Mitt Romney The Republican Everyman

I think it's time we took a look at Governor Romney the presumptive Republican favorite, in a light which is he doesn't care for, but portends some truths. Romney likes to go around the country and play the everyman. He pretends he's unemployed, tells his audiences how he has feared the pink slip many times in his life, that he understands the middle class of America. In this self made reality, he tries desperately to connect to regular people. However, his actions speak louder than his words, and no one else can see the reality HE is talking about.

Again, I not out to impugn anyones success, but lets face facts, if you come from money the chance that you will lose that status is incredibly weak. Mitt Romney comes from money, his father was very successful in the auto industry, and a former Governor of Michigan. Romney is the product of private boarding schools, and an Ivy League education. Upon college graduation he "got a job" (was handed a job) at Bain Capital, and his first home was purchased by his father. I think it is fair to say that this man has never worked a hard day in his life. He's never worked in construction, farming or agriculture, manufacturing, as an educator, first responder, or served in the military.

Today he has a net worth of roughly $250 Million dollars. Most of his money does not come from work, but things like tax shelters, dividends, and capital gains. The majority of these based in the Cayman Islands. he freely admits paying only 15% in taxes on these profits which make him anywhere from $9 to $30 Million dollars a year. Most middle class working Americans who make a minute fraction of that, pay around 32% in taxes. Romney will be the first to tell you "this is the way our tax system is set up." He will also tell you with regard to his income that "I get money for speaking fees, but not very much." He made $375,000 in speaking fees last year, not very much indeed. None of what I have mentioned is illegal, or suspect in its acquisition. It is a very clear view into what is known today as the 1%. In defense of his "living" he likes to throw around the term "The politics of envy", that the system is what it is, do not blame him. "I will not apologize for my success!" I suppose being born with a silver spoon in your mouth could be viewed as success, but I'm not sure mainstream Americans are buying that.

If you make $10 Thousand dollar bets like it's pocket change, and profess wanting to help the middle class housing situation, while proclaiming the housing crisis should collapse, so more people can rent their homes. If you advocate letting the American auto industry fail, and that it should not be bailed out by the government. Then look back to 1991 when Bain & Co. took a $10 Million dollar government bail-out which eventually made him millions. If you accuse the President of crony capitalism, while your biggest Super-Pac contributors are tied to companies like AIG, as well as, some of the biggest Wall Street offenders who only survive today because of a massive taxpayer funded government bailout. While none of which have been prosecuted, and who today are reaping record profits and bonuses. Then your credibility suffers as a result. I'm not sure, but I don't think most Americans enjoy a shoe shine on the tarmac, before they hop on their private planes? If this is how you live, and you balk at releasing your tax returns, I have a problem? If you have made millions over the years as a corporate raider who's destroyed peoples lives, so you and your company could turn a profit, I have a problem? If your tax policy for people who make $20 Thousand dollars a year or less, increases their taxes 60%, I have a problem? If your tax policy for those who make $1 Million dollars or more a year, cuts their taxes by 15%, I have a problem? If you think this kind of policy should be discussed in "quiet rooms" away from the public eye, right again, I have a problem?

Mitt Romney wants us all to embrace him as the everyman, yet nothing could be further from the truth. At a time when income inequality, and the divide between the Mitt Romney's of the world, and the rest of us, is growing exponentially, take a moment to see the real Mitt Romney. A very rich man in the 1%, supported by big money interests in the 1%, to promote public policies that favor the 1%, and be the nominee of a Republican party that vows to protects those interests. So don't be fooled, the next time you hear Romney invoke the poor, the working people, the middle class, recognize he hasn't got a clue what he's talking about. The only everyman people see in Romney is the one who shows every position on every issue, and only God knows how many that is.

Money, Money, Everwhere, Takes Away OUR Voice

As South Carolina approaches, and with it the probability that Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee, I think the money at play in this election cycle deserves a look. Everyone by now is familiar with the "Citizens United" case, that has opened the flood gates to a sea of money in our political campaigns. You can contribute as much as you want, as often as you want, and do it all without disclosing who, or where the money came from. America will now be at the mercy of the highest bidder. Now some of you may be asking yourself "So what's changed?" Well let me tell you. While it is true we have been at whim of lobbyists for big business, corporations, unions, banks, insurance giants, big oil, and the rich in general, and Congress has operated like puppets to these entities for decades; something new has been added to this mix. In the simplest form, in the most convenient definition, and on top of and including the laundry list I have noted above, lets introduce unlimited money. The big money interests of this country were declared "people" by the Supreme Court in 2010. So, no matter what you represent foreign or domestic, corporate or individual, if you have big money, American style politics has become your new best friend. There are no limits, no disclosures, and no stopping the wealthy enterprises of America to buy our elections outright.

At a time when 1 out of 2 people in this country are living at, or below the poverty level. At a time when the middle class is shrinking, and incomes are flat. At a time when the disparity between rich and poor has never been greater. Isn't this just another indictment that our country is in fact a plutocracy? Do public employees, the elderly, the middle class, the working poor, all those who the Occupy folks would call the 99%, can we the people, run million dollar ads to promote the candidates of our choice? I certainly can't, can you? For the huddled masses all we have is our vote. A vote that record breaking billions will attempt to buy this year by trying to influence your choice. The ads will be nasty, bleak, nonfactual in most cases, and be poured out on the airwaves ad nausea until November, and somewhere under all this money, is our democracy drowning under the weight of a Tsunami of big money interests.

I will not pretend that both parties will not profit from this new spoils system, but make no mistake, the Republicans are the ones who pander to the majority of these interests. They are the ones who protect all those entities I mentioned before, and they are the ones who will profit most from this new money take all election cycle. Make no mistake, the Republicans are about to nominate a multi-millionaire, who was a corporate raider, and made his living on the backs of the very people he now claims he understands, and sympathizes with. Just because you use middle class in your speeches doesn't make you an advocate. Just because you claim concern for the poor, even though you haven't got the slightest idea what that is, certainly brings no comfort to the poor.

If you are wealthy, if you have means, good for you, I'm not out to impugn any ones success. Richard Nixon addressing his staff for the final time said something to this affect "...only when you have been in the deepest valley can you appreciate how glorious it is to reach the highest mountain." We have alot of people running our government right now that have always lived on that highest mountain, and as a result have lost touch with what it means to be in the deepest valley. Here in lies our great dilemma. We have become a country of haves and have nots, and the division is growing. Many people suffer under the delusion that because our leaders and big money interests live on the mountain, that one day they can live on that mountain too. The shinning city on the hill is reserved for a select few, they hold the power, and they choose who gets into the neighborhood. They hold out their hands at election time promising to pull us up to allow us to see what they see, but they never quite reach, and those poor people will vote against their own personal interests just to to get a glimpse at the mountain top. In the meantime, those of us in the valley strive for the day when everyone can climb that mountain, through hard work, a decent wage, take care of our children, give them an education, and retire in comfort after a lifetime of labors, that is the American Dream, and we are losing it. Losing it to a select few with the most influence, the most power, the most money. So when Mitt Romney wins South Carolina this Saturday ask yourself, is a corporate millionaire the person who can restore our American Dream? ...or is he part of the problem?