Heritage Foundation
A few months ago, Richard Mourdock, the Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Indiana, complained, "You know this past April, when our federal taxes were paid, 47 percent -- 47 percent -- of all American households paid no income tax." The far-right candidate equated the 53 percent vs. the 47 percent to the Civil War.
It's a strikingly familiar complaint. Though Mitt Romney's bizarre comments at a closed-door fundraiser, in which he chastised the 47 percent as lazy parasites, is obviously something of a scandal today, we know that Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Eric Cantor, and others have raised related complaints.
It's worth pondering the irony of far-right Republican politicians -- ostensibly the most anti-tax major political party on the planet -- looking at nearly half of the United States and thinking their tax burdens aren't nearly big enough. But it's also worth asking a related question: how did we reach the point at which 47 percent of the country has no federal income tax burden at all?
We talked earlier about the folks who fall into this category: seniors who've left the workforce, Americans with disabilities who can't work, students who have not yet entered the workforce, millions of low-income families, and middle-class families who take advantage of tax credits Republicans have traditionally supported. But that last part is of particular interest: GOP policymakers have helped expand the 47 percent on purpose, so there's no real point to them whining about it now.
Ezra Klein had a good piece on this: "Part of the reason so many Americans don't pay federal income taxes is that Republicans have passed a series of very large tax cuts that wiped out the income-tax liability for many Americans. That's why, when you look at graphs of the percent of Americans who don't pay income taxes, you see huge jumps after Ronald Reagan's 1986 tax reform and George W. Bush's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. So whenever you hear that half of Americans don't pay federal income taxes, remember: Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush helped build that."
In other words, as far as Republican governance is concerned, the 47 percent "problem" is a feature, not a bug. Romney may have contempt for these people, and perceive them as lazy moochers, but in recent decades, the GOP mainstream believed the exact opposite.
When we talk about policies Republicans supported before the radicalization of the party -- the DREAM Act, economic stimulus, cap-and-trade, an individual health care mandate, campaign-finance disclosure -- we can add this to the list.
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Funny how a man who "earns" more money just sitting and waiting for his "investments" to pay off than someone who builds his mansion, or the lady who cleans one of the hotel suites plus 50 other rooms while going to school calls half the population entitled victims.
I have an idea. Maybe if CEO's of companies pay living wages, more people would actually earn enough to pay taxes. How can someone who "earns" more money by just waiting for his "investments" to pay out than the people who build his mansions actually doing physical labor, or the ladies who clean the hotel suites he stays in plus the 5o other rooms of a hotel, plus the teachers who are supposed to be able to get children who are dealing with divorced parents, drug and violence in schools and in some cases just poor parenting to learn something other than just staying alive, have the audacity to call these people entitled victims ? When was the last time Mr. Romney actually broke into a sweat earning his money ?
Right with ya Omar. Been saying this all along! Some may call me all sorts of nasty "isms" for this, but what we need is a form a salary cap, like in pro sports.
Nothing that will "limit growth" as some are sure to scream, but, put simply, the top people on the payroll (CEO's bonuses count in their total pay rate) that basically states that they can only take home so much % of the total company profits, until the least paid get a raise! Want more money Mr CEO? Give Joe the janitor a raise first! If you're making record profits, you can afford it!
We must also remember Anne Romney's comments about the Romney tax returns..."we have done what is legally required". Well Anne, so have 47% of Americans!
Ironic, that the states that pay the least taxes are ALL Southern Republican base states that Romney's almost guaranteed to carry, w/ the exception of New Mexico, a swing state.
realy romeny?, so you're not going to get your own vote? news-flash, "you're one of the 47% that do not pay taxes!"
so tell me again, as an independent, "why should i vote for you?"
Romney has to have the votes of a good chunk of the elderly. They're the one age demographic that's currently in his corner. He also has to convince many of the unemployed/underemployed and the working poor that he at least cares enough about them to try to make things better for them if he's going to win. He can't afford to alienate the millions of people in these categories who are part of the "47%."
This is another case of a politician "committing truth." That's the most devastating aspect of it. This little address was a window into Romney's soul.
I am not on SS but I am retired. I make 22,000. With a standard deduction and standard exemption I make 12,500 taxable income and I still pay 1,400 in taxes to the feds. I don't get food stamps or any other public assistance. I also have to pay 1200 to the state. If half of this country is worse off than me so that they don't have to pay anything this country is in bad shape.
What about the corporations that don't pay any taxes?
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/18/are-corporations-overtaxed/?smid=pl-share
In the Dallas Fort Worth area the supporters for Obama are also, according to a Dallas Morning News map published yesterday, the most generous of our residents. The map showed by zip code who recorded the highest percentage of donations on their tax returns in 2008. See details at http://dallasredistricting2011.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-47-2008-giving-voting-in-dfw.html
I guess I'm doomed already; I'm one of Ann Rmoney's "you people". I would like to know for what I would be voting if by some miracle I would vote for Willard. Both of the Rmoney's elitist comments are not much of a surprise, just a shock.
While their comments are offensive, reprehensible, divisive, bitter, and downright rude, they are also incredibly shortsighted. Many years ago I accepted help from the government to help pay for college. That makes me one of the 47%. But now, I pay more federal income tax in a single year than the assistance received over all my years in school.
I'll keep my original perception of Mr Romney....he's self centered, cares only about himself and his small circle of family and friends.
