Romney's 47%

[celestemekent]

Yes in fact there are 47 % of Americans who dont pay income taxes. But of that number some make less than the minimum so they dont pay taxes. (less than 20k) Some are retired and they have no current income to tax, and about 2/3rd of the rest do pay federal payroll taxes but probably get an interest deduction from their mortgages which is enough to cover any tax they might have had to pay.

So for the government to get taxes from any of them would be unacceptable. Does Romney want to eliminate the mortgage interest deduction? That would force them to pay more taxes but it would be catastrophic for the home building trades. Does Romney want to eliminate the tax deferrals for retirement income saved over a lifetime and force our seniors to pay higher taxes after a lifetime of paying them?

There are actually about 1% who might be called sponges but for the most part the rest of that 47% are hard working taking care of themselves and they dont pay taxes.

Fact is that more than 50% of the seniors are republicans who will vote for Romney if he doesn't screw up more than he has already. But according to Romney those who dont pay taxes just need to start taking personal responsibility for themselves.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

Thank you, you just made me extremely thankful that Norway has a 30% income tax (or those who earn over a given sum).

 

[brotherdano]

I am amused at all of the knee jerk reactions to what is basically a true statement. The statement was made at a private fundraising dinner, and was Romney's explanation of some challenges that his campaign is having to work to overcome. It is absolutely true that if I am receiving government benefits, either through the nonpayment of taxes (which then makes me a net consumer of resources), or through the plethora of social benefit programs available to the down and outers of America, I am of course going to tend to vote for the party that promises me the most freebies. And in America that would be the Democrat Party....always has been, always will be.

There is a movement in America that is trying to create a fair tax system that is based on a flat tax. This wild, radical party is called the Tea Party. And it's wild eyed radicals are the ones that Obama's party is so scared of right now. your statement that only 1% can be called sponges is very, very idealistic. Obama has added millions of Americans to the rolls of those who receive food stamps and other benefits. And, yes, some of these folks are the working poor. And, (based on personal knowledge of some of them), some of them purposely work low wage or part time jobs JUST to qualify for assistance. The wages they earn seldom, if ever, go for family support.

Romney speaks the truth. His comments are nothing more than his observations based on traditional human tendencies. It is human nature to, like water, take the path of least resistance. What concerns me about this entire situation is that Obama, in a taped message, has been quoted as telling a group that he does believe in redistribution. America's greatness has always been based on the right of an individual to work hard, create and reap the successes of their labor. Europe is in the mess that she is in right now because of governments who promise much, and deliver little, and what they do deliver, they do so with money that was created in the marketplace. The result is a continent rife with nonmotivated populations who are, with rare exception, collapsing into fiscal insolvency. If America isn't careful, she will be next.

 

[celestemekent]

The whole idea of a flat tax (one percentage rate that everyone pays) is a partisan dream that will never come into reality. Because the whole idea of fairness in the American tax systems is that those with the higher income are better able to pay so we've had a progressive system practically since we began taxing income. Mind you there are other sorts of taxes that are 'flat' just not our income tax. In the very early years of our income tax it was ONLY the rich who paid it and nearly everyone else who did not. Facts are that 10% tax of someone who makes $20k annually is catastrophic, meaning it might be the difference between surviving or not surviving. But to a person making $1 million income, a 10% tax is merely a minor inconvenience. AND typically everyone pays other federal taxes like payroll taxes.

There has always been circumstances when people are exempt from income taxes, that our country has chosen to tell everyone that these people should be free from taxes.

The real problem is the Romney has chosen to tell his friends and contributors that anyone who doesn't pay taxes is some sort of freeloader who cant take care of themselves, or who has no sense of personal responsibility and that my friend is the real problem since a simple look at the situation proves it untrue.


Do we really want some one as president who feels that way?????

 

[TheGrungeDiva]

And, (based on personal knowledge of some of them), some of them purposely work low wage or part time jobs JUST to qualify for assistance. The wages they earn seldom, if ever, go for family support.

It's interesting that you mention this. About how many of the people you know who do earn some sort of government subsidy would you say are doing so by "cheating the system" (i.e., people who could work but choose not to just to get unemployment or disability, or people who could work more but choose not to just to get assistance)?

I find it fascinating that you know people, personally, in this situation. Because I have a lot of friends, acquaintances, and clients who are on various forms of public support, and not one of them wouldn't rather work or work more.

I have never once met one of these "Welfare Queens" I keep hearing about. I've never met anyone who purposely sponges off the government. I mean, I know they must exist, but I haven't ever met one, and working in the non-profit sector as I do, you'd think I would run into at least 1 or 2 in my lifetime.

It is human nature to, like water, take the path of least resistance.

You argue this, and yet you argue that "a little hard work and determination is all it takes to get ahead"?

Seriously?

Sorry, that's just not the way the world is.

Referring back to these friends, acquaintances, and clients, how do you explain that they have worked hard and still have nothing to show for it? What do you say to the person who puts in the effort but then doesn't get the reward? Why is one person getting rich while another person losing everything, when the only difference between them is the color of their skin or their gender? What do you say?

What concerns me about this entire situation is that Obama, in a taped message, has been quoted as telling a group that he does believe in redistribution.

If that concerns you, but what Romney has said does not, then you need to re-think your priorities.

America's greatness has always been based on the right of an individual to work hard, create and reap the successes of their labor.

See above. That's great if it works. But what if it doesn't work?

I'm not saying that hard work should not be rewarded. I'm saying that hard work should be rewarded EQUALLY to all those who work hard. We are not there yet, and until we get there, those who are rewarded for sitting on their butts (which means most of the wealthy class) are going to have to sacrifice just a little bit of their opulence for a while, until EVERYONE who works hard has enough.

I have no problem with Work-Fare instead of Welfare, and programs that put people back to work instead of creating poverty cycles dependent on government handouts. What you and far too many Republicans don't seem to understand is that Democrats are trying to create those programs: we are trying to get people back on their feet, back to work, giving them a hand up instead of a hand-out. We don't like the welfare system any more than you do. But you keep blocking the votes and filibustering the sessions, so nothing gets accomplished.

 

[celestemekent]

Lest we forget there are businesses who are on government handouts too like the oil industry which gets about $20 billion a year in subsidies and literally hundreds of others who pay no income tax but make billions each year. Romney merely wants to shake their hands and give them an atta boy for that sort of behavior. The pittance we give to the poor in this country pales in comparison to the corporate welfare that goes on.