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Ralph Nader on Mitt Romney’s Taxpayer Comments

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    Former Green Party Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader on Mitt Romney’s comments on taxpayers in a Mother Jones’ video and why the wealthy should p...

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Of the -- for example.

He says 47%.

You know depend on the government's -- even know a lot of -- on Social Security a lot of unemployed -- to -- Laura Letterman disabled.

But a 100%.

Of the top.

-- biggest 500 corporations in America.

Are dependent on the government of variety of government welfare subsidies bailouts handouts and giveaways.

The confidence among the top 35000.

Richest Americans.

Paid no federal income tax last year.

-- did you have a bit more about -- there and you're right if you read about what you don't witty did you use should did you Nolan and disparage -- group -- the summer genuinely port.

There a lot of these folks have been other taxes I don't wanna debate that -- -- get a little but I do wanna ask you this does the 46.

Point something percent.

Say something about our -- do -- -- we -- taxes.

A lot of this spurred by the 86 tax act on Ronald Reagan -- -- to deductions and got us to the point we're close staff.

Aren't paying any income taxes at all how do we get to that figure being and its money's.

Two now it approaching fifty and is that dangerous just that.

That want to a declining real wage for a a majority of Americans you know more poverty for example.

An expanded earned income tax credit which was very much vigorously propose an X and -- -- by Ronald Reagan himself.

-- Oracle record that's a good idea.

And it and you know more.

More disabled people more poor people.

More people on Social Security.

The issue is not that -- the issue is wider is Mitt Romney refused.

To disclose years of his income taxes as his father George Romney well.

Renowned I think we're gonna play right not a here's why -- figures are because -- we can't get in the I don't want to politicize as I do want to ask you.

About -- they have pay no income Texas.

This country can't -- -- we're doing that so the only solution I tried to raise it with Romney yesterday.

Was well you're gonna have to do something to bring that number down which means these people not living income taxes.

A percentage -- gonna have to -- taxes so.

What is the solution I know you're corporation doesn't do more -- -- what happens how do we correct -- if you are paying taxes they pay more.

We love -- have to go what.

Both you have a good public works program instead of bailing out crooks on Wall Street the trillions.

Put in repairing America and every community have good paying jobs can't be exported to China they're gonna pay federal income tax.

But the rich have got to pay their fair share.

-- and Ireland but your library is weighted at around it -- -- way change that is most of the taxes now we know that half aren't paying any taxes that goal.

Is that there.

A lot of rigs are being any I don't understand I don't Asia and the weather clearly you know the numbers you would never do it 3% of pay up to have some am able leaving aside the Baghdad -- -- -- the right there are out there.

But then and Verizon and General Electric Ali's got a grounding in day out you pay zero income and non profit.

That he's not gonna make up with a 50% -- one day -- is that.

You're gonna -- even more -- It's going to produce billions of dollars if the court -- corporations paid.

Their fair share taxes statutorily instead of all these loopholes and and tax havens.

It would be another eighty billion dollars a year if -- paid at the rate of what I use our decision meadowbrook 300 and a number I was you made that -- -- Then I don't know I'm not made citizens for tax justice look at very very accurate if we had a speculation back.

-- you basin that 900 billion dollar we're very Smart route but you're also savvy.

To get numbers by that you can't -- argue de icing up regularly and I am relying -- -- -- they're doing you know about -- the eighty billion you basing that on every company paying at least.

30% what are you -- The statutory rate.

Which is a little bit over 30% instead they're paying half -- less of the statutory rate.

And a large companies like all right again what I -- technology -- -- Cisco orient up if that was taken away.

Then they'd be less inclined to do that right and they might not be as productive and they might not yield as much and it's tax revenues forty writer Polly you're making apologies for -- crony capitalism -- now -- -- tell -- -- old -- would react right.

If you about it as its -- moron that a produce less.

You know there will do rely on themselves there won't be so dependent on government there -- be so -- -- -- -- what I'll ask what camera recorded -- bidding battle like that whatever we're not getting from the 15% saying nothing.

Let's put it this way.

What it would Mitt Romney did yesterday.

Is going to destroy his campaign.

Unless you find some new strategy recovery you cannot say as president.

My job is not to worry about 47% of the American households and become president -- that's already sent.

That's not what is it exactly setup that's not exactly studying -- we know we live in a 5050 world right now 5050 country.

He's not gonna -- god as president of Ghana is not need to worry about.

He's expressing a political reality that there's -- a debt there's that there's a base of people will vote friend -- base of people vote for the president.

Right it's absurd to think that 47% America -- who are getting government -- securities are all gonna vote Republican.

That's ridiculous well above what -- there is nothing there there's nothing ignorant about saying.

Those who get stuff from the government have got more stuff from the government are more inclined to support the guy likes the government.

The the guy wants to dismantling government that we as human nature right.

We'll talk own good how -- corporate executives who are.

The circling the -- of the Washington DC are voting for the government they're going against the government I debated Ronald Reagan once and he admitted graciously.

-- goes around the country before it became president because around country.

And he tells corporate executives stopped putting your hand and -- Washington trough.

Stop -- relying on corporate welfare.

And by the way to be fair to your point Ronald Reagan in that 1986 tax act among the things he calls -- those very loopholes.

And special allowances that -- companies some of the -- nothing on.

And they are very a lot of the fevered Republican extremists today have said ultimately they wouldn't vote for Ronald Reagan today who you absolutely gonna -- for around.

Well I'd never say -- -- went on reference.

This is a private privacy the boat and you -- you mean to you can guess I'm assuming it's not Mitt Romney.

-- the good -- -- -- Ralph Nader always do that -- thank you very much.