Virgil Goode vs Gary Johnson on the issues of the 2012 Presidential election

Do you agree with President Obama's 2009 Stimulus Plan?

Virgil Goode: No, and enact legislation preventing any future administration from passing a stimulusPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Economic Stimulus Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Economic Stimulus Source

Gary Johnson: No, I'm against any type of federal stimulusPassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Economic Stimulus Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Economic Stimulus Source

Do you believe the 2001 and 2003 George W Bush tax cuts should be extended?

Virgil Goode: Reform to a flat tax systemPassion=3 Goode has a moderate passion score of 3 on Taxes Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Taxes Source

Gary Johnson: Abolish the IRS and pass the Fair Tax legislationPassion=3 Johnson has a moderate passion score of 3 on Taxes Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Taxes Source

Should the federal government subsidize U.S. farmers?

Their answers: NoPassion=1 Goode has a very low passion score of 1 on Farm Subsidies Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Farm Subsidies SourcePassion=2 Johnson has a low passion score of 2 on Farm Subsidies Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Farm Subsidies Source

Should the government raise the federal minimum wage?

Their answers: No, eliminate all federal wage standardsPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Minimum Wage Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Minimum Wage SourcePassion=3 Johnson has a moderate passion score of 3 on Minimum Wage Conviction=5 Johnson has a very high conviction score of 5 on Minimum Wage Source

Should Congress raise the debt ceiling?

Virgil Goode: NoPassion=4 Goode has a high passion score of 4 on Debt Ceiling Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Debt Ceiling Source

Gary Johnson: No, cut spendingPassion=5 Johnson has a very high passion score of 5 on Debt Ceiling Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Debt Ceiling Source

Should the U.S. have bailed out the major banks during the financial crisis of 2008?

Their answers: NoPassion=1 Goode has a very low passion score of 1 on Financial Regulation Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Financial Regulation SourcePassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Financial Regulation Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Financial Regulation Source

Should able-bodied, mentally capable adults who receive welfare be required to work?

Virgil Goode: Yes, adults who receive government benefits should be required to workPassion=1 Goode has a very low passion score of 1 on Welfare Conviction=2 Goode has a low conviction score of 2 on Welfare Source

Gary Johnson: YesPassion=2 Johnson has a low passion score of 2 on Welfare Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Welfare Source

Should we limit federal funds to public schools that do not meet performance standards?

Their answers: The federal government should not be involved in educationPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Education Conviction=2 Goode has a low conviction score of 2 on Education SourcePassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Education Conviction=5 Johnson has a very high conviction score of 5 on Education Source

Do you support affirmative action programs?

Virgil Goode: No, and laws should be passed prohibiting minority groups from receiving any favorable treatmentPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Affirmative Action Conviction=2 Goode has a low conviction score of 2 on Affirmative Action Source

Gary Johnson: NoPassion=1 Johnson has a very low passion score of 1 on Affirmative Action Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Affirmative Action Source

Do you support increased gun control?

Virgil Goode: No, and the federal government should pass national “stand your ground” lawsPassion=3 Goode has a moderate passion score of 3 on Gun Control Conviction=2 Goode has a low conviction score of 2 on Gun Control Source

Gary Johnson: NoPassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Gun Control Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Gun Control Source

Should the federal government regulate the internet to deter online piracy?

Virgil Goode: No, and enact legislation preventing any level of government policing the internetPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Internet Conviction=2 Goode has a low conviction score of 2 on Internet Source

Gary Johnson: No, industries should address their piracy issues instead of the governmentPassion=5 Johnson has a very high passion score of 5 on Internet Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Internet Source

Should corporations and unions be permitted to fund broadcast advertisements backing political candidates through political action committees (Super PACS)?

Their answers: Yes, any restriction on campaign spending violates the first amendmentPassion=1 Goode has a very low passion score of 1 on Campaign Finance Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Campaign Finance Source Source

Should we expand our offshore oil drilling?

Their answers: Deregulate and let the free market determine the best energy sourcesPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Oil Drilling Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Oil Drilling SourcePassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Oil Drilling Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Oil Drilling Source

Should U.S. National Parks and Forests continue to be preserved and protected by the federal government?

Virgil Goode: No, there is no reason for the government to own so much landPassion=1 Goode has a very low passion score of 1 on National Parks Conviction=2 Goode has a low conviction score of 2 on National Parks Source

Gary Johnson: Let each state determine which areas to protectPassion=1 Johnson has a very low passion score of 1 on National Parks Conviction=2 Johnson has a low conviction score of 2 on National Parks Source

Should we expand or dismantle our Medicare program?

Their answers: ReformPassion=3 Goode has a moderate passion score of 3 on Medicare Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Medicare SourcePassion=3 Johnson has a moderate passion score of 3 on Medicare Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Medicare Source

Do you support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)?

Their answers: No, open the markets so insurers can compete across state lines and drive down costsPassion=3 Goode has a moderate passion score of 3 on Healthcare Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Healthcare SourcePassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Healthcare Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Healthcare Source

Should the federal government fund stem cell research?

