Seven Principles of Good Government

by Gary E. Johnson

Gary Johnson is the former two-term governor of New Mexico. He made headlines during his tenure as governor for supporting school vouchers, a freeze on all taxes, real cuts in government agency funding and the decriminalization of marijuana. In 2012, he is running for President of the United States on the Libertarian Party ticket. He will be campaigning aggressively through the fall in all 50 states.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Shea Mastison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a mixture of politics, biography, and personal philosophy. Gary Johnson, Former Governor of New Mexico and avid athlete, comes across as very personable; easily the most likable person in the 2012 Presidential elections.

He talks about his tenure, and how his Seven Principles philosophy had served him in office. He covers some areas where he specifically applied the principles; often in response to a particular area of trouble within his administration.

Gary Johnson is obviously of Presidential quality; it's a shame that our electoral system is rigged in favor of the status quo politicians and their pre-approved candidates.

[Doug Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. It definitely needs some better editing (which might have gotten another star out of my rating), but it did serve to get the point across. I appreciate his seven principles (which are really about business and life in general than just government). I don't line up with all his policy positions, but Johnson seems to be an honest candidate so you know exactly what you are getting, agree or not. I don't have the same confidence in the transparency of the other (2016) presidential candidates.

Johnson is at least worth a look as a candidate and I hope he gets the opportunity to represent his views in the debates. Those who are curious about him should check out the book, too.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gary Johnson comes across as pretty personable, and there are definitely two or three of his stances I agree with. However, this quick read on who he is and where he stands is so disjointed. There is a small appendix that summarizes his leanings (drugs are bad but shouldn't be illegal, privatization of education, how to cut spending, etc). Honestly, you could get just as much of an idea by reading these few pages, unless you're really just that curious about all his fitness expertise (and stories where he explains how he doesn't point fingers by... well... pointing fingers). For a book on principles of government, there is very little talk of why Johnson stands where he does, and what his actual plans are.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written for the 2012 presidential race, this is great introduction to Gary Johnson as a candidate, to learn about his history and his views on the major issues. If your interested in Johnson as a candidate, this is a short book (about a 2-3 hour read) and gives you a good idea on where he's coming from and where he stands.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fed up with politics? Fed up with the status quo? Fed up with the two party system? Read this and think about what it might be like to change all that. And then do something about it. Vote for someone you agree with on the majority if not all the issues, not on the lesser of two poor choices.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good intro to Gov. Johnson and his beliefs

[Peter Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 2012 and 2016, Gary Johnson ran for the President of the United States. His book, Seven Principles of Good Government, explains his form of Libertarianism.

His seven principles are (6-7):

1. Become reality-driven.

2. Tell the truth.

3. Do what is right and fair.

4. Develop a plan to reach that goal, and then act.

5. Make sure that everyone who ought to know knows what you’re doing.

6. Acknowledge mistakes immediately.

7. Find a job you love enough to do what it takes.

In the chapters that follow, Johnson explains how these principles have guided him as a

Two-term governor of New Mexico and how they would lead him as President of the United States.

The book is optimistic with regards to a smaller government that abides by these principles. Johnson gives an overview of his life and how he has learned and led by them. Pictures appear amidst the chapters.

Johnson makes his case for a Libertarian government, and I have come to believe it is a good way to govern. However, there is a great deal of repetition from chapter to chapter – as if these were talks that he bound in book form. It is a useful primer and introduces the reader to Johnson in particular, but to learn more of what Libertarianism entails, one needs to pick up addition material.

