"It's functionally no different than a society that accepts roving bands of raiders and pays them tribute because "it's the right thing to do" or "it's a civic virtue.""
If you believe that, go find a nice country in Africa that's ACTUALLY controlled by warlords and live there for a year. Then come back amd report on how they're "the same."
You're welcome to explain how the two are functionally different. Both the African warlord and the US government extort people of money within the boundaries of their declared authority.
Functionally, they're no different. One is simply more polite and less initially imposing than the other.