I fail to find any pride in being forced to pay the price I have no influence over for goods I have no say in either production or distribution. Yes, I know tha

I fail to find any pride in being forced to pay the price I have no influence over for goods I have no say in either production or distribution. Yes, I know that that's what I signed for when moving into the US to live as a non-citizen alien (not that becoming a citizen would change anything - voting in California, esp. SV part, is next to useless, the outcomes are predetermined anyway), and it's probably a better deal than most of other countries would offer me (that's why I took it), but it doesn't make me bubbling with joy. I recognize that there's probably no realistic way to avoid it, but as it is for a person having to take drugs due to chronic illness, recognizing the necessity of having to do something does not mean being happy or proud about it. It's just a part of harsh reality. Especially if you take interest in particular details of how the massive trillion-size budgets are spent and how much money is wasted or stolen (illegally or legally) from it. No, platitudes of "society has a cost" do not do much for me. Food has a cost too, but if I'm offered a McDonald's sandwich for $100, I may pay for it and eat it, if all other food around is worse and more expensive, but I won't be proud or happy about it. And would take any legal effort available to me to keep my money out of the taxman's reach. When I feel the need to contribute to some cause, I just open my favorite charities list (unfortunately, much longer than my budget - after taxes - affords me to support adequately) and donate there.