Critics of Mitt Romney's overseas investments are incensed at the fact that he is paying less than his share of taxes, and/or avoiding them all together. Certainly this is a valid concern when economic injustice is emerging as the dominant concern of the American electorate. But what's even more remarkable about Romney's financial dealings is the fact that they expose The Big Lie that is the political centerpiece of his whole presidential campaign, as well that of every other Republican candidate--the allegation that wealthy Americans are the "job creators" that will save our economy.
Ever since Reagan declared "government bad, private sector good," Americans have been intoxicated by the idea that rich Americans were going to invest their wealth in America, and that in this manner said money would thus "trickle down" to us lower classes. Of course the economic crash following the Bush tax cut frenzy has dented this hypothesis, but the Republicans have continued to trot it out year after year, insisting that the continued existence of a government is the boogie man that keeps messing things up. The fact is, of course, that over the past couple of decades wealthy people increasingly invest in financial products or overseas opportunities, rather than in the kind of domestic industries that generate quality jobs for American citizens.
So the real "money" question here is not "Why did you avoid paying taxes?"--since avoiding taxes is now interpreted by Republican zealots as one's civic duty--but this: "Just how many American jobs were you creating by sending all that money to the Cayman Islands, Mr. Romney?"