Dear Mr. Romney,

I hear that culture is a thing
that makes you wealthy, or so you said
to a roomful of bigots who then
gave you a cool million to try to become
President of the United States.
Even though you got your figures wrong
by about 1500%...
...or about how much wider the gap
has become between rich and poor
in your own country since you started
making money for yourself.

[See, I can make
up figures, too.
But mine
are more accurate.]

"Culture of freedom and rule of law,"
is the phrase you cherish, and use
to explain this statement.
And that I understand:
Freedom to sell your goods
Freedom to keep your property
Freedom to build a house
Freedom to open a business
Freedom to get a loan
Freedom to put savings away
Freedom to choose who governs
Freedom to assemble peacefully
Freedom to travel to work
Freedom to choose where you live
Freedom to choose what to study
Freedom to marry who you will
Freedom to raise a family
Freedom to enjoy retirement
Freedom to protect your health
Freedom to protect your dignity
Freedom to address wrongs

And freedom is also freedom from
those things that block prosperity:

Freedom from dependence
Freedom from uncertainty
Freedom from fear

And it certainly is a lack of these freedoms
that keep "those other people" mired in poverty

(even though you assure us that you also meant
wetbacks and commies, we understand, but you were
really PRAISING the culture of your audience,
not denigrating anyone else's. Yes, we get it.)

And you quite rightfully point out
That it is the rule of law that preserves them.

Funny enough, there are all kinds of laws
That apply in this case.
On the books, in treaties, tradition.
Ranging from the small to the (very) big.

Laws against theft
Laws against destruction of crops
Laws against destruction of domiciles
Laws against destruction of means of production
Laws against discrimination in employment
Laws against discrimination in finance
Laws against discrimination in housing
Laws against inhibiting free trade
Laws against devaluating currency
Laws against obstructing justice
Laws against arbitrary detention
Laws against rape
Laws against torture
Laws against indiscriminate violence
Laws against destroying state property
Laws against poisoning water
Laws against poisoning land
Laws against poisoning people
Laws against collective punishment
Laws against ethnic cleansing

And even some curious, some
Quite specialized ones like
Laws against testing weapons on civilians
Laws against needlessly cruel types of weaponry
Laws against using U.S. weapons against captive populations
Laws (well, U.N. resolutions, to be fair)
Against occupying an entire nation
Against colonizing seized lands

As you know, when laws are not enforced,
freedom cannot follow.
When justice is denied by veto and violence
Then there can be no peace, no prosperity.

No wealth.

So what culture is it that is at the root of this problem?
I'm asking you, Mr. Romney.
Yes, I'm looking at you Mr. Romney.

A boot forever in the face is not a culture, Mr. Romney.
Nor is it freedom.
Nor is it legal.