Mitt Romney should adapt this speech from Larry the Liquidator, from the movie Other Peoples Money, for his campaign.
I especially like Larry’s 10-year analysis. Here’s Larry’s version (to shareholders):
For the last ten years, this company has bled your money. Did this community ever say, ‘we know times are tough, we’ll lower taxes, reduce water & sewer.’ Check it out. You’re paying twice what you did 10 years ago.
And our devoted employees, who have taken no increases for the past 3 years, are still making twice what they made 10 years ago.
And our stock? 1/6th what is was 10 years ago.
Here’s a version for Romney:
For the last 10 years, our government has bled our money. Did they ever come to you and say, ‘we know times are tough, we’ll share your pain, we’ll lower government spending so you can invest more and grow the economy, that way we’ll all do better?”
No. They increased spending in the good times and increased it more in the bad. They don’t care about you. They care about growing their power and telling you its for your own good.
Check it out. They’re spending twice as much as ten years ago.
Our debt? It’s tripled in the last 10 years. It was about $16 thousand for every man, woman and child back then. That was plenty. Did you just have a baby? Congratulations! She was born owing $50 thousand.
Other parts of Larry’s speech that I really liked:
- It doesn’t pay to grow market share in shrinking market. The last buggy whip maker was probably the best, but you wouldn’t have invested in it.
- Take the buyout, then go invest your money in growing businesses. You’ll help the economy, you’ll create jobs and “God forbid, you’ll make a couple bucks!”
That last one is another good one for Romney. “God forbid that I pursued the American dream and SUCCEEDED. You can too!”
Spoiler alert: Other Peoples Money had a happy ending. Larry the Liquidator gained control of the company off the strength of his speech (hint, hint Romney), but discovered that the company could produce something useful. I believe it was kevlar or gore-tex fabric, or something like that. So everyone got to keep their jobs and the company became a success again, without being liquidated.
Our Dinner Table 