How much buying power do you have for every dollar earned?

[mpatch]

Here's something else I wonder about which can be answered by those receiving Social Security benefits:

I know you have to pay income tax on Social Security benefits received, but does the .fed also charge Social Security/Medicare tax to those benefits? Wouldn't that be a bit like a snake eating its own tail?

You don't pay taxes on all of your SS, if you're under a certain amount it's tax free.
As to your initial question I would say for the average working person 40% of what they earn isn't taken in one way or another.

[Great-Kazoo]

You don't pay taxes on all of your SS, if you're under a certain amount it's tax free.
As to your initial question I would say for the average working person 40% of what they earn isn't taken in one way or another.

Not really. They tax you, but you get it back depending on total household income. However you see less of it up front, as some goes to medicare.

Either way everyone is screwed.