There are specific taxes for specific projects. I'd say specific taxes are a good thing. For example, gas tax for roads, healthcare tax for health insurance, et

There are specific taxes for specific projects. I'd say specific taxes are a good thing. For example, gas tax for roads, healthcare tax for health insurance, etc. What most people are opposed to is income tax ( which historically was only used to fund wars ). I wouldn't classify taxes as "a good thing". I'd say it is a necessary evil or something that could be good in a limited form. If it truly was a good thing, then we should maximize the good and tax everyone at 100% and give all our income to the government. Also, considering the poor state of our education system, healthcare, infrastructure and "wide variety of other stuff", arguments can be made that taxes aren't as good as people think. Toss in the neverending wars to justify military budgets, you could argue taxes are bad. But I think most sensible people reject the good/bad extremes and take a moderate view. Some taxation are or can be good. It can also be wasteful and bad.