Reddit I Am A with Gov. Gary Johnson

Repeal the 16th Amendment, abolish the IRS, eliminate income and corporate taxes, and replace them with one consumption tax.

What is your opinion of Chris Christie?

Ha Ha. He is 3 times the man that I am.

Gov. Johnson, in a previous AMA, you were asked about your opinion on Bitcoin. You said you hadn't done too much reading about it and promised to answer the question the next time you were here. Because of your brief stay last time, you never got to follow up. Have you done any research yet? I'm very anxious to hear what you think. Thanks!

I am following it, and it is more intriguing than ever. It is interesting in that it is a limited supply cryptocurrency that has developed a market value.

How will you reduce prison overcrowding?

A major reform of our drug laws.

What your thoughts on the amount of cronyism happening in Washington, and what do you propose should happen in order for it to be changed? I feel like Washington is no longer serving the needs of the public that elected them, and is instead serving the people who can give them the most money.

Washington's agenda is about politics first and issues last. As Governor, I put issues first, and found that good government was actually easy.

Mr Johnson, with rumors spreading of Rep. Rand Paul running for the presidency, on what topics do you believe you have the upper hand?

I am a classical liberal -- fiscally conservative and socially accepting/tolerant. Sen. Paul may not be as accepting/tolerant as I am on social issues.

Thanks everyone! That's it for tonight -- I will have another Reddit soon, and hope you will return.

Where do you stand on the legalization Marijuana? Have you ever smoked Marijuana? Thanks

I have advocated legalizing Marijuana since 1999, and yes, I have smoked it.

Your thoughts on the recent SC ruling that our DNA can be obtained without warrant and what can we do to reverse that ruling........

I definitely have concerns about the ruling, but I fear that essentially equating it to fingerprints may make it pretty much "settled" law.

What are your views on education? Are you pro charter schools? Or do you favor complete privatization? Or maybe maintaining the status quo?

As Governor, I proposed a full-blown voucher system for six straight years.

First off, I am a student Maggie Walker high school, and I really appreciate you coming to talk here earlier this year. Since a lot has been discussed about your domestic policy, i.e. marijuana legalization, taxes, etc, I am curious as to your stance on foreign policy. Today's world is increasingly globalized, and I know that traditional libertarian foreign policy is hands-off. So how would you deal with pressing international issues such as North Korea, Pakistan & Afghanistan, and Iran, issues that might require U.S. involvement?

I am firmly in the camp that our military interventions have had the unintended effect of creating hundreds of millions of enemies that would otherwise exist if not for those unnecessary interventions.

You say that we should eliminate the IRS and put in place a 'consumption' tax.

Wouldn't that increase the burden on the poor and lower classes and decrease the burden on the rich, thereby making the poor poorer and rich richer? That seems like it would have a negative effect on the economy and society as a whole.

What do you support that measure?

You are right that a consumption tax is regressive, but go to FairTax.org to see how the regressive nature of it can be addressed.

Governor Johnson, my question to you has to do with an issue that is more at the state and local level than at the federal level. Right now there are many states experiencing major financial problems due to extremely generous public pensions. These benefits have become unsustainable as the money to fund the pension programs evaporated when the housing bubble burst. In my home state of Oregon for example, PERS (the major public-sector retirement system in the state) has been the biggest issue in the state legislature. It threatens to consume more and more tax revenue as the liabilities pile up.

How would you address these public pension programs that are strangling the states? As a former governor, I would think you might have a way of dealing with this problem. My biggest worry is that a state like California becomes completely insolvent and all the other states have to bail it out just like what happened with Greece.

As Governor, I proposed legislation to change the state's retirement program from defined benefits to defined contributions. As Governor, I did not add one penny of liability to the state's pension fund. I believe bailing out any individual state would be a horrible financial decision.

What is your favorite part about New Mexico? I am from there, and I love the landscape. I miss the Sandia mountains a lot. Also, I was proud to vote for you in the past election.

Skiing Taos. That's where I live -- and why I live there.

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The consumption tax, and balancing the federal budget.

What is the most important issue America is faced with today?

The most important issue is that we are printing money to pay for things we cannot afford. At some point, this will bring about a monetary collapse.

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The 2nd Amendment could not be more clear. I have never had a need for a switchblade knife, so I'm not very well versed.

how long do think it will take for the government to regulate and pass legislature to legalize online poker?

It hope it happens in the next few years. If it doesn't, the blame can be laid on the Republicans and special interests.

Are you looking forward to Porcfest? ;)

I am looking forward to it, and should be there for a couple of days.

How do you view amnesty for illegal immigrants?

I believe we must make it as easy as possible for immigrants who want to come to this country -- or are already here -- to work to obtain a work visa.

Favorite movie?

Favorite band?

Favorite city outside of New Mexico?

Dr. Zhivago. Killers. Jackson Hole, WY.

What are your thoughts on Agenda 21?

It is an all-out attack on property rights.

Is the Fair Tax system viable in the next 10-15 years? How can we make this change happen? For those interested: http://www.fairtax.org/

I certainly hope the Fair Tax is viable in the next few years. The IRS abuses we are seeing today have been going on for a long time, but the publicity and focus now is drawing attention the merits of the Fair Tax.

Governor Johnson, it's an absolute honor to be able to ask you a few questions. If I may ask, what was your primary motivation for becoming governor? If you were a governor or the president today, what would be your first concern/action? Thank you for your time.

I have always believe politics is a high calling, and it has worked out that way for me.

What do you think about quantitative easing?

Thank you for doing AMAs.

I don't believe the Fed will be able to unwind it as skillfully as they believe, and that it will lead to a collapse in bond prices.

What do you think of Nigel Farage?

I am a big fan.