Dear Mr. Romney, Everyone Pays Federal Taxes

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Posted by Reasonmclucus September 24, 2012 at 11:53 p.m.

How can a Republican ignore the fact that there are many more federal taxes than just the federal income tax? Republicans have long reminded people that businesses don't pay taxes, their customers do. Normally, I would expect Democrats to try to con lower income groups into believing that the fact they don't pay the federal income tax means they are not being forced to pay for extravagant federal programs.

Workers making the minimum wage pay the Social Security and Medicare taxes based on their income. Winos pay federal liquor taxes on their cheap booze. The whiskey tax was one of first federal taxes. The federal government taxes shoes, phone calls, tobacco and the gasoline used in cars among other things.

Businesses set the prices of their goods to get the necessary money to pay various taxes including taxes on their incomes.

Instead, of criticizing those who don't make enough to pay federal income tax, Romney should be blaming Obama's unworkable economic program for forcing people to take jobs that don't provide them enough income to pay the income tax. Millions of those among the 47% who don't pay the income tax would love to pay it if they could only find jobs that pay enough for them to pay the income tax.

Romney should be reminding those who don't make enough to pay the federal income tax that they still pay other taxes which might be reduced if the federal government would cut its spending.

Romney should be criticizing Obama's welfare for the rich that allows them to spend their federal tax money on themselves. If the child of someone with low income wants federal assistance to attend college, the parents must fill out forms proving they lack income. The more income they have, the less assistance is available. Parents with high incomes can write out a check for the child's tuition and claim a federal tax credit. The more they make the more assistance they can provide.

High income homeowners who want federal assistance for certain home improvements can write out a check and claim the money spent as a tax credit. Low income homeowners must find a grant program in their community and compete with others for the funds.