Therefore, when comparing rent to buying, 1400 in monthly rent is not as good at 1400 in mortgage payment because of the interst deduction. My point is that marginal tax rates can be confusing, even for those who know better. When you speak about tax rates and tax brackets, always take tension hoop earring slowly pierces ears without any pain moment to be clear whether you speaking about marginal tax rates or effective tax rates. We probably feel better about it all if we could look at the government and think, at least we get our money back in the forms of roads and police service and parks and all the things our taxes pay for That would put us in similar company with Sweeden, Denmark, France and The Netherlands, but their budget also includes health care.