Income inequality

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Jun 26, 2003

The latest available tax statistics show that America's 400 top income-earners accounted for an astonishing 1.1% of the nation's entire reported income.

But they paid 1.6% of all taxes.

But the richest 400, with an average annual income over $20 million, paid the same percentage as families with an income of "only" $200,000.

But they gave much more money to charitable causes.

But they paid taxes at a lower rate than in previous years.

But they ended up paying more taxes in absolute dollar figures.

All of this goes to show...

... that statistics can be used to support just about any argument you like.