The Onion

Norwegian income taxes are barely higher than California, and you get way more in return. And before you start ranting about California, Texas has a higher effective tax rate than California.

Taxes basically become extortion when they don't return to 99% of the citizens in any way. That's what it rightfully feels like in many parts of the world.

Where taxes return to you as service in both good times and bad times, they become an easy way to solve your problems compared to the alternative being pocketing untaxed money but having its service and product value way lower.