23. When people retire, they receive social security payments. If their total
income (earned and unearned) exceeds $25,000 (or $32,000 for a mar-
ried couple), half of their social security benefits are taxable. To many
people, this is like a "tax on a tax." In other words, they already paid taxes
on income when they were working, including social security taxes.
Now at retirement, when they receive it back, they are taxed again. What
is the purpose of such a tax?
