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> So, your claim is, that Buffett does not know how much taxes he pays?

No, Prof. Mankiw's claim is that Mr. Buffett did not include all taxes in that statement.

> > the United States have a very progressive tax system

> Compared to which system?

In absolute terms, according to the CBO's figures. The CBO is the Congressional Budget Office, and is widely reputed to be honest.

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"In absolute terms" -- you currently know, that there are more underdeveloped countries in the world than so called "first world" countries? And when you also count in countries like Russia than you get a feeling, what is compared to.

Once, the US prided itself to be the most developed nation, today it must compare itself with Uganda and other countries.

Compare tax rates of today with those after the 2nd WW -- the era, where the US flourished most. Today, only the banks of the US are flourishing. When you are no banker and earn below 7 figures a year, you should start to think.

The sentence about "honesty" I will not comment!

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