I think that taxes should be invested only in an appropriate health system, in education, public safety, and in infrastructure works that are difficult for the private sector because of their greatness. And it should be noted that in many of these areas the private sector should collaborate. But the state should not spend our taxes on "luxuries" like the ones you mention.
I give you the example of my country, Venezuela, the socialist government uses our taxes for a large amount of subsidies that are useless, and in food, clothing and all kinds of companies, most of them in bankrupt because of corruption. A gigantic state that has destroyed Venezuela, and also expropriated thousands of companies, which caused the entire private sector to either leave the country or simply go to bankrupt.
The state has its important roles, but it must not be a company, much less use our taxes for nonsense.
appropriate health system, in education, public safety, and in infrastructure works
how well has that worked out?
Well, I don't know how this worked in the USA. At least in Venezuela, before socialism/communism, the society was not perfect, but our taxes were invested with focus in this four things, and we had a public (not free) good universities for instance, some of the best in Latinamerica. Also our public Hospitals were very good. (Naturally, existed some degrees of corruption as well). However, the Chavism used Venezuelans' taxes in many more ways than in those four branches, and obviously, quality was lost in the public domain. And when the taxes were not enough, there came a point when Chavism rose them, and they became a real burden on companies, with their obvious consequences.
won't those currently in power learn from past mistakes?
No, not at all. Venezuela had problems before Chavez's arrival, poverty was growing and corruption was high. However, the average Venezuelan had opportunities. With a good job a family had a high standard of living. There was an important middle class. And the poor could at least eat three times a day. When Socialism/Communism arrived, all the problems we already had were deepened. 20 years later there is no middle class, no businesses, 80% of Venezuelans eat once a day, or simply don't eat, there's nothing in the supermarkets, getting a flu medicine, something so simple, it's an odyssey. There is a reason why Venezuelans are fleeing the country: 2 million people left in 2017, and if Maduro remains in power, more than 10 million will leave before 2020, and the rest will starve to death.
And it's important to say that I've lived all this in my own flesh all these years. Many of my friends have already left the country because there are no opportunities. Some of us have been able to survive the crisis thanks to cryptocurrencies for example, some venezuelans receive remittances from abroad, but the vast majority are condemned to a salary of 5 dollars a month.
so what's gonna happen when everyone leaves or dies?
It is in the interests of Maduro that the people leave, because the vast majority of them are in opposition to this government. You probably watched in the news that last year there were strong protests in Venezuela. There were literally thousands of people in each city, but because of the military's support for Maduro, the unarmed population, and some "opposition" politicians who were traitors, Maduro was not overthrown.
I don't think all venezuelans gonna leave or die. But without a doubt Venezuela will end up in ruins or will be in a state of permanent backwardness like Cuba.
Btw Thanks for reading my comments. I never expected you were interested in the situation of my Country haha
unarmed population
that might be a clue.
You're welcome.
Thanks for sharing your first hand knowledge of the results of following socialist policies. Everyone in USA should be interested in the situation in your country. We are on the same political path your country followed and more and more people here think it leads to Utopia. Everyone needs to learn what you know about socialist governments.