I think Canada's is also way too high for the services provided but my reaction above was just shock at how bad it was rather than a real discussion of tax poli

I think Canada's is also way too high for the services provided but my reaction above was just shock at how bad it was rather than a real discussion of tax policy. We really have to compare rates at the margin because that is what is actually pricing incremental services and in Canada that marginal tax rate at that income level is 38% quickly heading up to 48-52ish% depending on which province. Depends on what you think is fair but I always think about tax from what would I be willing to pay for the service (and pay to provide to others) given what the service is if there was no coercion or free loading and that number is way, way less than what I am currently paying in taxes. This is due to a mix of services being provided that generate no network effect value or negative network effect value to me, poor cost management on the services provided that benefit me and/or benefit me through improving someone else in Canada and in some cases outlawing outside provision to me (i.e. healthcare) and forcing use of the government service that is inferior.