Poll - Should Romney release his tax returns?

teamosil said:

Honestly, in terms of the messages available to his campaign that doesn't necessarily matter. That meme is out there now whether it's true or not. It makes it a risky message for him to lead the charge on. And keep in mind, it was the other GOP candidates that created that meme, not the Democrats. So that makes it harder for him to dodge too.

I understand the point, I actually agree that Romney has not taken a charge due to his fear/hesitation of being perceived as "1%" er who doesnt care about the middle class. However, despite the source, it doesnt change the fact that these claims and accusations (cutting jobs) are ture in any way.

They also acquired a lot of companies to shut them down and sell off the assets. That's where the talk about him killing jobs comes from.

And, think about this, just buying shares of Burger King doesn't actually create any job. Just buying stock from another person might cause the stock price to go down or it might cause it to go up infinitesimally, but probably it won't. Even if it did happen to cause it to go up 1 penny, that doesn't actually put any more money in BK's pocket unless they do another offering, which most companies never do.

On the other hand, the head of the capital firm that buys a company and decides to chop it. That person is personally killing those jobs.

Sometimes in order to turn around a company many assets need to be sold off (look at GM or Chrysler, which was managed by the US Govt). The reason these companies are bought or need financing in the 1st place usually stems from an overextension of resources, assets, or finances. This therefore leads to a need to reduce in order to bring the company back to profitability. This is part of a normal business cycle, not in any way, shape or form an attempt to deliberately cut jobs for financial gain.

No, actually the average American pays 27% in taxes. Almost double what Romney pays. He probably paid more in capital gains than 80% of Americans paid in income taxes. But you have to add in sales tax, property taxes, vehicle registration taxes, etc. All said and done that totals up to 27% for the median American.

Click to expand...

affalcon12 said:

I am not referring to % of taxes paid. I am referring to the actual dollars sent to the Federal government. I can assure you when Romney sends in his tax return, the taxes from his capital gains investments far exceed the amount of money paid by the average American.

Click to expand...

Hatuey said:

Good. Now Republicans can feel the wrath of all the Liberal nutjobs. We don't have as many as Conservatives, but ours are far more devoted to their insanity.

Click to expand...

ARealConservative said:

when you are doing the head count, don't forget to count yourself

Click to expand...

Moderator's Warning:

Do not call other users names. This is your only warning.

affalcon12 said:

I am not referring to % of taxes paid. I am referring to the actual dollars sent to the Federal government. I can assure you when Romney sends in his tax return, the taxes from his capital gains investments far exceed the amount of money paid by the average American.

Click to expand...

4 reasons Mitt Romney's tax returns could hurt him
The super-rich GOP frontrunner is already taking heat for his 15 percent tax rate. But the real fireworks may start when he releases his tax documents in April
January 19, 2012

1. Romney could have big money in dodgy offshore tax havens
"Romney has used a variety of techniques to help minimize the taxes on his estimated $250 million fortune," but one of the most damaging could be that he has millions parked in a "notorious Caribbean tax haven," the Cayman Islands, according to ABC News. ..... ABC reports that the sort of "secretive offshore funds in the Caymans" that Romney has invested in through his old firm, Bain Capital, cost the feds an estimated $100 billion per year.

2. He likely benefits from an "unconscionable" tax loophole
..... In "Romney's private equity portfolio are dozens of funds" managed by Bain, and "it is entirely possible that Romney didn't personally invest a dime into any of those funds." But whenever these funds complete a successful investment, Romney likely gets paid "carried interest," essentially a share of the profits, which is then taxed at just 15 percent.

3. America will see how much Romney's own tax plan would benefit him
..... According to Citizens for Tax Justice, "Romney's plan would give him a tax cut of more than 40 percent" compared to Obama's favored tax policies ..... "Romney believes the best-off Americans should be completely exempt from participating in the wrenching burden other Americans will need to help shoulder (via taxes and spending cuts) to get the country's fiscal house in order."

4. The ghost of Romney's father is hovering over him
..... Obama, for example, disclosed six years' worth of tax returns in March 2008, and has continued releasing them every year since. "Making it worse — the person who set the precedent of releasing returns that every major presidential candidate has since followed was Romney's own father, who put out 12 years' worth a year before his own 1968 run."

http://news.yahoo.com/mitt-romneys-taxing-baggage-130600809.html

Click to expand...