Quote Originally Posted by mpatch View Post
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.