Peace of Mind News

Gary Johnson, New Mexico Governor from 1995-2002 visited last evening. The occasion was a fundraiser for The Governor, who is this year’s Libertarian Presidential Candidate.

I had the opportunity to visit with many of the attendees and I chatted with Mr. Johnson too.

In anticipation of the event, I hoped to learn how Gary would rescue our world through becoming President of the United States (POTUS) so we could experience his campaign slogan and Live Free.

Instead, I was hit with a double-dose of reality.

The first told me that many people are looking for someone to rescue us.

The second told me we don’t need that. We need a leader that will clear the obstacles and allow us to do the work.

Said another way, I received the same message that I hear every day as I research for writing on this site.

In one conversation, I chatted with Steve. He was visiting from the Midwest and searching for someone to help him produce alternative energy systems. He had innovative ideas and tremendous passion. He had not yet discovered how to take his ideas to the next level.

Steve had called numerous government leaders and businesses offering to give away his technology. They had ignored him, so he decided to take his efforts on the road to find someone to rescue him from his predicament. Last night’s event was one of his stops.

I had similar conversations with three other people. Each complained about how a government system works. One talked about law. One talked about medicine. The third talked about taxes. Each described a long-standing issue with each system. Each had ideas on what needed to change. Each decried how our rights have been violated and our resources wasted.

None knew how to make those changes happen in a world where private agendas often stand in opposition to common sense and practical solutions.

Each person wanted government to rescue him or her from each situation.

These messages were not new to me. I hear them every day.

When I talked with Gary, I discovered he has an unusual ability to be fully present. He didn’t miss a word I said and he maintained full eye contact while answering every question I asked him.

I asked him why he is running for President.

I expected an answer about creating change, using his underdog status to challenge the current power, and throwing out the current office holders. I wanted him to say he would rescue us from our current situation.

Instead, Gary gave a realistic answer.

He explained that he wants to improve our world by leading important discussions. It is only in having those discussions that our world will be motivated to act in new ways.

New thoughts produce new words produce news actions.

In other words, he is running for President for the same reason that I manage this website. It is the same reason that whistleblowers are coming forward and lovers of freedom are building websites, hosting radio shows, and managing Facebook groups.

Then, The Governor added, “On a personal level, this is all quite exciting.”

Like the rest of us, he feels the need for change and he wants to talk about it.

As a Presidential candidate, Mr. Johnson has opportunities to speak that he wouldn’t have otherwise. He gains entrees into forums few people can gain.

He is using those opportunities to share the message of life and liberty that is dear to humanity at our deepest level.

He is not promising to be the savior of the world and rescue us from our current situation. He knows that, even as POTUS, he can’t do that. He can only play a role in the process.

Gary understands the constitutional limits of power for POTUS. He understands the constitutional responsibilities. In the unlikely event that he is elected, I fully believe he will fulfill those responsibilities with complete integrity. After all, that is what he did while serving as New Mexico Governor when he vetoed a third of the legislation that went to his desk.

In the process, he balanced the budget, restored state fund reserves, reduced the size of government, and cut taxes. He cleared the obstacles and allowed us to do the work.

Gary’s ability to understand his role as leader, rather than imagine himself as savior, is the primary reason I will vote for him in November if I decide to vote. It is why this website will host a banner ad for him in the right hand column until Gary’s 2012 campaign is complete.

Unfortunately, his realistic understanding of his role may also be the thing that keeps him from being elected in a culture that is looking for someone to rescue instead of lead them.

I’ll write more about that topic tomorrow.