Rotary Log July 14, 2011: Mitt Romney

^{It was announced we need volunteers for our Thunder Chicken race Thursday, August 4th, definitely need race monitors.}

Rotarian Stella Scamman gave the introduction for Governor Mitt Romney, he announced his Presidential candidacy at their family farm in June.　 Governor Romney told us that he loves what we do as business leaders as much as he loves free enterprise and capitalism and if elected President he would strive to make those things power the United States economy again.　

He stressed that his 25 years of business experience make him the most qualified candidate to lead America out of the current recession and back to being the envy of the world again.

"I like what you do", Romney told our attending Rotarians and guests.　 He said business people create jobs and value and unlike the Federal government invest their profits back into their businesses to help them grow.

"I love capitalism, I love free enterprise", said Romney.　 He said high corporate business taxes, too much Federal bureaucracy and regulation, bad energy policy and an unlevel trade field playing have prevented free enterprise from working as well as it should for American businesses.　 He said free enterprise has also been the key to helping other nations overcome their challenges.

"Free enterprise is what lifted millions of people around the world out of poverty", said Romney, adding that even China has utilized some free enterprise principles to fuel its economy.

After his speech Romney was asked how President Obama should deal with the looming debt crisis as Congress debates whether to raise the debt ceiling.

Romney said the President needs to cut spending right now and adopt a balanced budget amendment.　 "That would solve the debt ceiling problem."

While Romney stressed he would take such steps if he were to become President, he also said he would protect entitlements such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

"I want to keep them alive as programs, but I want to make them sustainable so they don’t drain our economy,"　 Romney said.

Romney said he would also be an effective facilitator who could bring Republicans and Democrats together to address the nation’s most pressing issues as he did as Governor when he had to work with a Democratic Party led Legislature.

One of the most important things needed is to help Americans get back on the right track is that the American people need to elect true statespeople " who don’t give a hoot about whether they get re-elected, " Romney said.

Romney said if he is elected President, he would be the type of leader who would strive to do what is best for the country and "keep America the hope of the world."