Martin;
+1 and well said.
I don't want to go too far off into political/economic theory etc., but IMO government and taxes are a form of "mandatory insurance" (like car insurance in most places) that I must pay for to have the benefits and privileges of living where we do. Like all insurance, we hope we don't need it, but when we need it, we really need it. Small example: last week my blood sugar crashed and I woke up with 6 guys and gals from the local fire dept and rescue squad standing around me and an IV in my arm. I pay for that protection in my taxes.

We can argue about how the powers that be may allocate the funds: that is why we vote. But I don't ever think that we can do without this "insurance" and abandon our fellow policy holders (citizens).