Hacker News Reader

This headline makes the rounds every year. Perfect example of how to 'lie' with statistics, but at least this one includes the qualifier 'Federal'.

I say it's a lie because the implication of the headline is that a bunch of moochers are getting over on us righteous tax-payin Americans. But with FICA, state taxes, sales taxes, gas taxes, etc these same non-federal-tax-paying citizens have a higher tax rate than Warren Buffet.

View on HN

Yet another reason that we should get rid of FICA taxes as a separate thing and roll them into regular old federal income taxes.

Buffett paid almost seven million dollars in federal taxes in 2011, that's a huge absolute amount for a single individual and whatever the rate that is for him, I'm finding it really hard to frame him as a moocher compared to almost half the country paying literally 0%.

Another thing that hasn't been mentioned is age & school status. From 18-23 I worked part time and never had to pay taxes. I was part of that group who zeroed out, and now I contribute $20,000 per year (proudly, I might add). Am I a moocher?

You make a good point. 45% of the country are probably part time workers aged 18-23, who soon will become more valuable contributors to the economy than Warren Buffett.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com