You get your first paycheck and notice that a percentage of your money has gone to taxes. your employer explains that everyone has to pay taxes. why do you have to pay taxes? what would happen if you did not pay taxes? what type of taxes do you currently have to pay and why?

The taxes that take the percentage of your pay are based on your income. The higher the income the higher the taxes. These are the the taxes that enable you to have things such as social security or similar. Various countries have various reasons for them. Many European countries give free education and free healthcare to those who pay income taxes. If your employer wasn't giving them to the country, he could be arrested for tax evasion, same as you. If you're a kid, your parents pay those taxes and you get all the benefits.