I was on AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) and food stamps for two years. I lined up in Torrington CT for my food stamps. I was 18 years old, had dropped out of college, and was nursing my new baby son, who was multiply handicapped. I would never have made it without the help of that safety net. Romney and the Conservatives that run his campaign, would have left us out in the cold, literally, and let us starve. What happened to "your tired, your poor, and your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" anyway? (from Emma Lazarus' sonnet, New Colossus, which appears on the Statue of Liberty). Now I am a mother of three (my son died of Duchennes muscular dystrophy when he was 24), both daughters are teachers with Master's degrees, and among my accomplishments are being invited to and attending a World Economic Forum Conference on Globalization in DC (high point was sitting next to Madeleine Albright), an invitation from the White House to attend the first National Oceans Conference in Monterey, and a Grammy Award for my photographs of Pete Seeger for his album, Pete. I am happily married and am a grandmother of three. I have worked almost all of my adult life. To me, my life, and the life of my son, were worth saving and I am grateful that I live in the United States of America which agreed with me. I am a steady and constant supporter of President Barack Obama - he gets it. As a free lance photographer I recently finished a photo essay of food pantries and soup kitchens called "Hunger in Litchfield County." The Open Door soup kitchen in Winsted CT is serving lunch to 1,000 people a week. I believe, sadly, that the poor are still as invisible as they were in 1962 when Michael Harrington wrote his seminal book, "The Other America: Poverty in the United States."
So Romney said 47% of voters pay no taxes! how does he feel about corporations that pay no taxes? or get subsidies? or are they not people?
the only time those in the top tax bracket seem to think of this as our country as apposed to it being there's is when our military is over seas protecting there business interests! then we are all in it together!
So Mr. Mitt said 47% pay no taxes. wonder how he feels about corporations that pay no taxes? or those that receive subsidies? Or are they not people?
It seems the only time the top 1% thinks its our country as apposed to there's is when our military is over seas protecting there business interests! at that point they seem to believe that they still built that?
This isn't the first time Rmoney has said this. He already said "I'm not concerned about the very poor…..".
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/romney-im-not-concerned-with-the-very-poor/2012/02/01/gIQAvajShQ_blog.html
Believe him when he tells you… he is NOT concerned about these people and those people.
But "fixing it" means cutting it! Just look at his "off the cuff" remarks. That's what he really believes.
Hey, Mitt:
It's not just "poor folk" that don't pay taxes. You have not released your tax returns and what other reason is it except you and Ann probably paid next to nothing (if not zero) somewhere during the last 10 years.
Many poor folk are Republicans-- for some unbelievable reason and will be voting for you. Come to Shasta County in California. You will receive the majority of the votes come Nov. 6 and we have an extremely high rate of unemployed, disabled and those elderly "entitlement" blood suckers. Or maybe not, since you disrespected them so badly. They might have finally had enough of your honest, off-the-cuff remarks.
They are complaining that these people should pay more taxes! While the wealthy pay less. Remember that Romney pays about half as much taxes in percentage of his income as most in the middle class already.
I paid taxes last year. I am willing to pay more, but only when those at the top do the same, And not before!!!!!!!! support Occupy Wall Street!
Romney, the dumb a$$ inheredided all his wealth. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
I have no problem with the rich and fortunate. I have a PROBLEM with a man who wants to be president and holds contempt for 47% of people less fortunate.
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY? The man has basketballs!
One needs to ask what portion of the 47% have been placed there directly because of Romney's actions at Bain Capitol, closing plants and laying off workers no doubt by the thousands.
It all started with Reagan -- the most irresponsible, damaging President the country has ever known. W just continued the work Reagan started, and Romney-Ryan will finish it. We'll have finally become the banana republic the Banana Republicans have wanted all along. Then, the rest of us will simply be The Help, as Charles Pierce is known to say. IT is so sad when the working poor just stay silent we should all voice our opinion freedom of speech apply to every one get out and vote you might not like our choices but you have to vote for the best choice get informed and vote!!!
Taxes vs. Federal Income Taxes. In Romney's hidden camera gaffe, he specifically talks about income taxes. Yet, in his comments about his own federal income tax situation, he seems to have been very careful to talk about the percentage of income he pays in TAXES (seemingly specifically avoiding the magic words federal income taxes). Did anyone else notice that or think that might be important?
I am a retired School Teacher who became disabled to teach because I had an operation to remove a growth on my brain. I had $19,000 in my retirement account that would have given me a pension of $600.00/ month. I chose instead to buy the property I am living on. I worked years as a broadcast engineer/announcer. I work part-time as an announcer. I am on Social Security as is my wife. I was insulted by Romney's remarks about the 47%. I pay Social security/ medicare taxes on my 3 hour a week part-time job. I get a 1099 tax form and I have to pay all my taxes. With my SS income from my wife and me and the income from my job I do not make enough money to pay income taxes. I am not lazy or a moocher. I am getting back what I paid in.
I will not vote for a Republican again. I voted for McCain/Palin 4 years ago. I will vote for Obama in this election, but will be a wasted vote. South Carolina always votes Republican and is a winner-take-all State. The Republican Party was a progressive party in the past. What they are doing now is to make the corporations richer and they say "To Hell with the 47%".
It won't be wasted, perhaps others will think about who is working for them. It's not the Republicans. There is no doubt about it, they are not working for people like you. It's time to vote in your own interests.