Who, here, is in the 47%?

[Arkady]

Just out of curiosity, I'd love to know who here is among those Romney characterizes as "victims" who won't take responsibility for their lives.

For 2011, I was definitely not in that crowd. I paid just under $60k in federal taxes. About a fifth of that was in the form of payroll taxes, capital gains taxes, and dividend taxes, but around 4/5 was federal income taxes. The last time I was among those not paying federal income taxes was probably 1997, when I was still in school and so my total yearly income wasn't enough to do it. But, if the stats are right, and the crowd in this forum is typical, we should expect just about every second person to have avoided any federal income tax liability last year.

That would presumably include those living off Social Security -- if you earn less than $25k per year through SS ($32k/year filing jointly), your income is federal income tax free. If you're living off of veteran disability payments, those are also tax-free, though it's my understanding that military pensions are typically taxable (provided, however, that if the income level is low enough, you may end up with no actual tax liability after considering various credits and deductions).

 

[OldGaffer]

I retired in 2008, I thought permanently, but after Obama saved GM, I was called back to work and here I am at 69, still working full time and paying my full share of income tax, along with all the other taxes that everyone pays. So my dismissal to the 47% has been postponed as long as my health holds out, or unless RMoney gets elected and fucks the car business to its knees with his Winger crazy ass agenda.

 

[Zoar]

Here is the 47%, see Stephen Colbert deliver such scathing truth and what America needs to see and hear:

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/09/colbert-romney-47-percent.php?ref=fpnewsfeed

 

[GordonGecko]

I know there is atleast one Rightwinger here who is retired or on veteran's benefits....

but who will NEVER admit to being part of the "47%" openly.

 

[OldGaffer]

I know there is atleast one Rightwinger here who is retired or on veteran's benefits....

but who will NEVER admit to being part of the "47%" openly.

Probably a lot more than one, but yeah, none of them will admit it and give RMoney a pass because they know who he is "really" talking about in the clip, the blacks and illegal mexicans

 

[Zoar]

I know there is atleast one Rightwinger here who is retired or on veteran's benefits....

but who will NEVER admit to being part of the "47%" openly.

Agreed. Yet we know DENIALISM is an essential tenent of the Republican party. You simply can't be a Republican unless you possess vast, truly vast, quantities of DENIAL.... as well as delusionalism and a penchant for swallowing propaganda served up fresh and hot and full of useless calories by FOX "NEWS" and right wing radio!

 

[Arkady]

It will be interesting if we get nobody stepping up to admit it. Given the population of this forum (1000 viewing, supposedly, and about 40 posting on a regular basis), having no 47-percenters seems wildly unlikely. It would be a bit like tossing a coin and getting 40 straight heads.

Granted, the crowd here is politically engaged, at least a little technically savvy and literate in English, and owns computers with Internet access, so, I'd assume they were a bit wealthier than random, and thus I would expect less than 47% to have avoided any income tax. But even if it's 20%, we should have a bunch of them here.

 

[Zoar]

I'm one of those 53% that Romney is counting on his side.... but there are problems. I disagree vehemently with everything he says and everything he stands for. I own a business and absolutely go bezerk when a Republican meets me for the first time and says to me "Oh, you are a business owner, so you must be for Romney"... Depending on the person's degree of arrogance, I have actually said to them, "No asswhole, I am 100% against Romney! He does not represent any of my interests and he opposes everything I want to see happen in the world! I really don't think we have anything to discuss. I detest Romney with every fiber of my being and you are not going to change my mind.. Maybe you should go bother someone else!!!"

I'm a 53% and I am voting AGAINST MITT ROMNEY; MITT THE DIM WITT!

 

[NightSwimmer]

I'm not, but my mom is. She's always voted Republican in presidential elections, except in 2008. I know quite a few younger people who pay no income tax and rely upon WIC, food stamps and unemployment insurance sometimes, but they do tend to be staunch Republicans. I doubt that any of them are even aware of this news. They are all low information voters who view politics as simply another sporting event and they've already chosen which team they pull for -- the one's who hate the Muslims, Mexicans, Negroes and queers the loudest.

 

[GordonGecko]

It's funny, isn't it?

You've got 47%ers saying they won't vote for Mitt...53%ers saying they won't vote for Mitt...

but we can't seem to find any 47%ers who say they WILL be voting for Mitt?!?!!??!??!

 

[Arkady]

If only Mitt were right about the 47% being locks for Obama. Add in the millions of us in the 53% who also despise Romney, and this election would be a cakewalk for Obama.

 

[Arkady]

I'm not, but my mom is. She's always voted Republican in presidential elections, except in 2008. I know quite a few younger people who pay no income tax and rely upon WIC, food stamps and unemployment insurance sometimes, but they do tend to be staunch Republicans. I doubt that any of them are even aware of this news. They are all low information voters who view politics as simply another sporting event and they've already chosen which team they pull for -- the one's who hate the Muslims, Mexicans, Negroes and queers the loudest.

That's one of the more important observations I've heard here. For millions of voters --maybe even most-- politics is simply another sporting event in which they've chosen a team to pull for. I don't support the Red Sox because I think they're nobler or better for America or more skillful, or anything like that. I support them because they're my team (largely for geographic reasons), and sports are more entertaining if you identify solidly with one of the competitors. I'm not like that with politics, but perhaps most people are. That would explain why actual information matters so little in political loyalties.... and also why viewers reward "horse race" coverage of politics, not in-depth policy analysis.

 

[worldlymrb]

Dems are desperately trying to demagogue Romney for stating a blatantly obvious truth..

YOU CANT PEDDLE FEDERAL INCOME TAX CUTS TO THOSE WHO DON'T PAY ANY, AND ARE DEPENDENT ON FEDERAL GOVT HANDOUTS.

 

[Colorforms]

Many that are still out of work because Obama isn't fixing the economy would be among the 47%. I think they may be bitter clingers though, so I don't know if that counts.

 

[JuliefromOhio]

I retired 2 years ago and have no fed income tax liability.

 

[connieb]

Not me. I have paid federal income tax since I was 14 and had my first job.

 

[NightSwimmer]

Not me. I have paid federal income tax since I was 14 and had my first job.

So, I'm curious... Who withheld federal income taxes on a 14 year old worker?

I did odd jobs for cash when I was 14, but I never had anyone actually place me on a payroll and file a W-4 form.

 

[connieb]

I was on payroll with two different restaurants. To have an employee and not put them on payroll is actually illegal.

 

[Craig]

So, I'm curious... Who withheld federal income taxes on a 14 year old worker?

I did odd jobs for cash when I was 14, but I never had anyone actually place me on a payroll and file a W-4 form.

In Maryland, a 14 year old worker must get a Work Permit... and one cannot get a work permit unless they have been offered a job. I had a summer job at 17...and needed one for that. That job didn't pay enough for me to actually pay any Federal taxes. It's likely the W2 was filled out so that none were withheld...but if they were, they were later refunded.

 

[connieb]

Seriously - have you never known a 14 year old to have been offered a job? Most of my freshmen class in HS was working. I did have a job. Two of them actually. I had two work permits. Funny thing about them... you have to go to the guidance counselor to get one and get your employer to fill them out and turn them in. BUT - when you turn another one in.. the guidance counselor doesn't ask you if you still have the other job. Or maybe they are supposed to. Either way.. they didn't.

I should have been more clear. It wasn't the $7 in total I had to pay... It was 7 in excess of what was withheld. Pretty darn annoying. But you see... .when you are claimed as a dependent you can't claim yourself so it is entirely possible if you make enough money that you will have to pay income taxes. Simply being 14 doesn't excuse one from income taxes.

connie