The problem with Romney's comments
It's not that he pointed out a large number of people pay no income tax and receive something from the government. It's what he said about those people.
[QUOTE]“There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them. Who believe they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it. It's an entitlement and the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. And the president starts off with 48, 49 … he starts off with a huge number. These are people who pay no income tax. Forty-seven percent of Americans pay no income tax.”[/QUOTE]Romney is just wrong that all these people will vote for Obama. A small majority of them might. But a large number will vote Republican. Check WT's picture, several of the states with the lowest incomes are red states. In fact, almost half of Romney's electoral college votes will come from these low-income states.
Romney is also wrong that all these people consider themselves "victims" and expect free stuff. The vast majority of those people are hard working people who pay federal payroll taxes (and other state and local levies) or are senior citizens receiving Social Security and Medicare.
Romney must know these things, so what's he up to? He's promoting an idea that almost half the country is a "taker class" and they all support Obama. This feeds his base, who gobble it up and proclaim it true without question. Anyone who says Romney's statement was factual and accurate is not just drinking the kool-aid, but quaffing it.
Romney should ask himself a few questions.
What does the low-income Republican think of Romney's comment that he will vote for Obama no matter what? That he doesn't want to take responsibility for his life? That Republican would probably be insulted and think Romney doesn't know what he's talking about. That he's out of touch.
What does the low-income Senior think of Romney's comment that she will vote for Obama no matter what? That she doesn't want to take responsibility for her life? That Senior would probably be insulted and think Romney doesn't know what he's talking about. That he's out of touch.
Romney's comments are certain to alienate some voters, the only question is how many.
What Do You Know About 2016?
What do you Boys know about 2016, the movie about Obama, and what do you think about it?
Just watched the piece on the Glen Beck show about the movie.
Interesting facts about Obama's Agenda!
TL.
Possible Agenda, has a Poker Face and keeps his cards close.
47% non-income tax payers is the wrong statistic to Romney's view
Romney should have just said the 47% who are Obama's supporters view themselves as victims. Clearly government workers, teachers and union workers pay income tax yet I think Romney would view them as syncophants. They are the one's who Romney thinks view themselves as victims of society. It is really Ayn Rand's view of the world that it is composed of givers and takers that he was trying to describe. It is just not same subset of the population that pay no income tax. Many Romney supporters would regard paying no income tax as a positive not a negative. Most of us try to minimize the income taxes we pay. In the Randian sense. 47% is close to being accurate I would think.
It does point out the difficulty Republicans have in cutting government. Many of their supporters use government benefits rightfully to their own advantage.
It's ok to be different, but we need to work together.
Both sides have shown that they will slant everything to their advantage, and AP forum is blindly follow the rhetoric. Can we continue to pretend that there is truthfulness in politics? Once in power, it is to the death to stay in power. Assad and Syria is the prime example following Khaddafi in Libya. To do the same, politics in Thailand resemble circus acts with the USA not too far behind.
But what is funny is that with the changes in governments, is that in reality, nothing really changes. The rich & powerful will remain rich & powerful. They will adjust to the new leadership and play their power game. And the poor & disenfranchised will contine their cycle of poverty. The US will remain the country of opportunity for the average citizen because of several factors. It is a young country, it's lands are vast and rich, it's population is small and it's people because of continued immigration, hard working, versatile and innovative. And so, democracy and capitalism was able thrive. It does not do as well elsewhere. And now, somehow, we have hit the wall. The reasons are many and myraid. I welcome some discussion on this.
People can talk in big generous rhetoric, but we will never vote against our own little selfish & self-indulgent lifestyles. We managed to achieved some success and we all think we are such great controllers of our own destiny. Let the air flight develop some serious problem, and all the atheists will turn into believers in a split second. It's that hilarious. And in America, things are quite hilarious right now. But as funny as it is, I find myself not laughing.
