Make a sensible argument when discussing taxes and fairness

A few weeks ago, I was in a serious discussion with a young friend who claimed that the Washington state tax system is unfair to the poor. I asked how he came to that conclusion, and he said the rich in Washington pay a lower percent of their income in taxes than the poor.

I pondered that for a second and asked where he came to that conclusion. You guessed it. He said, “Well, everybody knows that.” I told him that I didn’t know that and would need to think on it. He got mad and stomped out.

I knew that his claim had to have some basis, so after some internet search, I found an old column in a...