After all the taxes, what's left to live on?

It's that time again to pay the IRS and Illinois. As hard as this is for many Americans that are fighting to just make ends meet, I started thinking about all the other taxes and necessary insurances we pay, and I said to myself, "What's left?"

Here's my list of taxing bodies and necessary insurances we pay before we can call our money ours. These are all I could think of, and I'm sure there are others, but just these were enough to make me wonder how hardworking, middle America, dual-income households (out of necessity) and seniors (without big public pensions) can pay for the raw basics of food and shelter and have some money left for other necessities.

And, if both parents work, factor in expensive day care and two cars.

My list: IRS 15 percent-20 percent or more, State Tax 5 percent, Social Security 7 percent or 15.3 percent if self employed, Sales tax 10 percent in Cook County, Property taxes (high and rising), taxes on cable & all utilities, gas tax, entertainment tax 10 percent, cigarette and alcohol tax (if you indulge),

Then we have the necessary health, house and car insurances, and maybe life and mortgage insurances (younger workers) and Medicare, supplemental and prescription insurances for seniors (rising but no raise this year).

Then we have to buy a village car sticker and a license renewal sticker and whatever else you can add.

Again, "What's left" for families (needing day care) earning less than $100,000/year and seniors living on Social Security?

I guess I'm just tired of our federal, state, village and county governments thinking the answer to everything is more taxes.

Our pockets are not that deep.

Carol Bachar

Arlington Heights