Paul Ryan: 60 Percent Of Americans Are 'Takers,' Not 'Makers'

[jsr]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/05/paul-ryan-60-percent-of-a_n_1943073.html

Paul Ryan: 60 Percent Of Americans Are 'Takers,' Not 'Makers'

Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan said in 2010 that 60 percent of Americans receive more financial benefits from the government than they pay in taxes, making them "takers," rather than "makers," according to a 2010 video of Ryan speaking with Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.).

"Right now about 60 percent of the American people get more benefits in dollar value from the federal government than they pay back in taxes," Ryan said. "So we're going to a majority of takers versus makers in America and that will be tough to come back from that. They'll be dependent on the government for their livelihoods [rather] than themselves."

Ryan has been making similar statements for years. His 60 percent comment to Jones was not a one-time gaffe, but an iteration of a point Ryan has repeatedly made while arguing for his plan to replace Medicare with a voucher system.

"Do you want the American idea of an opportunity society with a safety net where you can take a risk, start a business, make a difference, succeed and be honored for being successful?," Ryan said at a June 15, 2012 fundraiser. "Or do we go down the path the president is proposing -- a social welfare state, a cradle-to-the-grave society where we have more takers than makers." ...

[2pooped2pop]

1. from 47 up to 60 percent now?

Well, that only leaves a possible 40% for them. They lose.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Bet he is really pissed about universal sufferage.

All those uppity non-millionaires ( OMG! gays and women!!!!)
being able to vote must chafe his ass.

[2pooped2pop]

14. lol

we laugh but it is probably so true.

[treestar]

47. Only those with property should get to vote

You just know that's what they really think.

[ElboRuum]

63. Actually, I think it's spelled 'suffrage'

I think he's all FOR universal 'sufferage'. Certainly his tax "plan" will likely to lead to plenty of sufferage.

[dixiegrrrrl]

70. DU's spell checker must be broken....

and suffering.

[Flashmann]

36. 60% of Lyan Ryan is full of shit

The other 40% is a despicable lying SON OF A BITCH!!!


ETA:Meant as reply to original post.....Guess I clicked wrong.Sorry..

[BeyondGeography]

2. Dear Obama campaign

Do not play gentle with this punk on Tuesday.

[brewens]

4. It's killing me now! Why does no one bring up how much some of the wealthy take from taxpayers?

I don't think I've ever seen or heard it brought up. It has to be huge in some cases. Just look at a corporate officer at a defense contractor or oil company. The defense contractor might be 100% and we buy a hell of a lot of fuel for the military and federal government. Many of the 1% must make more off of us taxpayers than they pay into the system. In some cases they use bribery to make that happen. I'd call that a taker.

[barbtries]

7. me too

i was struggling to try to explain why that particular expression pisses me off more than any other. you nailed it. not to mention poor people working in factories, mining coal, cooking meals. they are makers! or retired people - they worked all their lives! it's so maddening.

[RuthK]

18. I am a taker?

After having worked all my life and paid into social security for 46 years, I now receive it. Does that make me a "taker"? I'm 76. I still pay federal taxes and have done so for nearly 60 years. I don't pay much but then I don't make much. What are they telling us? We are to work hard as long as we are able to. When we can't work, we're supposed to drop dead?

[AllyCat]

20. I think that is exactly what they are saying Ruth.

Social Security is OUR money. We pay into it for later. And now they want it. It's a big chunk of cash the 1% sees sitting there just ripe for "harvesting".

[Amaril]

22. "When we can't work, we're supposed to drop dead?"

I honestly believe that this is EXACTLY what guys like Romney & Ryan would like. When you are no longer useful as cogs in their money-making machines, then you should just have the damn courtesy to drop dead.

This isn't anything new in human civilization -- there has always been a slave class that is lorded over by the sociopaths that have managed to murder & pilage their way to the top and then breed into their offspring a lack of empathy sufficient enough that they do not see anyone outside their 1%'er sphere as actually BEING human. We are "things" -- useful when we are productive; a drain on them, personally, when we are not.

[barbtries]

23. exactly.

it is absolutely maddening. it is incompatible with the concept of a civilization - everyone needs to be valued and recognized for their contribution even if it doesn't result in buckets of money.

[notadmblnd]

37. Of course they are takers. And just look at people like Ryan himself

he's only had two real jobs in his life (Mcdonalds and his families business). Other than that he's gotten all his money from government, his health care and his families healthcare is provided by the government. Does he even pay Federal taxes?

[brewens]

67. I heard part of his story was saving his social security benefits he got because his dad died

and using that money to pay for college. Admirable I suppose, but I had to give mine to my mom to make the house payment. It's more likely that was just his high school and college spending money. He probably had it made as far as paying for school.

