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Cato Institute Senior Fellow Dan Mitchell on Romney’s comments on those who do not pay taxes and the dependency on government.
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To the guy named Dan who's not a fan of the entitlement society ours has become and -- with Steve Mitchell says no wondered immediate is in a fit.
Mitt just tore open -- Beatles camp bomb did he comport himself well in response stand ready thing.
I think everything -- -- deal was very accurate.
I just wish he had picked the right number to start with the right number isn't the number of people or the sheriff households.
Who aren't paying tax yes that's important.
And I think he answered that well they key variable is to share of households that are getting redistribute shouldn't.
From the government because those are the people if we're worried about America being sort of -- of the dead Greek style -- -- We're worried about America's well first date metastasized into what we're seeing in Europe with bankruptcies in fiscal chaos.
That's the number we should be concerned about because as governor Romney said.
There are a lot of Americans who don't earn enough to pay taxes but they're not part of them literature class.
They have jobs and maybe they have number of kids and that's exempting them from the federal income tax.
But they definitely don't see themselves as part of the dependency culture that dependency culture -- from things like the huge expansion in food down.
The number of people who are trapped -- unemployment by the unemployment insurance programs.
Those are the things that we should worry about the -- that's I think what -- destroyed the work ethic and the culture of self reliance in Europe.
You know it's -- to see you can always talk about trying to rein the growth of government in.
And and drive new adjusts the think be clear -- -- you know inadequacies.
-- What -- and -- come up looking like a bastard right and it and it and it is no way.
To explain how we've gotten to the point now where 4647 present don't -- is like you say many genuinely don't.
Have to with credits and allowances may -- courtesy of the 86 tax act on a Ronald Reagan it grew to be what it is there's many are genuinely -- But to get to the point -- almost half.
Are not doing -- cut taxes shows me almost half who don't have any skin in the game now that doesn't mean their role.
In in in Barack Obama's corner and I agree -- you that.
But by insinuation that's what Mitt Romney seem to be giving up -- which might be a bit premature but I do think it gets back to a better argument.
What what are we want to be as a country back to the averages in the mid to high twenties would seem not even need.
Who don't pay income taxes or what you know.
The argument about skin in the game clearly is very very important if we wind up what that country.
Where most people don't pay tax and then you have some class work for our politician.
Promising some new freebies from the government saying -- only 20% of the people will pay tax.
-- you get the very unhealthy political dynamic you haven't countries like Italy and France and Greece.
And we all know.
Where that ends because -- or later that number.
I don't know why we don't like -- I don't that's but you we have very -- I don't know we all know that.
And I don't know where they're the governor articulated that -- or or passively spoke.
About as worries regarding that because a lot of people just assume we can -- this entitlement nation going.
Undeterred.
Bout you you're probably right on that and that's frankly there.
The job of those that Abbas who worked at think tanks that -- about people in the media such as yourself.
If we don't educate the American people about the risk.
Of continuing on this path.
And we already know because the demographics and entitlements we're gonna be Greece in twenty years anyhow and the absence of reform.
And that's why a lot of people are very encouraged that Romney selective Paul Ryan as his running late because he actually is an expert on entitlement reform.
But you're right we have to make sure people understand.
What that choice really is do you want the fiscal chaos the social Desiree.
The economic nightmare of Greece and Italy and Spain.
Or do we want to try to.
In effect restore the American principles of -- work ethic self reliance free enterprise and economic growth.
Now whether Romney will do all those things -- -- gets elected I have no idea but that is what is at stake for America at some point in the next.
101520.
Years.
Engages very elegantly senate.
To hit you thank you very much --
