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How is it deceptive when it clearly states that is what it is doing?

Charts can be deceptive even if the axes are clearly labeled. It's deceptive exactly for the reasons I stated. It excludes the majority of the data from the chart.

The chart isn't deceptive. It clearly states what it is. You can USE it deceptively. But that didn't mean the chart itself is deceptive. In this particular case the idea is to compare the top earners to the lowest earners. The middle isn't important.

It’s still interesting, and I bet many on HN hit that top bracket.

When he died, Benjamin Franklin bequeathed $5,000 to the city of Boston. This was a large sum at the time.

Today, it's just a paycheck for a software engineer.

What does that have to do with tax brackets?

In 1862, marginal tax rates were 3.0% for income over $600 and 5.0% for income over $10,000.

Okay, but is there a point you are trying to make? Honest question.

Maybe he’s making the point that income tax brackets are rarely adjusted for inflation.

The $250k (single) and $400k (couple) brackets haven’t changed - except for 11 years out of the past 25 - but you can buy a heck of a lot less with that sum of money now.

> Who cares about the extremes?

What fraction of taxpayers pay the minimum rate?

Every single one of them according to the charts.