> Americans have a kneejerk aversion to any sort of taxes And how. My hometown is near a state line. There are somewhat lower - about 10¢ per gallon - gasoline

> Americans have a kneejerk aversion to any sort of taxes And how. My hometown is near a state line. There are somewhat lower - about 10¢ per gallon - gasoline taxes on the other side of the border. People will habitually make special trips to a gas station in the next town over - at a cost of half an hour of time (at least) and $2 worth of gasoline - in order to pay $1.50 less in taxes. To another state. That said, I'm not so sure about > because they think they will never see the benefits People don't seem to be quite so opposed to public spending on things like highways and airports. I would guess it's more that America's cherished spirit of individualism means that there's a greater tendency to oppose public spending that benefits society as a whole, but doesn't directly benefit oneself.