[Berobero]

Also, "federal" here does not include not include payroll taxes, which are, nonetheless, considered "federal taxes" in any colloquial conception of the term.

Of course, in addition to the lying by omission, the true irony here is that the "lack" of "federal" taxes paid by the masses is more so a symptom of a deeply inequitable economic system than the counterbalancing endorsement of the status quo the OP likely envisions it to be.

[skinnymuch]

Your second paragraph and last sentences of the first paragraph are perfectly on point. If I wasn’t so worried I was saying something wrong, I would have seen this an hour ago and been able to just say what you wrote. As this is the actual crux of the matter.