EXAMPLE 6 Paying taxes

In April 2015, a Gallup Poll asked two questions about the amount one pays in federal income taxes. Here are the two questions:

Do you consider the amount of federal income tax you have to pay as too high, about right, or too low?

Do you regard the income tax which you will have to pay this year as fair?

The first question had 42% of respondents say “about right” (51% said “too high”), while the second question resulted in 56% of respondents saying that the taxes they paid were “fair.” There appears to be a definite difference in opinions about taxes when people are asked about the amount they have to pay or whether it is fair.