Virgil Goode: NoPassion=4 Goode has a high passion score of 4 on Stem Cell Research Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Stem Cell Research Source

Gary Johnson: No, leave funding and research to the private sectorPassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Stem Cell Research Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Stem Cell Research Source

Should illegal immigrants be given access to government-subsidized healthcare?

Virgil Goode: No, deport illegal immigrants seeking healthcarePassion=5 Goode has a very high passion score of 5 on Immigration Healthcare Conviction=5 Goode has a very high conviction score of 5 on Immigration Healthcare Source

Gary Johnson: No, the government should not subsidize healthcarePassion=3 Johnson has a moderate passion score of 3 on Immigration Healthcare Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Immigration Healthcare Source

Should the government require health insurance companies to provide free birth control?

Virgil Goode: No, the government should sponsor abstinence education programs insteadPassion=3 Goode has a moderate passion score of 3 on Government Mandates Conviction=4 Goode has a high conviction score of 4 on Government Mandates Source

Gary Johnson: No, let the insurance companies decide instead of a government mandatePassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Government Mandates Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Government Mandates Source

Should the U.S. military fly unmanned drones over foreign countries to gain intelligence and kill suspected terrorists?

Virgil Goode: Yes

Gary Johnson: No, the U.S. military does not have the right to fly unmanned aircraft over foreign countries without a Congressional declaration of war.

Should we expand or dismantle our Social Security program?

Virgil Goode: Keep "as is"Passion=3 Goode has a moderate passion score of 3 on Social Security Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Social Security Source

Gary Johnson: Privatize the current system by allowing younger workers to contribute a portion of their payroll tax obligation to a private investment accountPassion=3 Johnson has a moderate passion score of 3 on Social Security Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Social Security Source

Should marijuana be legalized in the U.S.?

Virgil Goode: No, and increase penalties for all non-violent drug offendersPassion=4 Goode has a high passion score of 4 on Marijuana Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Marijuana Source

Gary Johnson: Yes. Legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana instead of criminalizing itPassion=5 Johnson has a very high passion score of 5 on Marijuana Conviction=5 Johnson has a very high conviction score of 5 on Marijuana Source

Is Global Warming a threat to the environment?

Virgil Goode: NoPassion=5 Goode has a very high passion score of 5 on Global Warming Conviction=5 Goode has a very high conviction score of 5 on Global Warming Source

Gary Johnson: Regardless, we should incentivize the private sector to develop cleaner and efficient fuelsPassion=3 Johnson has a moderate passion score of 3 on Global Warming Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Global Warming Source

Should the federal government continue to give tax credits and subsidies to the wind power industry?

Virgil Goode: No, traditional energy sources including oil, coal and nuclear power will be reliable energy sources for many years to comePassion=4 Goode has a high passion score of 4 on Alternative Engery Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Alternative Engery

Gary Johnson: No, the government should leave the energy sector alone and end support for failed technologiesPassion=2 Johnson has a low passion score of 2 on Alternative Engery Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Alternative Engery

Should children of illegal immigrants be granted citizenship?

Virgil Goode: No, all illegal immigrants should be deportedPassion=5 Goode has a very high passion score of 5 on Immigration Conviction=5 Goode has a very high conviction score of 5 on Immigration Source

Gary Johnson: Yes, if they were born herePassion=3 Johnson has a moderate passion score of 3 on Immigration Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Immigration Source

Should illegal immigrants working in the U.S. be granted temporary amnesty?

Virgil Goode: No, remove them from the U.S.Passion=5 Goode has a very high passion score of 5 on Immigrant Laborers Conviction=5 Goode has a very high conviction score of 5 on Immigrant Laborers Source

Gary Johnson: Yes, create a simple path to citizenship for non-violent criminalsPassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Immigrant Laborers Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Immigrant Laborers Source

What is your stance on abortion?

Virgil Goode: Pro-lifePassion=5 Goode has a very high passion score of 5 on Abortion Conviction=5 Goode has a very high conviction score of 5 on Abortion Source

Gary Johnson: Ban after the first trimesterPassion=2 Johnson has a low passion score of 2 on Abortion Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Abortion Source

Should gay marriage be allowed in the U.S.?

Virgil Goode: No, marriage should be defined as between a man and womanPassion=5 Goode has a very high passion score of 5 on Gay Marriage Conviction=5 Goode has a very high conviction score of 5 on Gay Marriage Source

Gary Johnson: YesPassion=3 Johnson has a moderate passion score of 3 on Gay Marriage Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Gay Marriage Source

Should the federal government allow the death penalty?

Virgil Goode: YesPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Death Penalty Conviction=5 Goode has a very high conviction score of 5 on Death Penalty Source

Gary Johnson: NoPassion=5 Johnson has a very high passion score of 5 on Death Penalty Conviction=5 Johnson has a very high conviction score of 5 on Death Penalty Source

Do you believe the theory of Evolution?

Virgil Goode: No, and it should not be taught in public schoolsPassion=4 Goode has a high passion score of 4 on Evolution Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Evolution Source

Gary Johnson: YesPassion=2 Johnson has a low passion score of 2 on Evolution Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Evolution Source

Should the United States increase our space exploration efforts and budget?

Virgil Goode has not given a stance on this issue

You: Leave funding and research to the private sector