A valid, but technocratic defence. The overall justice of the socioeconomic system and the policy themes it actively promulgates is certainly a valid question,

A valid, but technocratic defence. The overall justice of the socioeconomic system and the policy themes it actively promulgates is certainly a valid question, and it encapsulates both issues. That is to say: for the marginally lower taxes we pay in the US relative to other developed countries, what do we get? With healthcare, it turns out: not much! Not only do we have to pay our healthcare ourselves, on top of our tax burden, but we pay hyperinflated prices at that. Our insurers operate like cost-plus defence contractors that take the spiraling provider costs and just pass them on to the policyholders. For paying ever so slightly higher taxes, our W. European/AUS/NZ/Canadian brethren get a lot more social safety and peace of mind for their money. We mostly get a military-industrial complex and corporate welfare. This is relevant to the question of how we implement taxation and how we distribute the tax burden.