October 13, 2011: Rotary Log (Presidential candidate Huntsman)

            Logs usually start with a weather report, so here goes: rain, rain, rain.  Imagine how go our economy could be if we exported our rain to Texas?  Reverend Allen began our meeting with his Welch Prayer that is a favorite to all of us.  Dan Hoefle was fined by Fine Master Neil for Dan’s effect on the Portsmouth Regional Hospitals stock with his lawsuit and for traveling to a nice place this past weekend (that Dan refused to disclose). 

            We welcomed new member Amy who grew up and lives in Derry along with her husband and her 90-pound German Shepard/Great Dane mix.  She works for the Courtyard by Marriott and is also involved with the Big Sister Program.  Welcome Amy!  Walter Lift improved the economy of the Portsmouth Rotary Club by auctioning off Governor Huntsman’s signature for $30.00 and we moved swiftly into the Program.

            Governor Huntsman’s Grandfather was a teacher and told his three boys that being a teacher was the highest calling one could achieve, but they should have a fall back of being a businessman.  His father told him and his siblings that the greatest calling was to be a businessman but he could have a fall back as a politician.  Jon Huntsman has been an international negotiator, businessman, Governor and Ambassador and has served under three presidents.  He has lived in China and speaks Chinese and understands international relations and the international market place.

            The Governor explained that the solution to our most pressing problem – the economy – is to get manufacturing moving again and the way to get manufacturing moving is to reform the tax structure, the regulatory system and to become energy independent.  We cannot do things the way we have always done them.  We have to make major changes in our systems if we are going to return to the most powerful economic force in the world.

            Our ability to influence the international stage is directly tied to our economy.  The Governor believes that a weak economy means a weak country and we cannot be a world force without a strong economy.  We need to strengthen our core.  As an expert in foreign affairs, the Governor and former Ambassador and international negotiator believes that we need to count our accomplishments in Iraq and Afghanistan and then get out of both countries as soon as we can.  Afghanistan and Iraq, Huntsman said, are not our future.  Moreover, we have 50,000 troops in Germany even though the Cold War is over.  Three quarters of our trade will flow through Asia.  That is where we need to be focusing our international attention and make our military ready for that part of the world if that becomes necessary.

            One of the questions asked by the audience was whether the Governor would support tariffs.  He emphatically replied: “no”.  Small businesses are the only ones who will suffer with trade wars.  We raised tariffs against China with regard to cheap tires and China raised tariffs against American companies on chicken products and that did nothing but hurt American companies.  In response to another question, the Governor would not support a carbon tax.  This is the wrong time, he said, in this economy, for our country to be challenging businesses with yet another cost.  Moreover, carbon issues are international issues, not just American issues.  It is a lot more complicated than just looking at controlling our own emissions.

            Deb Rourck won the $82.00 raffle and there was no match.

            See you next week.