Last week, a video was released of Mitt Romney answering questions at a $50,000-a-plate fundraiser. A Romney supporter asked how he will convince Americans that “you’ve got to take care of yourself?”
Romney responded by saying that 47 percent of Americans who will vote for President Barack Obama are “dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it.”
He even went as far to say, “These are people who pay no income tax.”
Apparently, Romney didn’t realize that the people he is referring to are not all freeloaders. Romney, without knowing the economic situations of this 47 percent, categorized them as being helpless victims who cheat the government by not paying income taxes.
This 47 percent are not lazy citizens collecting government checks as he would like to believe. Since Romney “didn’t speak elegantly,” maybe he overlooked that all Americans depend on government.
We depend on government to fix roads, bridges, allocate money to programs, correct injustices, prevent inflation, levy and collect taxes, and impose price floors and ceilings. Why should we condemn a community of people because they need government more than the financially secure?
Romney must have forgotten the same tax loopholes he benefits from were provided by the government. Wouldn’t that be the equivalent of the rich feeling “entitled” to receive tax exemptions and reductions just for attaining success?
I’m in no way implying the rich are the enemy. However, I’m saying some Republicans antagonize the poor. Romney said these people “believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing.” Am I the only one who is nodding my head uncontrollably yelling, “Yes! They’re entitled to those things! All Americans are!”
His entitlement comment insinuates that because the poor is more dependent on government, they don’t deserve these basic privileges.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Romney’s income tax statement. I think it’s odd that a man who only pays taxes on his wealth complains about others who don’t pay federal income taxes.
It’s appalling that a man who has his millions in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Switzerland, which doesn’t help our economy, would comment on others not paying their taxes.
Romney’s gaffes render him unfit to be our next president.