Not at all arbitrary - if the person from whom the share is being taken gets to participate equally in the benefit it then provides, I don't have a problem with

Not at all arbitrary - if the person from whom the share is being taken gets to participate equally in the benefit it then provides, I don't have a problem with that (so long as the redistribute still affords person A to have a better standard of living). What I see as wrong, is when person A pays the bill, but does not get to enjoy any of the benefits. For example, take Sweden or Canada, there is a baseline health care system. Every citizen participates. Some pay more than others, but everyone is protected. Not so in US - you have to fall well below middle class in order to get any real help.