[This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

[Ash Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Seven Principles of Good Government, Gary Johnson describes the principles he lives by and how he applies them in his governing philosophy. The principles are reality, honesty, focus, execution, communication, courage, and integrity.[return][return]Gary Johnson is the former two-term governor of New Mexico, and his record in that capacity is extremely impressive. In a state that votes two to one Democratic, he ran as a Republican and won (when the Republican Party itself told him he had no chance)---then, won reelection by a landslide in a race against the popular Democratic mayor of Santa Fe. And he pulled off this second feat despite being extremely disliked by the state legislature, who nicknamed him "Governor Veto" for his refusal to sign into law anything they passed which he deemed not to be in the state's best interest. In fact, he vetoed 750 bills, probably more than the other 49 governors at the time combined. He also used the line-item veto thousands of times, cutting pork out of bills that might otherwise have some merit. As a result, when he left office the state had a budget surplus, without raising taxes (in the state's longest period without a tax increase in its entire history) and in fact reducing taxes by $123 million annually. He also shrunk the size of the state government, leaving it with 1,000 fewer employees (without firing anyone). He learned this "common-sense business approach to government...Best product, best service, lowest price" from his experience growing a one-man, door-to-door handyman enterprise into one of the largest contracting firms in New Mexico with over a thousand employees---and comparing their records, you can see that he applied the lessons he learned as a businessman to the problems of government much better than Romney did. Given the state of the federal government today, what we desperately need in Washington right now is, as Johnson writes, a "President Veto".[return][return]But what is Johnson's political philosophy, and what are his positions on the issues? "In two words: limited government." (Again, this is in stark contrast to both the major party candidates, who stand for unlimited government control over practically every aspect of our lives.) "Overall," Johnson writes, "I think I view big government in the same way that the novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand did---that it really oppresses those that create, if you will, and tries to take away from those that produce and give to the non-producers." He credits Atlas Shrugged as the source of his political philosophy, so those of us who would like a candidate influenced by Rand's philosophy have found one in Johnson (as opposed to Romney's running mate who has unfortunately and incorrectly been associated with her ideas).[return][return]On the economy, he writes "Free markets and limited government are the foundation of prosperity." He would actually cut spending (unlike Romney/Ryan) by 43% immediately, starting with Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare (which are unsustainable and without cutting which there can be no serious attempt to reign in runaway government spending). He would abolish the IRS and eliminate the personal income tax, corporate income tax, and capital gains tax, replacing them with the "Fair Tax", a national consumption tax. He would repeal Obamacare (and not just replace it with his own slightly different version, like Romney): "Government has never managed any segment of the economy successfully. To expect that it can do so for health care---one of the largest segments---is insanity. Nowhere is it more important that the best possible services and products be available at affordable prices than in the area of health. Government simply cannot fulfill that mission. Rather, real competition, freedom to innovate and a working marketplace will provide Americans with the health care they want and demand." He is in favor of strong national defense, but not neoconservative "nation-building": "We must not...confuse non-intervention and an end to nation-building with isolationism. The use of key strategic alliances, such as our relationship with Israel, can enhance our economic and national-security interests, while saving American tax dollars." Unlike the other candidates, he takes civil liberties seriously and opposes the Patriot Act, etc. He is pro-immigration and would work to facilitate as much legal immigration as possible without undermining national security. He opposes the war on drugs and advocates the immediate decriminalization of marijuana. He supports a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy, and holds marriage equality to be a Constitutionally-guaranteed right. In short, on every major issue he is in favor of genuine liberty, and has practical ideas for how to implement it.[return][return]But I think the most important consideration in choosing which candidate to vote for this election is their character. And, as you can already tell to some extent from what I've said above, Johnson's is (unlike the others) impressively principled. He is a producer, a mover, a doer. Even in his personal life, he doesn't just talk about what he wants to do...he does it. He's a fitness nut who cycles, runs 100-mile marathons and triathlons, and has climbed the highest peaks on most of the continents (so far)---he reached the summit of Everest just weeks after breaking his back in a paragliding accident (how hardcore is that?!).[return][return]But above all else, he is honest. That is so refreshing, almost unique, among politicians today, that for that reason alone, even if I didn't agree with him on most of the issues as I do, Gary Johnson has earned my vote. Consider that, read this book and check out his website, and decide whether it doesn't deserve yours, too.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

While a campaign book from 2012, I found the book to be a refreshingly honest look at the policy positions and management style of Governor Johnson. It was definitely a worthwhile and informative read!

[Ryan Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The message is excellent. The format could use some work.

