It's Romney who's the deadbeat - Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Off the Chain Opinion

(WKBK-DETROIT)  For all his business experience and 8-years on the campaign trail, Romney still doesn't get the math.

Most every American I've ever met wishes to earn a living. But Romney says 47 percent of Americans don't pay income taxes, are dead beats who wouldn't vote for him anyhow. So he's writing them off.
    
That from the guy who wants to be president -- of all the United States one assumes. Well, Richie Rich has it wrong. While it is true that 47 percent of adult Americans don't pay federal income taxes -- 3 out of 5 in that group do pay social security taxes. That means they work but don't make enough to feed their kids. Know anybody like that Mitt? You must, I saw you cooking them pancakes.

So we give them a tax break. Even real conservatives like this idea because it encourages people to work instead of loaf on our dime.
    
Another 1 out of 5 of Romney's freeloaders are retirees collecting social security – a check they paid for when they were young.
    
That leaves the other 1 out of 5 who are students and people who used to work but now draw unemployment benefits. It also includes the chronically unemployed, the deadbeats and alcoholics who don't want to work. This group constitutes less than 2 percent of the population, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
  
When I was a student, when I was laid off, I was part of the 47 percent. My retired mother is part of the 47 percent. My brother who just lost his job and doesn't draw a nickel in public assistance is part of the 47 percent. We're not welfare scammers. We've always worked. Or did and want to again.
    
Romney's statement is especially noxious considering the fact that he won't release all of his tax returns. He did release his 2011 returns Friday however, which revealed that he paid a federal tax rate of 14%. That's almost half what I paid. How can I get me some of that? You see, I'm taxed at a higher rate because I make my money by working and he makes his money by investing. That's a sweetheart deal the One Percenters paid for in Washington. And another thing, I keep my money right here in America, not in a secret Swiss vault.
   
So who else is a dead beat? According to the General Accounting Office, every year from 1998 to 2005 -- 55 percent of America's largest companies paid no corporate income tax – that's good for rich investors like Romney – but not the other 99 percent of us.  Aren't corporations people Mitt?
 
Look, I wouldn't mind being rich and by many standards I suppose I am. I think the government in too many cases mishandles my money (see Ficano). I certainly wouldn't mind paying less taxes. But there is a difference between a crutch and a helping hand. If Romney is really willing to write off half the population, I don't think all the money in Boca Raton could build gates high enough to keep the rabble out.

Because the most dangerous man in the world is not the Have-not, but the Used-to-Have.

But what do I know? I grew up in Michigan.