The "ride for free" comment is not very explainatory, but neither is it totally inaccurate. What it says is that if you don't pay federal taxes, and you still use federally paid for amenities (which is impossible to NOT use), then you are using something you contributed zero dollars towards. You may, in fact, have been paid to create the amenity, but paid nothing for it by years end.......hence, free ride.

My situation is much more traditional....we both work, pay taxes, work pay taxes,.......end of year.....may get a portion back, or may pay an additional amount in.....this year I'm writing a check. We own nothing fancy...have one car and one truck (which today turned 200,000 miles), a small home with a modest mortage.....NO debts owed on credit cards.....living a life that most folks today would consider below their worthiness.

I work with a guy...nice guy....who has 3 kids and one on the way, two cars and a truck, lives in one of the parents' rentals, single income family......will get all he paid in returned, with an additional amount thrown in. So who's supporting this nice family?.....You and I (the ones who pay in, that is)