To build and maintain the roads you drive on, which allows commerce and logistics to flow so you can actually buy and trade goods with great ease.
I can agree with roads, a mixture of toll roads seems the better option, whether they be public or private. The GNO bridge has tolls and has left the Huey P Long bridge in the dust, though it is finally expanding! It cost 800k to maintain and nets over 20 million with over 60 million using it annually, that money should be helping support the horrible road systems in louisiana, something taxes have seemed unable to do. Well I'll share the blame with past government corruption in louisiana and the federal government taking away money for the states disobedience
To fund the schools you attend so you can actually have an education and get a degree.
Not a big fan of compulsory education. Our education system isn't the best, good intentions, bad results. Basics should be taught then allow children of a certain age to start learning trades, becoming adept in a field they choose. Maybe we wouldnt even need to do the latter if minimum wage laws were'nt so bad, meaning teenagers could start working for a modest wage yet, gaining the skills they need to achieve success.
To pay for the defense of the nation.
I would more than willing to pay for defense. Defense is a key word but, is our current strategy really defensive? I would say were a very hostile country, forcing our ideals on other nations, creating all kinds of enemies along the way. I have to say 04-05 iraq was more dangerous, yet the people were a lot friendlier than 2010 when I was there. Also I have to add the military can be a double edged sword, it can be used for us and used against us, though I doubt a majority of soldiers would actually turn against the people.
and prosecution of criminal activity, etc. This country runs on taxes, and we all reap the benefits of it, whether we realize this or not.
Prosecution, you mean the courts? Or police? Or both? Also what is criminal activity, anything the government dictates is illegal? Drugs, prostitution, drinking in public? Isnt it like 1 in 4 are non violent drug offenders?
Don't have a problem paying for these types of things as long as government acts responsible in doing these things, which I feel they are not doing the best job, thanks to political radicals on both sides of the spectrum.