Do some people really not see themselves as equals to the rich?

[hamsterjill]

I've been in a Facebook war today with two people who staunchly defend the fact that Romney pays a lesser percentage in income tax than I do. Using his admitted 13%, I pay a higher percentage.

My statement to them has been simply that I want Romney to pay the same percentage that I pay. I don't necessarily expect the rich to pay more, but I expect them to pay at least the same percentage that I have to pay.

Both of these people have screamed back that I'm just "jealous" of the fact that Romney has money, and they've defended the fact that the rich "are the only ones doing anything" and therefore "deserve" a tax break.

The two people that I'm arguing with probably make no more than $50,000 per year on a GOOD year. That's a guess, but I'd think it's a pretty accurate guess based on what they do and where they live. They are not wealthy people, but they aren't in the poverty lines either.

For me, I feel like I'm just as good as Mitt Romney and those like him. I feel like taxation should be fair, at least, and I could see those with more paying more, too. But at least EQUAL to what the rest of us have to pay. Certainly do not think the rich "deserve a break".

The only thing that I can come up with to explain this is that these two people must have self-esteem issues, perhaps? Do they really see themselves as less deserving than the rich?

[cynatnite]

1. Well, many rich types like Rmoney certainly think they are more entitled than the rest of us...

They have a sense of entitlement that they deserve their wealth and that they earned it no matter how they got it. They think that it sets them apart and above everyone else.

If you watch that video, on the far right is a woman sitting in a chair who is nodding her head as he's talking about the 47% lazy moochers.

Would I like to have a lot of money? Sure. I'm not ashamed to say it. But I sure as hell would feel obligated to pay what everyone else is paying.

Their thinking is very shallow and short-sighted if they think physical wealth is what makes one person better than another.

[dawg]

2. They perceive the rich as being alpha chimps.

All the other chimps in the band do whatever they can do to align their interests with those of the alphas. They spend a significant amount of time and effort on this. They are very social animals.

Some of us have evolved beyond this kind of behavior. Some have not.

[freshwest]

3. They are remembering the mantra 'no poor person ever gave me a job.'

Thus it's a matter of survival to them so they'll never see them as equals. In their mindset, they need these people. They are eternal children and believe in many magical things. Like trickle down.

[MariaM83]

4. the indoctrination begins very early (males > females, whites > nonwhites, str8s > gays, rich>poor)

and the conservatives by no means have a monopoly on this kind of thinking

[SheilaT]

5. I also think that it's largely a "Someday I'll win the lottery"

state of mind.

They defend the extremely low taxes for the wealthy because they fear that someday they'll have an ocean of money and will have to give some of it up to the undeserving poor.

[sinkingfeeling]

6. And if they have a couple of kids, they probably are in the 47% Romney hates. Ask

them what exactly he did in 2011 for his $13.7 million?

[kestrel91316]

7. People who merely "work" for a living are unworthy. All bow down to our betters:

the tapeworms.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. Do some people really expect Republicans to campaign for their candidate?

Of course right wingers will be defending the right wing candidate. I don't think it matters if they have high or low self esteem, I think they are going to say 'Romney is great' in what ever way they can find, that's what campaigning is, and they are on the defensive, trying to bolster their guy from really damaging Scrooge McDuckism.
So just let it echo into the universe, it is campaign rhetoric, there will never be a campaign in which the other side agrees with you about their candidate. They will always defend their candidate. And they are Republicans, so they will always be defending the indefensible.

[hamsterjill]

9. No, I don't expect them to campaign for Obama.

But I find it fascinating that these people will so voluntarily, in fact, enthusiastically, vote AGAINST their own interests. And they hate anyone who doesn't think like they do. Hate us with a passion!

[kctim]

10. That's so messed up

How can he be in the 10% income tax bracket when he should be in the 35% income tax bracket?