# Donald Trump, tax avoider **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696 **Category:** Politics & Elections **Created:** [September 27, 2020, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696 "2020-09-27T21:49:02Z") **Posts on this page:** 1 **Showing post:** 491
### Author: ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies) #### Post date: [October 1, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/491 "2020-10-01T20:21:06Z")
Couple quick points: 1. At the risk of re-stating the painfully obvious … as when people discuss using the Bible to justify what many/most would consider frank bigotry (it’s just a book) … Much of the debate above is erudite, literate, and compelling, but it’s also prima facie evidence, IMHO, that DJT has succeeded in normalizing behavior that we formerly – as a nation – found absolutely and profoundly repellent. If Obama did it … _When_ Clinton did … so much less egregious … I often find myself in utter disbelief at the debates we have about inarguable insanity, corruption, lawlessness, and debasement. 1. Back to the OT … I’m not sure if it’s kosher to pimp my own thread, but … if it is … I’d like to. It’s very on-topic: > [@Do the rich pay their fair share?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-rich-pay-their-fair-share/921817): > > I did a quick search and found very little specifically about this. In association with the latest story about DJT’s tax returns, I heard a statistic that the wealthiest Americans pay an average of 24% in Federal Income Tax. I presume they’re talking about [Effective Tax Rate](https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/taxes/what-is-the-effective-tax-rate-15102865). But Effective Tax Rate reminds me of an old joke in medicine: The surgery was a complete success, but the patient died. Sometimes, our definitions differ from the definitions used by others. According to [Pew Research](https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/10/06/a-closer-look-at-who-does-and-doesnt-pay-u-s-income-tax/): … I think a **large** swath of the country is under the impression that the _only_ metric we _ever_ hear is valid, honest, and forthcoming about who pays what. I think the glimpse we’re getting into DJT’s taxes should open this can of worms for all to see. And I think the use of the Effective Tax Rate to prove that we’re “all in this together” is pure, cynical BS … consciously designed to placate the masses and quell revolution. My $0.02. YMMV. Closed course. Professional driver. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696)._