So here is an example, in the wild, of what Romney supporters think (from a high school friend's facebook). This was part of a semi-rational discussion that did not get out of hand:
Mr. Romney spoke what most of us think. You and I will go to work tomorrow so we can provide a paycheck to approx 18% of that 47% who choose not to work. We all need to contribute something to keep our country running and if the majority of people get a federal tax refund that supersedes what they paid in all year, then that person/family contributed nothing, if that then becomes 47% of tax payers, the numbers don't work. Almost half of the country pays no income tax! Not fair if you ask me, no wonder our national debt is so high. I'm no math scholar but the politicians that made those taxes codes need theirs heads examined. No one wants to pay more but we all should be taxed and pay taxes fairly.
Brainwashed.
Shortsighted at the very least.
In Good Stuff news, the post about the Paul Frank company shenanigans blew up over night -- it had less than 150 notes when I went to bed, now almost 1,000. I mean, it's still no Bikers Against Child Abuse, but still.
I am so fucked for today. I was prepping class late last night so I didn't get to bed until 12 and didn't unwind and fall asleep until almost 1. I have been awake since 4:30 and finally just gave up trying because I need to be up by 6:30 anyway. Ugh. Pretty sure I'll be fine for teaching but I am going to lose steam at some point.
I need my sitter to come back from vacation. It's just too much work when I don't have her to help with picking up the kids and homework.
Sophia, you could just remind her that many people who go to work and pay federal taxes don't pay income taxes. I honestly think they are deluding themselves that people aren't paying any taxes at all.
OK, I don't wear high-heeled shoes, but these are cool: Retro High-Heeled Bowling Shoes
Sophia, you could just remind her that many people who go to work and pay federal taxes don't pay income taxes. I honestly think they are deluding themselves that people aren't paying any taxes at all.
I did. And it was a sort of respectful discourse, with 2 of us on one side, and two on the other, without calling each other names. So maybe we changed some minds, but maybe they think the same thing.
Happy Belated Birthday, erika!
Also, why aren't we talking like pirates?
Arrr.
Weird typo. Arrr.
Yay, Jesse, that makes me happy. That's the kind of good news that needs spread so it can be catching.
Also, why aren't we talking like pirates?
Yarrrr. My office is totally into TLAPD. There will be pictures. Or at least *a* picture. (And yes, we all realize that it's just TALK Like a Pirate Day, not Also Dress Like a Pirate Day, but we pretty much don't care. Any excuse to wear a pirate hat and eyepatch and brandish a fake sword at work is an excuse we are going to be ALL OVER.)
I did. And it was a sort of respectful discourse, with 2 of us on one side, and two on the other, without calling each other names. So maybe we changed some minds, but maybe they think the same thing.
I think it helps that, at least from the exerpt you posted, there's s fairly significant difference in tone and focus from Romney's remarks. Your friend's comments are far less insulting towards the 'untaxed' than were Romney's. I'm pretty sure it's inaccurate, and therefore pejorative, to paint 18% of the populace as choosing not to work, especially with unemployment running as high as it is now; but still it's expressed in terms of actions, rather than Romney's scathing and self-serving slurs on half the nation's personal character.
I am starting to come round to TB's perspective that this gaffe will have quite significant effects on the electoral landscape. It seems to me that it has gone viral - my own workmates were talking about it at lunch today. Biyi was asking about it after it got reported in the Chinese press. It's not quite a Lehman Brothers moment, not an "I'm suspending my campaign to fix the GFC" moment, but it just might be a Dukakis-in-a-tank moment.
