I am not the 47%

My wife and I have a combined household income of about $300,000 and rising. We paid well into the five figures in taxes this past year. But you know what? Our country is $16 trillion in debt. As Reagan ran up deficits and, consequently, the debt during the 1980s, the mantra from fiscal conservatives (which Reagan WASN'T) was, "Our kids and grandkids are going to pay for this!" Guess what? I'm in my mid-30s, I'm the child and/or grandchild of the Reagan-era policy makers that began this run-up of debt, and I can afford to pay my share to get the debt under control.

Tax rates and revenues are near all-time lows. But I can easily afford to pay another $5,000 a year in taxes. So, please, save the country by raising my taxes. Don't listen to the selfish people who believe that the life we enjoy in America is free. We are all in this together. Some of us can just afford to contribute more than others.

just pointing out the fact that your "i'm not afraid to say it" line is kind of funny because there is no reason to be scared to say it. you'll keep paying taxes anyway

I agree to an extent. Taxes suck, I feel the same sometimes.

I wish taxes were low for everyone. I think the government should be shrunk and taxes lowered for all. Maybe some sort of fair tax.

But, with that said. The reason I think Romney blew it with those remarks, is because many people don't pay income tax because of Republican tax cuts. You can't give people huge tax cuts to the point they pay no income tax, then turn around and bitch about it.

I guess the only real solution is a fair tax.

thank you, someone with some common sense

Perhaps I am using the wrong term. Health care, child support, retirement the actual tax portion is $2000.

how do you tax someone with no money? i agree govt should cut way back on food stamps and the like. medicare and medicaid are needed, but they need to clean up all the fraud

well if you're sick of paying for your healthcare then don't. if you're sick of saving for retirement, then don't. if you don't want to pay child support, you shouldn't reproduce. can you tell me why it's the governments fault that you pay for this stuff?

That's awesome and you know what you can easily give back through charity and other third party outlets but, paying to keep people on the dole is not patriotic its debilitating. There use to be a time when the people of this country were to proud to take handouts and when the community and neighbors rallied together to help one another. Less government intrusion more freedom.

i think technically am in the 47%. Last year i recieved a refund on my 1099. I did not directly pay taxes and recieved a refund.
I work for a small family business (bail bonding).I do not want a free pass on taxes, I want for my struggling company to make more money so that i can be paid more. Our clients struggle to pay their fees and many times don't.

The reason I don't pay in on my taxes is because no clients have money, they can't pay, and my commision slips to a ridiculously low amount. LOW INCOME = LOW TAXES.

I want this economy to improve so I can get out of that 47%

Obama wants me to get several small payments once a month when their welfare checks come in, barely scrape by, and eventually get one the welfare checks.

I don't want this for myself, and neither do any self-repecting Americans. I want business to be better, not welfare.

I feel truly sorry for those people still working in the US having to carry all those who've decided that being gainfully employed is no longer an option for them.

Someone is purposing dividing & conquering you all with the shaft & sore-butt method.

You are misunderstanding his(Romney's) characterization. The percentage he mentioned covers all recip[ients of whazt some now call "entitlements", social security, medicare, medical, veteran's benfits, etc.It does not mean 'they' are not paying taxes. Some are not paying income taxes but, certainly, not close to all of them.

GE paid no tax The bailout money we provided them caused them to go ahead and build their new Chinese manufactuing plant.....have a problem with that?????

start taxing their gov't checks by about half and I bet they'll start paying attention to tax laws

I guess we all could stop smoking, drinking beer, fucking, and burning gasoline to avoid taxes. Maybe we should have a lethal injection option.

I am sorry you are missing my point. I think every well bodied individual should pay a fair tax. The government is over taxing particular individuals. Taxing is necessary I understand that.

You guys are not smart, sorry to say this but why don`t you manipulate poor people, instead of someone else doing it against you ?

You guys are really not intelligent and you deserve to pay for the %47...

In case anyone is interested, you get taxed about 40% of your income here, right before it goes into your bankaccount. Your employer needs to pay about the same amount also.
From what is left, almost verything you buy is taxed with 19% VAT and of course other taxes that are added, e.g. for fuel and whatnot. Estimates range that about 80% of your income is used for paying taxes here.

well, people should stop smoking. it will kill you and has no benefit to society. people should make an effort to use less gasoline. it would be good for the environment too. last i checked, i've never paid for sex, let alone paid taxes on it. point is he is free to choose to save for retirement or not. if he chooses to, that's his choice, and he can't get mad at the govt for it

Yeah Turks are experts on having a house full of kids they can't financially support, expecting society to support them. Typical Muzzie scum.

no, i get it. you're exaggerating your tax responsibility to make a point. i bet you watch a lot of faux news. that play is straight out of their book

Self respecting is the key word, and is something that our country seems to be short on these days.

Last Edited by Lady Jane Smith on 10/01/2012 11:56 AM

Nice strawman and ad hominem.

Your typical tactics...

OP, don't waste your breath...

None of you understand that some of the 47% that do not pay taxes are elderly people that have worked their entire lives are now on Social Security income which for the most part is not taxed. 47% is too broad a figure and general and has many subdivisions of people in it. There are some leeches in it but the majority are elderly folk and disabled people that do not pay any taxes at all.

I say before we go after the little guy with no assets we need to have the corporations pay what they owe our country. GE making massive amounts of profits and Exxonmobil and they get tax breaks and refunds! We are paying them to make more money! Yet we focus on the little guy who is a little piece of the pie and insignificant.

The biggest problem is that politicians dip in to SS revenues to pay for wars and is an additional source of spending for them. They don't mention that when they are out campaigning do they? We have to stick together as the common man with principles and dignity. Don't let yourselves be easily swayed by overly broad statements which in themselves need to be more specific to be effective or make sense.

Freeloaders are typically always a nuisance. However some of these old folk were made promises their entire working lives before 401k plans were even invented and before the IRA accounts. History is important here, be careful who you try to blame because in this case many of you are focusing on the wrong people for the most part. A very small portion of that 47% is able to work and do not.

i'm middle class too. i'm fine with paying taxes and i'm fine with extremely poor people not paying in. on the other hand people making millions and billions more than me should not be paying half or less of what i do in taxes. trickle down economics is bullshit

you like paying you taxes? here's a cookie to remind how much your tax have an effect on Governement policiy making!

Income tax + all other anoying taxes.(assuming 100% of all Americains pays them) = 15% of the budjet.

Donnations from Top coorporations as in of gambling with Politcal parties as in an attempt to Receive even more if the party is elected! = 35% of the budjet.

Financing from Central banks throught Bonds = 50% of the budjet!

what does 50% of 15% makes. 7,5% So yeah How does 7% of the govt budjet gets to decide how the govt spend his money?

The upper hand in here are the central banks! If the govt starts to go in the favor of the 7% then he can say bye bye to the other 93%.

Does that look like a good economic plan to you?

Govt. is not coorupted. It's the system that is built this way!

Honestly i think the govt is doing a damn good job! They are doing everything the Fedral reserve ask them to do!

Same thing happens here in Canada! Have you looked at your pay stub lately?

you again with your same tired response. you haven't come up with anything else yet? yeah, my typical tactic of calling someone out for exaggerating the truth. shame on me. you're an idiot, have a nice day!

WOW!

Thanks, you too!

Oh, and thanks for proving my point.


:)