President Barack Obama recently made a surprise visit to the White House press room. When asked about the rationale for pursuing the Mitt Romney tax return issue he again exposed his true colors and his ignorance. His comment was something like: We want to know if he has a bank account in Switzerland. Ordinary people don't have off-shore bank accounts. We need to know these things.
A few points :
It is legal to have off-shore bank accounts. It is legal to comply with the tax code even if it results in paying less in taxes. (It would be stupid to do otherwise.) It is legal to keep your personal finances private. Romney is not an ordinary person. He has been extraordinarily successful as a businessman, a governor, a husband, a father and a member of his church and community. (It is a good thing to have a successful person for your president.) Very soon, I expect him to be sitting in Obama's chair. Ordinary people have no need for an off-shore bank account It is none of your business.
My guess is that Romney pays more in taxes than Obama earns and probably donates more than Obama earns.
Wealth is good. Greed is bad. There is a big difference. Wealth cannot be shared unless it exists. Sensible, reasonable people would rather share their wealth themselves rather than have the government do it for them.
Roger Mitchell
Bluffton
