By Jeremy P. Kelley

Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson addressed a packed theater at Centerville High School on Friday, presenting a mix of policy positions from across the political spectrum.

Johnson was a two-term Republican governor of New Mexico, and he calls for dramatic cuts to immediately balance the federal budget. He says Medicare is going broke, Social Securitys retirement age should be increased and federal government departments like education should be abolished and given back to state control.

But Johnson, speaking in a sport coat, jeans and a peace symbol T-shirt, also called for the immediate end of American military intervention abroad; repeal of the Patriot Act and the Department of Homeland Security; the legalization, regulation and taxing of some drugs; and support for gay marriage.

I think most people in this country are fiscally responsible and socially accepting, Johnson said, adding he avoids the word tolerant. I think actually we dont really care at all as long as that behavior doesnt negatively impact our lives.

Johnson is one of seven presidential candidates listed on the Ohio ballot this fall, joining Socialist Stewart Alexander, Independent Richard Duncan, the Constitution Partys Virgil Goode, Democrat Barack Obama, Republican Mitt Romney and the Green Partys Jill Stein.

But Johnson pointed out that most third party candidates are on the ballot in half or fewer of the 50 states. Johnson is currently on the ballot in 47 states and is fighting in court to be listed in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma.

Third-party candidates have rarely garnered much support in presidential elections, as some voters fear wasting their vote on someone they believe cant win.

A wasted vote is voting for somebody that you dont believe in, Johnson said Friday. You should vote for who you believe in. Thats how you change things in this country. Im making a request of everybody, to waste their vote on me. And if everybody will do that, Im the next president of the United States.

With this election focused so heavily on jobs and the economy, Johnson aims to restore Americas industrial might by replacing corporate, personal and other income taxes with the FairTax plan, which places a flat consumption tax on all retail sales. Johnson believes that move would cause corporations and jobs to flock back to the United States, creating an explosion of growth in the tax base.

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Libertarian candidate shares ideas in Centerville