47 percent

Approximately, 47% of the households did not pay federal income tax in 2011. This was in part because the Republicans lowered taxes on the poor to justify huge tax reductions for the extremely wealthy classes during the Bush Era. However, many in the 47% category still pay other types of taxes such as payroll taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, state income taxes, and fees, etc. The Romney Doctrine promotes the idea that many of these people are unable to change because they feel like they are victims. This includes retirees and elderly, poor that are sick or disabled, mentally incompetent, working poor, under employed and unemployed, students, and farmers who depend on government assistance during part of their lives. Many of these people feel entitled to these government benefits after paying into these systems for most of their lives through income and payroll taxes and fees. And many of them will not vote for a presidential candidate that will dismantle much of the social safety net, or that favors a privatization of these systems.