Romney: Obama voters play 'victim'

[Sammy Jankis]

Oops:

US presidential nominee Mitt Romney faces a new campaign storm after the release of a secretly filmed video in which he tells rich donors that nearly half of Americans are dependent "victims" who do not pay tax.

Excerpts of video, posted by the Mother Jones website, show Mr Romney tell a closed-door private fundraiser that 47 per cent of Americans will vote for president Barack Obama "no matter what".

"There are 47 per cent 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 that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it."

"These are people who pay no income tax. So our message of low taxes doesn't connect.

"I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."

I suppose you-know-who will suggest that the message is spot-on, the delivery not so good, and that TEH LEFTIST MEDIAS are blowing the remarks out of proportion.

Romney has a lot of work to do if he wants to get over the line in November. I'm so glad that we don't live in a country where one side of politics can overtly claim that healthcare, food and shelter are just like Sony Playstations or sports cars -- something you should only get if you can afford it.

[Matthew Of Canberra]

"I suppose you-know-who will suggest that the message is spot-on, the delivery not so good"

Trouble is, the numbers tell a story that's not quite the one romney would have his supporters hear.

He's specifically referring to people who pay no net income tax. But they still contribute to payroll and state taxes.

The trouble is that when taken as a fraction of population, these "no income tax payers" tend to cluster ... in red states:

www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/09/where-are-the-47-of-americans-who-pay-no-taxes/262499/

[jreidy]

And of course the 47% figure is not even remotely true. I think the US problems aren't due to what ever percent don't pay any tax because they don't have any money, but those that do have money only pay 13%

[Matthew Of Canberra]

"the US problems"

I actually typed up a little explanation of what I think is wrong with the US system of government - along the lines of "it's not the people, it's the rules of the game" - but then I decided that I don't care.

The US seems to be collectively stuck in a loop - alternately believing they're the best system on earth versus being happy to be unhappy about how stuffed it all is. I don't think they could even fix it if they wanted to, because the people with all the lovely money are happy with it just the way it is (hell - look how much trouble obama had passing a policy which previously had 70% support - I think this Onion article nails it).

It's america's problem. They'll spend their way into oblivion, then (with a bit of luck) there'll be an exodus of smart people to other english-speaking countries, and we'll be one of the beneficiaries of that.

[jreidy]

More on US Politics.

Ron Paul gave his last speech to congress...

www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/11/ron-pauls-last-speech-to-congress-30-strangely-ordered-questions/265263/
It went for 48 minutes.
The article linked to lists the rhetorical questions he asked some examples:

Why does the federal government restrict the drinking of raw milk?
Why can't Americans manufacturer rope and other products from hemp?
Why are Americans not allowed to use gold and silver as legal tender as mandated by the Constitution?
Why is Germany concerned enough to consider repatriating their gold held by the FED for her in New York? Is it that the trust in the U.S. and dollar supremacy beginning to wane?
Why do our political leaders believe it's unnecessary to thoroughly audit our own gold?
Why can't Americans decide which type of light bulbs they can buy?

If I was a US citizen, I would vote for him.