Taxes do accomplish something real. They are paying for grandma's healthcare, Johnny's schooling and Jim's GI benefits. Everyone needs to contribute their share or the kids don't get educated, grandma dies and Jim defects. In principle, my individual contribution is not going to maintain a large national program. So if I'm interested in saving a large national program, my individual contribution isn't going to do it. I'll need to adjust the tax policy of an entire nation. This is why my position is more complex than my own personal contribution. Hopefully you'll appreciate this.