[SDjack]

5. Ryan uses twisted logic in assigning labels.

60% receive more from the government than they pay in, and they spend all or more that they "get" and earn in their lifetime. That makes the 60% "givers". The 40% hoard most of what they "get" and "earn", and pass it to their children and other lucky recipients. That makes the 40% "takers".

[Donkees]

6. Ryan the FAKER

[OffWithTheirHeads]

8. Says the guy who has spent his entire life sucking the government tit.

Oh, wait, there were a few weeks when he worked in the private sector, driving the wheeniemobile, selling Bologna.

[jsr]

10. .

[Denzil_DC]

24. Ryan did have a few other short-term/part-time jobs, but don't flatter him:

One of his summer jobs in college was as an Oscar Mayer salesman in Minnesota, peddling turkey bacon and a new line called "Lunchables" to supermarkets. He drove the Wienermobile once.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/43705747.html

He doesn't have what it takes to be a Weinermobile driver.

[Bjorn Against]

9. This coming from a guy who became a millionaire working for the federal government

[sarchasm]

11. got pension?

Tim to retire this bastard so he can collect the nice fat pension we all pay for.

[Patiod]

33. And he hasn't had to pay for health care

I'd love these people to have to shop for health insurance for themselves and their families.

How about we give politicians vouchers, and make them look into what's available at what price? That would make them a little more aware of what regular people have to spend.

Vouchers - since Ryan loves them so much, let's give him some (well, if he remains in office, that is)

[lunatica]

12. I like the idea of Socialism

A country that takes care of it's children by making sure they all have a great education and health care and a home and a country that takes care of it's elderly by making sure they have a home and quality healthcare. All of it paid for by taxes paid by every citizen.

Right now most of our taxes go to the most oversized military complex in history. I'm sure Ryan loves that. But I don't. I think this country would be truly great if it used all that military money to make every American's life better.

[DallasNE]

13. Yeah, And 40% Of That 60% That Are Voting Age Will Vote For The GOP

Of course those "deadbeats" include teachers, first responders, students, sanitation workers, even members of Congress like Ryan.

It's pretty sick when you keep badmouthing your own supporters in this manner.

[bluestate10]

15. The percentage of the 47% or the 60%,

which number one accepts, that vote for republicans is higher than 40%. In my travels, I see only low wage people mouthing republican talking points, higher waged, better educated people seem to want nothing to do with republicans.

[undeterred]

16. Well at least he's clarifying the Republican view to the people in his district

so all those Takers in CD 1 can vote for Rob Zerban.

[crazylikafox]

17. So I guess that makes all the red states "takers".

[Bucky]

19. First Obama's numbers are up, and now the Republicans' are too!

[KG]

21. still putting down those they want to vote for them. oy.

[porphyrian]

25. Paul Ryan: 60% Asshole, 38% Douche, 2% Milk n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

40. Damn it ... I wish people would learn some manners ...

If you're going to post something that's likely to make someone spit out their 1st thing in the morning coffee laughing, please post an alert.

Now excuse me while I dry off my keyboard.

[porphyrian]

42. I know, I'm sorry, it's a bad habit.

(...paints another keyboard silhouette on his monitor...)

[allan01]

26. re: Paul Ryan: 60 Percent Of Americans Are 'Takers,' Not 'Makers'

these folk just keep on insulting their base. what a bout corperate welfare mr ryan, what about wealthcare mr ryan? and you folk have the gall to threaten to cut big bird whilst your buddies get richer and richer ?meh id love to see you live off of 750 /month or less sir whist i play with your millions !!!!!!

we have the bigest wealthcare system in the world and the smallest wealthfare system . yea its in the preamble of the costitiution. so its part of the document , WE THE PEOPELE > THE SOCIAL WEALFARE . social mr ryan.

[davidthegnome]

27. Are you a Maker, Mr. Ryan?

What have you made? I mean, aside from idiotic comments that would put to shame any human being with a shred of integrity, decency, or human compassion. I suppose you've made money, for which I would congratulate you if you weren't a complete and total imbecile.

Contrary to your statements, you Sir, and those of your ilk, are the true takers. You take hope and you crush it, you take common sense and simple empathy and you twist them around as if they are bad things. In so many ways, you define just what a "taker" actually is. You've grown up in a Nation that has given you the opportunity to become wealthy, to run for (and achieve) political office. You have access to some of the best benefits in the world on top of already earning an income that most of us can only dream of. What are you doing with it, Sir?

Are you giving back? Are you fighting for those, or even caring for those, who have not been so fortunate as you? Or are you instead, using your wealth and influence to support those who already have more than enough?

