Something smells “fishy” about the fact that Mitt Romney, U.S. Presidential Candidate hides his money in the Cayman Islands and Swiss bank accounts. It’s bad enough that Romney avoids taxes and stashes his money in foreign jurisdictions, Romney does so in such a way that seems dishonest to most ordinary people. We asked Charlotte residents what they thought and many said they got the impression it was dishonest.
“I don’t have a Swiss Bank account”, says Mary Wheat of Charlotte, a unemployed waitress. “It seems rather odd to me why he does that”, she said.
“It seems to me you put your money in the Caymans to avoid paying taxes”, says Kurt Younger of Charlotte. “If you believe in America why would you do this?”, he said.
DISGRACEFUL
“As a former member of the Treasury select committee, I think it is a disgrace that the Cayman Islands, a tax haven, can enable wealthy corporations and individuals such as Mitt Romney and others in the wealthiest 1% to avoid tax and still be cloaked in secrecy. Meanwhile all across the western world, hard-working people are seeing their living standards and take-home pay stagnate or reduced”, says former British treasury select committee member John Cryer, Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead. “It reminds me of President Kennedy’s comment in his inaugural speech, ‘pay any price, bear any burden’. Except it’s hard-working, modestly paid majority who are bearing that burden. Is this who Americans want as their next President”, he said.
“Mitt Romney did what we’ve long suspected: that, despite earning millions of dollars a year, his tax rate is approximately 15 percent — the same as it would be if he were a teacher earning $50,000 dollars”, says Denise Jackson of Charlotte. "Is that fair - common now", she said.
HOW TO HIDE YOUR WEALTH
“Romney's claim to fame: Teaching corporations how to hide their wealth with tax shelters & loopholes, instead of paying taxes and "trickling down" .... some patriot he is. I for one don’t trust him”, says Allen Burns of Charlotte.
Republican’s generally defend Romney because he is a Republican. They claim he is a successful businessman. They look to Romney as a Messiah to help the economy. When he helped avoid paying taxes and sheltered his wealth overseas. “I don’t understand Republicans today”, says Paula Jones of Charlotte. “I don’t care how good looking he is, I feel that Romney is dishonest. I’m changing my party affiliation to Democrat, but will vote Independent”, she said.
"Romney is great American", said Sally Campos, who identified herself as a registered Republican. "We don't believe he hides his wealth and cheats people. I don't agree with Swiss bank accounts and off shore tax havens, but if it wasn't legal he wouldn't do it. So it must be legal...right", she said.
That is certainly debatable in Charlotte.
Robert Tilford
Charlotte, N.C.
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