--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The American people I talk to don't spend…" description: "\"The American people I talk to don't spend every moment thinking, 'How can I tax my neighbor more than they're being taxed?' They say, 'How can I get a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2be/mitt-romney-268_american-people_the-american-people-i-talk-to-don-t-spen_2181598.png" --- # The American people I talk to don't spend every moment… ![“The American people I talk to don't spend every moment thinking, 'How can I tax my neighbor more than they're being taxed?' They say, 'How can I get a good job? How can my kids get good jobs? How can seniors have a confidence in their future when they know that Social Security, Medicare and…” quote by Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2be/mitt-romney-268_american-people_the-american-people-i-talk-to-don-t-spen_2181598.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2be/mitt-romney-268_american-people_the-american-people-i-talk-to-don-t-spen_2181598.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2be/mitt-romney-268_american-people_the-american-people-i-talk-to-don-t-spen_2181598.png) > “The American people I talk to don't spend every moment thinking, 'How can I tax my neighbor more than they're being taxed?' They say, 'How can I get a good job? How can my kids get good jobs? How can seniors have a confidence in their future when they know that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are bankrupt?'” [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People prioritize job security and future stability over complex tax concerns. **In simple terms:** People care about jobs and security more than taxes. Key Takeaway Focus on economic opportunity and social safety nets. Themes economics public policy social welfare Mood concerned hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - campaign rallies - policy debates Key Concepts taxation employment security public trust Questions to Reflect On - How can policies address both job creation and social security? - What reforms balance tax fairness with economic growth? A Different Perspective Tax policy complexity can distract from core concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Every moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-moment/) [Good job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-job/) [Good Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-jobs/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Medicaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicaid/) [Medicare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicare/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Senior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senior/) [Seniors Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seniors-confidence-4715398/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-security/) [Taxed Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxed-say-4715396/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Tax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-tax-4715397/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Here's my thinking: Since tax reform only occurs once a generation, let's not tweak what we have and call it a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brady/here-s-my-thinking-since-tax-reform-only-occurs-once-a-generation-let/) [Kevin Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brady/) > [When you talk about raising that debt limit, the only way that I would ever support raising the debt limit if we also talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/when-you-talk-about-raising-that-debt-limit-the-only-way-that-i-would/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [Marriage equality - I think that it's a constitutionally guaranteed right. Let's end the drug wars. Let's balance the federal budget, and that means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/marriage-equality-i-think-that-it-s-a-constitutionally-guaranteed/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [ I could never allow \[tax\] cuts that devastate education for our children, that pollute our environment, that end the guarantee of health care for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-could-never-allow-tax-cuts-that-devastate-education-for-our/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Healthcare costs are rising, and not just Medicare and Medicaid, but healthcare in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-moore/healthcare-costs-are-rising-and-not-just-medicare-and-medicaid-but/) [Gwen Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-moore/) > [The central question is whether Medicare and Medicaid should remain entitlement programs guaranteeing a certain amount of care, as Democrats believe, or become defined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-romer/the-central-question-is-whether-medicare-and-medicaid-should-remain/) [Christina Romer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-romer/) > [How we continue to fund Medicare and Medicaid into the future is a pressing issue of national concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-walsh/how-we-continue-to-fund-medicare-and-medicaid-into-the-future-is-a/) [James T. Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-walsh/) > [There is a lot of fiscal conservatives in the United States senate that didn't vote for that because we understand that national security spending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/there-is-a-lot-of-fiscal-conservatives-in-the-united-states-senate/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Believe me, every American, every person in this country, if I have anything to say about it, will know precisely what is going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/believe-me-every-american-every-person-in-this-country-if-i-have/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Government did get into the health care business in a big way in 1965 with Medicare, and later with Medicaid, and government already distorts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-blunt/government-did-get-into-the-health-care-business-in-a-big-way-in-1965/) [Roy Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-blunt/) > [No matter what federal program one selects - Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the drug war, the income tax and the IRS, education, foreign interventions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-g-hornberger/no-matter-what-federal-program-one-selects-social-security-medicare/) [Jacob G. Hornberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-g-hornberger/) > [What are we Democrats fighting for? We are not fighting for salvation and going to heaven. But we are fighting for Medicaid, Medicare, health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/what-are-we-democrats-fighting-for-we-are-not-fighting-for-salvation/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [Right now, what my job is - pardon me? Those are just words. Right now, what my - my job is right now going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/right-now-what-my-job-is-pardon-me-those-are-just-words-right-now/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [A new report shows that medicare and Medicaid made more than $50 Billion in bad payments during fiscal year 2011. Under Obamacare, that'll become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/a-new-report-shows-that-medicare-and-medicaid-made-more-than-50/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [The Federal role in overcoming barriers to needed health care should emphasize health care financing programs-such as Medicare and Medicaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/the-federal-role-in-overcoming-barriers-to-needed-health-care-should/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) ## More by Mitt Romney > [I look at what's happening around the world and I see Iran four years closer to a bomb. I see the Middle East with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-look-at-what-s-happening-around-the-world-and-i-see-iran-four-years/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I would like to have campaign spending limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-would-like-to-have-campaign-spending-limits/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I believe in my Mormon faith, and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers - I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-in-my-mormon-faith-and-i-endeavor-to-live-by-it-my-faith-is/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [America's military is second to none in the world. We're blessed with terrific soldiers, and extraordinary technology and intelligence. But the idea of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-s-military-is-second-to-none-in-the-world-we-re-blessed-with/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [And a special thank you to the citizens of Massachusetts: You are paying all the taxes, creating all the jobs, raising all the children.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/and-a-special-thank-you-to-the-citizens-of-massachusetts-you-are/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [When I was elected governor of my state, I had a legislature 87 percent Democrat. It was not lost on me that to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/when-i-was-elected-governor-of-my-state-i-had-a-legislature-87/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I saw the young man over there with eggs Benedict, with hollandaise sauce. And I was going to suggest to you that you serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-saw-the-young-man-over-there-with-eggs-benedict-with-hollandaise/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I've been a hunter pretty much all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-ve-been-a-hunter-pretty-much-all-my-life/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I think Mitt Romney has demonstrated repeatedly he has a penchant for - for secrecy, doesn't seem to have any interest in actually showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-think-mitt-romney-has-demonstrated-repeatedly-he-has-a-penchant-for/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [If I were to offer advice to any president of the United States, it would be this: do whatever you can do to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-i-were-to-offer-advice-to-any-president-of-the-united-states-it/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I was too important to go to Vietnam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-was-too-important-to-go-to-vietnam/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [America has not dictated to other nations. We have freed other nations from dictators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-has-not-dictated-to-other-nations-we-have-freed-other-nations/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The right course is for the Palestinians and the Israelis to sit down at the table together. The Palestinians need to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-right-course-is-for-the-palestinians-and-the-israelis-to-sit-down/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [If I'm President of the United States, when I'm President of the United States, we will stand with Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-i-m-president-of-the-united-states-when-i-m-president-of-the/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [President Obama instituted the most anti-growth, anti-investment, anti-jobs measures that we have seen in our lifetime. Now he called his agenda ambitious, I call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/president-obama-instituted-the-most-anti-growth-anti-investment-anti/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) [Explore all 781 Mitt Romney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) ## More American people quotes > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/) [Victor Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-gold/) > [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. Simpson (who was acquitted by the almost all Black jury),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/when-the-american-people-saw-the-la-riots-and-crowds-of-blacks/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [In any event, it is one thing to assert, then or now, that the Iraq war was ill-advised. It is quite another to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-silberman/in-any-event-it-is-one-thing-to-assert-then-or-now-that-the-iraq-war/) [Laurence Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-silberman/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [If a financial institution has business operations in the United States, hires people in the United States, if they are clogged with illiquid assets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-a-financial-institution-has-business-operations-in-the-united/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [The American people demand results, not rhetoric, especially when it comes to national security issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-hayworth/the-american-people-demand-results-not-rhetoric-especially-when-it/) [J. D. Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-hayworth/) > [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The American people are incredibly generous and even playful when you open yourself up and feed the media beast until it goes away satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-american-people-are-incredibly-generous-and-even-playful-when-you/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) [Browse all 2,233 American people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The American people I talk to don't spend every moment thinking, 'How can I tax my neighbor more than they're being taxed?' 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