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It's the same nonsense over and over again. I'm for one am happy that both political parties continue the blatant disrespect toward American voters. Sooner or later people will get fed up (I hope).
WASHINGTON -- Presumptive vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan said on Sunday that while he turned over "several years" of tax returns to the Romney campaign during his vetting process, he would only make two years of tax returns public for voters.
Oh really! Nobody is asking about the financial transactions and positions these men have acquired? Well let me be the first to ask. Whats up with Romney's and Ryan's tax returns? Being in a possible position to represent me at a federal level, I think I should know whether or not you may have any conflicts of interest.
"It was a very exhaustive vetting process," he told CBS's Bob Schiefer. "It is a confidential vetting process. So there were several years. But I'm going to release the same amount of years that Governor Romney has. But I got to tell you Bob -- two, I'm going to be releasing two, which is what he's releasing -– what I hear from people around this country, they are not asking, 'Where are the tax returns,' they are asking where the jobs are? Where is the economic growth?"
It's not about one guy or another doing it. It's the fact that since Romney is pulling this stunt then it's acceptable for everyone to do it now. So now we have Obama with the birth certificates and college transcripts, Romney and Ryan with financial records, ect, ect. I don't care whether these things have substance or not. I care about the fact that a level of secrecy is considered acceptable at this point. We're moving in a direction where there is no obligation to the American people by their representatives.Think about it like this. In order to get a TS clearance you have to go through an extreme vetting process. Criminal background checks, financial background checks, interviews with friends, coworkers, family members, ect. The process is so extensive that it usually takes 6 mos to a year to complete. But somehow individuals running for the highest levels of office in this country (individuals that should be held to the highest standards) are able to circumvent the process as far as disclosure to the people they represent.This is a dangerous precedence that is currently being set, and it should not be allowed.
Originally posted by charles1952
reply to post by GD21D
Sorry, I'm missing something. Why would his tax returns from three or more years ago show whether he has conflicts of interest now? Wouldn't his current taxes be more revealing?
I'd be a liitle surprised if he was worth as much as Biden. We're not talking wealthy here.
But the point about your clearance example is they do get vetted, and by the IRS in the case of taxes, as well as the parties nominating them. These groups don't release the information they obtain to the country because it is private, personal, information.
Think about it like this. In order to get a TS clearance you have to go through an extreme vetting process. Criminal background checks, financial background checks, interviews with friends, coworkers, family members, ect. The process is so extensive that it usually takes 6 mos to a year to complete. But somehow individuals running for the highest levels of office in this country (individuals that should be held to the highest standards) are able to circumvent the process as far as disclosure to the people they represent.
We're not talking about an FBI agent or anything of the sort. We're talking about the positions of President and Vice President of the United States. These positions hold worldwide implications on many levels. If you have an issue with privacy then maybe you shouldn't be running for one of the most scrutinized positions in the world.Everyone has some dirt on them somewhere sometime. I can accept that, and I don't necessarily condemn it. When you begin to be secretive it says you may have much more to hide than a little something here or there. What's upsetting is that secrecy is becoming more and more commonplace at all levels of government. It's creating a disconnect between the people and their representative republic.I appreciate the civil discourse. Even if we disagree I'm glad it didn't turn into a personal jabbing match.
Originally posted by charles1952
But the point about your clearance example is they do get vetted, and by the IRS in the case of taxes, as well as the parties nominating them. These groups don't release the information they obtain to the country because it is private, personal, information.
Is your position that candidates should have no privacy at all? I can understand it if it is, but I would disagree with it. And what would the citizenry do with the over 2000 pages (estimated) of Romney's tax returns. They would do nothing at all. No normal citizen would spend five minutes on it. The people don't care at all. The only people who would care are the political operatives desperate to find something damaging in them, even if it has to be made up. And we know things are being made up already.
I'm just not persuade to your point of view yet, maybe if I sleep on it.
With respect,
Charles1952
It is upsetting and we'd both like to see the amount of material being kept secret be reduced, and the reasons for hiding it be narrowed.
What's upsetting is that secrecy is becoming more and more commonplace at all levels of government.
I agree, but I also think that a fair part of the disconnect comes from citizens asking "How could they vote for that? I don't want it and 60% of the country doesn't want it, don't they listen to us? And where are these stupid new regulations coming from? Stop pestering me, you guys are making life miserable."
It's creating a disconnect between the people and their representative republic.