I just finished the filing my Federal and State taxes, as well as paying my first installment of our property taxes. In Sunday School, we just finished studying about how the slaves in Egypt paid 20% of their produce as a tax to Pharaoh through Joseph. The slaves had a good deal. We pay a total of about 27% in taxes -- and I'm sure I missed some. I am not complaining... much. We live in a great country. It's just that people sometimes forget that if the government does something, we have to pay for it.

• 10% Effective Federal Income Tax (after deductions and such)
  
• 3% State Income Tax
• 9% State & County Sales Tax (don't forget utility, gasoline, and phone taxes)
• 5% Property Tax  (property tax compared to our annual income)