As a man young man who has frequently worked past exhaustion and earned little money as a result, I still do not envy you Sir. Your wealth serves you not at all because all you can think of is how much more you want - and who you have to serve to get it. Your position, rather than being benevolent, inspirational or in any way uplifting for your fellow human beings... instead is used to demonize them, to make those who are unfortunate appear as lazy, as ugly, foolish, even useless.

I would far rather give my support, my compassion... my votes and my efforts... to those who might benefit from them. To those who might learn and grow and value such things as empathy and compassion.

Frankly, Mr. Ryan, you and your ilk are the worst takers of all, because you take all that you can and all you ever want is to take more.

[treestar]

43. Great post!

That is the Rmoney/Lyan way. They just want more. They will take all they can get.

[davidthegnome]

56. Thanks!

I would blushingly suggest though, that my post was unworthy of praise. I think I pointed out simple truths that should be obvious to all of us. It is sad that the real takers... the real monsters of humanity like Ryan and Romney... that they somehow get away with insulting and attempting to demonize people who weren't born with silver spoons up their butts. Makers and Takers indeed... I think what Mr. Ryan needs is, perhaps, a mirror and a measure of humility and compassion.

[ellie]

28. This guy again.

What the hell is his problem? I hope he loses both of his elections.

[rogrot]

29. I used to be like Ryan.

You know, stupid, misinformed, cocky, naive, egotistical, delusional, immature, bratty, loud--but I saw the error of my ways at about the time I left my teens, 50 years ago, when I became aware that, curiously, other people indeed do live on Earth and many aren't rich and white.

[valerief]

30. I want to whack that brat on the side of the head and tell him to get a real job.

Being an asshole agent for asshole billionaires is not a real job.

Like how I used "real"?

[rogrot]

31. Can't help saying

that one way to fix our economy might be to give everyone on SS a $3500/month raise in their benefit. Shouldn't be a problem for a country many times richer than the second wealthiest and that extra benefit would almost certainly be pumped back into the economy by retirees who need it to survive. Who ever decided that a retired person is worth a few hundred a month? Or that a congressperson is worth a bill and a half plus bennies, plus a handsome pension, not withstanding that they're probably millionaires to begin with.

It's all ass-backward.

[classof56]

46. As a Social Security recipient of that few hundred a month I worked 40-plus years for, I say...

Amen! That $3500 a month would better reflect the worth of this 47-percenter, and I promise, I'd put those dollars back into the economy like nobody's business. Plus, I'd gladly pay the federal income taxes that go along with it. I do that already with my current income, and without complaint since I'm one of those who believes taxes are a fair price for the freedom and benefits they provide. Just wish like hell not a penny of them went to Lyin' Ryan and his ilk.

By the way, welcome to DU. Keep those good posts comin'!

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

[hobbit709]

32. He oughta know.

[byeya]

34. Virtually all the Republican voting states are "takers" and not "makers" like those

who vote Democratic.

Reliably Republican states get more from the federal government than they pay in taxes while the Democratic states get less from the federal government than they pay in.

I was hoping President Obama would reverse this but maybe he could not. BUT, the RW states are net recipients of handouts from the Democratic states.

[agtcovert]

35. What is with

these assholes thinking that the better percentage of Americans somehow feel entitled? Even the conservatives I know cringe at this kind of commentary--most people I know want to earn their living by working, be it for a company or on their own. I'm sure there are people who game the system, but I don't understand how this got so blown out of proportion.

[sarcasmo]

38. These idiots don't want to win.

[SmileyRose]

39. For all the snark - his point is partially correct.

Folks at the very top and at the bottom disproportionately take taxpayer money and a discussion needs to be had regarding both.

Folks at the top need to be fucking cut off. Period. And America understands that.

Folks at the bottom need better wage laws so they are paid the fair profit of their work instead of being forced to rely on the taxpayers.

We need a much more serious discussion instead of "welfare queens" and "obama phones". There is not a person in this country who would rather live in squalor off the pittance they can get by "playing the system" over having a decent education and a decent paying job.

And fuck you up the butt with the broken dreams of millions Paul Ryan for painting the bottom as undeserving.

[treestar]

41. That doesn't sit right

It can't be that high.

The Chinese are not the "makers" that's why.

Lyan has no compassion for anybody.

[bonniebgood]

44. This reminds me of the 400 years of slavery. Who were

the takers vs the makers?

[lumberjack_jeff]

45. So, let me get this straight. The guy who runs the lathe is a "taker".

And the guy who makes his living by marking up the lathe operator's wages 30% and reselling those services is a "maker"?

[AnnaLee]

48. Ah yes, Ryan the pretender

Anyone keeping up with Krugman knows the history of Ryan's "arithmetic".

Things like this only prove the point. Unfortunately I wonder if only the Krugmans in this world can call a pretense that combines the use of words they don't recognize (even when misused), the claim to "wonkishness" (even when nothing whatsoever in a comment is wonkish), the CBO reports of his wanting them to cook the books and the ridiculous bad arithmetic provided by the Heritage foundation when civil servants insisted on telling the truth.