I love Gary's can do spirit and he portrays it perfectly in this book. The format of the book highlights areas he is passionate about but I was hoping for more details of many of the victories he posted. I greatly love his spirit however and his principles are solid and more American than the past several presidents I've seen go past.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the ideas and antidotes work well for the reader to understand his point of view the material is repetitious and ultimately leaves you wanting. The formatting on the Kindle is horrendous at best, with repeating lines, words, missing punctuation and line/page breaks. The "Seven Principles" are laid out in the first chapter and does not (in my opinion) delve much deeper into the meanings.

I do feel I understand him as a person much better than I had before reading the book. I can not help but feel with all that is wrong with it (both in missing substance and formatting) that his "taking responsibility" approach he lays out is missing from the publishing of this work.

[Fred Kohn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am by no means a libertarian, but I like Gary Johnson. It's not always about counting points of agreement and disagreement; sometimes it's about whether a candidate is a decent human being who can get the job done. My points of agreement are strong enough that I would consider voting for him. Still, I'm sorry that he is so incredibly naïve about economics and the role of the Federal Reserve. This book was pretty disappointing, too. As slim as it was, he spent a heck of a lot of time talking about his athletic accomplishments. Oh, well. At least he's a better speaker than he is a writer.

[Dannoffs · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ignoring my philosophical disagreements with Libertarian political stances, as a book, it was rather terrible.

The stories got rather repetitive, the links between his "7 principles" and Libertarianism are weak at best, missing at worst, and the overall text made Gov. Johnson come off as an egomaniac.

The best part of the book was the appendix where it clearly lays out Gov. Johnson's political stances and as someone who doesn't know much about libertarians was far more informative than the main text.

Or maybe I just don't get it.

[Maria Restrepo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tells the same stories over and over again, and is not even consistent when telling them (when talking about school reform and bouchers he first cites 40% as the amount of the budget a school would be left with, even without any students, and then 35%....which is not a large difference, but shows how lazy he was at writing this book.
Other than that, he gives absolutely no data to support why his ideas would work, he comes of as braggy about his good shape, personality, success .... just...had a very hard time reading it....

[George Erhard · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I admire Gary Johnson as a person and as a politician, as a writer he.. kind of falls down with this book.

The concepts and the ideas make sense. That's the good part.

The bad part is, they're presented in a rather repetitive, dogmatic style, as if this were one long stump speech. In fact, if you were to watch most of the speeches and interviews Mr Johnson has given in the last two years, you would probably be able to find them, word for word, each in several chapters of the book.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

A clear layout of most of the ideas, but written at about a sixth grade level. And he shied away from the issue of the day: health care.

I had to deduct one full star for misuse of "literally" and a few other basic writing problems. I know it was just a quickie book for the election cycle, but hire a proofreader, dude.

[Catherine Mellor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honesty

Gary Johnson tells his story without embellishment, just in simple terms. What emerges is this never ending flow of energy. Vigorous energy. I walk away with the belief he will roll back the tide of increasing statism, stop it dead in its tracks and roll it back. He knows what is needed. We all do, but he is going to get it done.

[Sagar Jethani · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshing perspective. Johnson's proclivity for straight-talking makes "Seven Principles of Good Government" a lively read. Even when disagreeing with the author, the reader must acknowledge the absolute sincerity of his convictions. A fun, quick read which expands the normal margins of debate.

[David Holewinski]

Interesting and thought provocaing, somewhat self centered but, a good lesson in life values.


3 stars, easy read that wasn't a waste of time. Enjoyed the logic of his direction in life and politics.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope more people get to hear Johnson's principled and reasonable messages.

[C. Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great message, poor writing.

[Bunnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

honesty

[Angel Alejandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice aproach

[Bryon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite informative. I will continue to vote for him.

[Nicole]

There is a lot info information about events in Johnson's life. Easy read. When I finished it, I felt like I still wanted to know more.

[Loren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe not great literature but a portrait of a good honest man who wanted to help. We missed out on a lot.