# Those at the top have been getting a free ride for far too long

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-at-the-top-have-been-getting-a-free-ride-for-far-too-long/951271
**Category:** Politics & Elections
**Created:** [September 24, 2021, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-at-the-top-have-been-getting-a-free-ride-for-far-too-long/951271 "2021-09-24T15:53:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 18

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### 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: [September 25, 2021, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-at-the-top-have-been-getting-a-free-ride-for-far-too-long/951271/18 "2021-09-25T00:25:09Z")

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If you’re bored …

> [@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/): …

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