]

Might I recommend the first book you read be on logic?

I think I understand logic very well. Whether or not you read books in no way validates or invalidates your candidacy for anything...unless you are running for chaiman of book club.

 

[green73]

I think I understand logic very well. Whether or not you read books in no way validates or invalidates your candidacy for anything...unless you are running for chaiman of book club.

It certainly hasn't disqualified the current lot.

US officials flunk test of American history, economics, civics

You and Gary would fit right in.

 

[tttppp]

It certainly hasn't disqualified the current lot.

US officials flunk test of American history, economics, civics

You and Gary would fit right in.

I'm far more intelligent than you and I probably haven't even read a fraction of the books you claim to have read.

 

[green73]

I'm far more intelligent than you and I probably haven't even read a fraction of the books you claim to have read.

Another well-reasoned statement. I submit!

 

[jj-]

The idea that one who hasn't read Rothbard can't be a libertarian is beyond idiotic. Classic liberals realized that the proper role of government is nothing but the protection of life, liberty, and property, and that central banks shouldn't exist, more than 100 years before Rothbard was even born. And classic liberals also won elections and established the most libertarian society that ever existed also more than 100 years before Rothbard was born.

 

[TheTexan]

You don't need to read Rothbard to be a libertarian. But if you have Johnson's record as governor, a few books probably wouldn't be a bad idea

 

[messana]

But on the other hand, Michele Bachmann claims she reads Mises but I wouldn't call her libertarian.

 

[tttppp]

Another well-reasoned statement. I submit!

Finally, an intelligent response from you.

 

[Shotdown1027]

But on the other hand, Michele Bachmann claims she reads Mises but I wouldn't call her libertarian.

This. Doesn't matter what books Johnson has or hasn't read. He doesn't claim to be explicitly Austrian--but he's incredibly libertarian.

 

[Keith and stuff]

Wow PWNED! What libertarian worth his salt hasn't read Rothbard?

I don't know. My guess is, most of them.

He's not even read Hazlitt's Economics in One Lesson, a book that should be compulsory not just for libertarians but everybody.

I certainly don't think it should be compulsory OK, I do think everyone should read it.

 

[roho76]

This sounds like a job for Eric Dondero. He's the only one who can certify people as Libertarian. He owns the brand, don't you know?

 

[S.Shorland]

Video: Robert Wenzel Exposes Gary Johnson

 

[Feeding the Abscess]

He's featured among the quotes endorsing Peter Schiff on Peter Schiff's books though. So I'd guess that he's probably read them & Schiff is an Austrian. & also why not suggest Austrian economics books for him to read instead of being all "ah-ha!" about it?

Wenzel did recommend books for him to read.

 

[LawnWake]

I never really considered Johnson libertarian, but I like him. I don't consider him libertarian for certain positions he holds and not on his knowledge, though. What I do know is that by the end of his term, he left Arizona in a surpluss, so he's aiight in my book.

What people are saying here is right btw. I was libertarian before I even knew what libertarianism was and as were millions of people in the past. You don't need to read Rothbard and von Mises to be a libertarian or know libertarianism. Libertarianism is economic and personal liberty. Do as you please without using force on others. He has his arguments and Rothbard has his. Sure it helps to read up on Rothbard, but there's thousands of people that wrote about libertarianism, some being completely unknown. So why should we give Rothbard an edge over others? Because he's well known? Or influential? Well certainly not to Johnson.

Libertarianism as we know it today is simply a 20th century repackaging and philosophical update of ideas that are as old as civilization itself. Rothbard or Von Mises didn't 'invent' something new here. Von Mises helped define a new economic approach that ties into free market liberalism and Rothbard repackaged liberalism with influences from Rand's and Spooner's philosophies, in a way that was meant to appeal to "American conservatives" as much as "anti-war progressive squatters". (Seriously, how blissfully unaware are people of what Rothbard was trying to do? Do you really think he gave a crap about "libertarianism"? He cared about freedom through any means necessary, and his formulation of libertarianism was a marketing ploy that he shopped around from progressives to white nationalists, whoever would bite, which is something a lot of people here could learn from)

Johnson's argument for liberty works for me, I'm not a consequentialist myself, but he simply says that it works and he explains why. It's to the point and clear. Which is something Paul could've implemented more into his public appearances.

I didn't like the interview because he was obviously trying to trap Johnson and Johnson should've kept his mouth shut from the get go, including about Friedman. But meh, what's done is done.

 

[trey4sports]

i think you mean new mexico

 

[LawnWake]

I just knew it was some place hot, western and sandy without being California. >.>

 

[emazur]

I doubt more than 20% of the people on this site have completed a single book by Mises. Maybe a third have read Hazlitt, but that was probably just Economics in One Lesson. For Rothbard books, I'd be really surprised if more than half the people on this site (which is a very biased audience) have read more than 2.

Wenzel was being a dick.

I never heard of Rothbard, Mises, Hazlitt, or the term "Austrian economics" before 2008 (even though I did know somewhat about Ron Paul several years earlier) but I voted Harry Browne in 2000 and Badnarik in 2004. I didn't base my libertarianism on austrian economics, I based it on wanting to be free and for that government had to get the hell out of the way. Ayn Rand does promote that philosophy and the Cato policy handbook provides a starting point.

Wenzell's approch is like the guy in 2:30 in this video:

 

[jj-]

I doubt more than 20% of the people on this site have completed a single book by Mises.

I'm very confident that the amount of people here that read and understood Human Action is less than 5%. Reading, in the sense of moving your eyes and seeing words is one thing, but understanding how those words connect and make sense it's something that requires a lot of dedication. And the book is hundreds of pages.

 

[Crystallas]

Gary is an ally, make no mistake, I don't hate Gary. But wow, he came off as a bonehead to some very fundamental questions.