This guy seems to know nothing about arithmetic; That may be why Clinton used the word with such amusement at the convention.

His favorite one-worder in this vein seems to be "baseline". If it has a baseline, it is above the head of just about everybody (NOT). But, if "baseline" is above Ryan's head we have, QED, Ryan the pretender. And folks, believe me, this is the case.

Ryan's statements show ignorance of so, so, so much. Perhaps the worst ignorances are inflation, projection error, interest, compounding, pay-go. May I just stop there? I realized that there are many things that Ryan doesn't seem to understand but the worse of these is the nature of thievery. It would seem that stealing from the American people is OK in his book because that is what "low taxes for the rich" and "waaaaaah, entitlements" is all about.

[Brickbat]

49. Pretty big words for someone who has only ever worked for the government.

Asshole.

[porphyrian]

50. Babies are makers; check their diapers. Doesn't mean that they are superior for it. n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

51. Uhmmm, Mr ryan ...

"Right now about 60 percent of the American people get more benefits in dollar value from the federal government than they pay back in taxes," Ryan said. "So we're going to a majority of takers versus makers in America and that will be tough to come back from that. They'll be dependent on the government for their livelihoods than themselves."

Please provide a list all of your adult non-government employment (after your having graduated from college thanks to medicare survivor's benefits and federally backed loans).

Oh, that would be a very, very short list ... like none.

Oh ... I forgot this:

After graduating from college (1992), Ryan worked as a marketing consultant for his family's Janesville-based business, Ryan Inc., a construction firm founded by his great-grandfather in 1884. Ryan also headed up his own consulting firm, and worked as an aide to former Sen. Robert Kasten Jr. until 1993.
http://usconservatives.about.com/od/champions/p/PaulRyanBIO.htm

Yeah ... that's what my resume read and what I told my friends ... after I graduated from college and couldn't find a job; only I didn't have a family business to cover my lie.

[PowerToThePeople]

52. he is a scum

Opposite day. Those with the most money have taken or denied that wealth from others in the first place. Then they want to remove the social safety net for those they have already impoverished.

True EVIL.

They need to be removed from this world as quickly as possible.

[AnnaLee]

55. Yes but here is the question I have for you - HOW????

I keep thinking of various movies about charlatans and I would imagine that most people have seen these movies or watched reality shows about such people. But, even so, people seem to welcome being taken by a charlatan. How do you fight people's willfully walking in step with the devil?

[PowerToThePeople]

57. That question is bigger than either of us

That IS the problem isn't it?

The only tool I see capable is true socialism. But I am only one person. There may be other ways.

[Hydra]

60. Values

The people following Ryan worship money and those who have it(from whatever means).

We need to start valuing PEOPLE. Socialism is demonized because of its priority- people and their needs. Capitalism values the needs of capital and people who have it.

I hate the bible with a passion, but the golden calf metaphor is painted so thickly on this situation you can't help but see it.

[fugop]

53. Hope Joe brings this up...

... And beats Ryan over the head with it until the little punk cries for mercy!

[Ikonoklast]

54. Says the guy who received Social Security benefits from age 15 through college after his father died

But, fuck everyone else.

[coalition_unwilling]

58. Excuse me, but what has Ryan himself ever made? What an asshole. - n/t

[davidthegnome]

59. We could come up with several suggestions for that!

What Ryan has made, let's see...


An Ass of himself
A lot of really stupid comments
An inspiration for the novel "Why idiots should not run for political office."

This could be fun.

[Hydra]

61. Words from one of the greatest "Takers" of them all

In fact, he's attempting to "take" the moral high ground.

That's even before we talk about how real economics works. When we give money to people like him, they use it to buy each other. When we give money to the 47%...they buy food!

[tarheelsunc]

62. Paul, the government signs your paycheck. YOU'RE a taker too.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

64. What has Paul Ryan ever made? What about der Fuhrer Ayn Rand? Or how about Romney?

Elon Musk risked his personal fortune to get the Space X rocket off the ground. Romney risked the jobs and fortunes of the workers in the companies he raided in order to make money for his Swiss bank accounts.

[Coyotl]

65. What a pair, and way to up the ante on your own team!!

[NYC Liberal]

66. And where does your paycheck come from, Paul?

[HiPointDem]

68. isn't it ryan who's never done anything else but draw his government check?

[Care Acutely]

69. "I'M RICH"

added to the end would be perfect.

[eridani]

71. Hey! Asshat! There's an easy way to change that

Triple the minimum wage and thereby make people pay more income tax.

[JHB]

72. What does he think a "safety net" is?

...aside from a rhetorical device.