Text of Pawlenty's Speech on His Economic Plan

I’m still very undecided on the 2012 GOP presidential race, but yesterday’s speech by Tim Pawlenty gets a big thumbs up from me.  I’m the first to agree that a good speech does not a good president make (see POTUS, current), but if we can get the electorate talking about and debating these issues we’re moving in the right direction.  Below are a few of my favorite soundbites.

 

Text of Pawlenty’s Speech on His Economic Plan

 

·         I’m willing to tell Americans the hard truth. And I believe Americans are ready to hear it.  But the truth about our economy isn’t hard at all. Markets work. Barack Obama’s central planning doesn’t. 

·         We should start by overhauling the tax code. Its currently an anti-growth nine thousand page monstrosity that’s chock full of special deals for special interests. It’s main goal — seems to be to generate campaign contributions. Not jobs. 

·         Business success should depend on winning over customers. Not winning over Congressman.

·         A balanced federal budget shouldn’t be a political sound bite.  It should be the law of the land…  We have to face the truth  — Congress is addicted to spending.    And that’s true regardless of which party is in control.    

·         We can start by applying what I call “The Google Test.”  If you can find a good or service on the Internet, then the federal government probably doesn’t need to be doing it.  

·         Finally — even if we are successful in changing the way Washington taxes, spends, and regulates, many of the gains we’d realize could be lost by the continued debasement of the dollar — as a result of the loose-money policies of the Fed.  We need monetary policy that is focused like a laser on curbing inflation and maintaining price stability.  That should be the role of the Fed.  And nothing more.