I've always thought the solution to this was to fix a tax rate, but let the people apportion the spending themselves, to discover what they find important without letting them claw back the taxes, which I agree would be the default.
Seems like it would shut down entire swaths of "I don't wanna pay for your <x>" bitterness and resentment.
This individual apportionment always seems neat when I think about it, until I realize the vote would not be per person anymore, but per tax paid. I want to force rich people to contribute to welfare. They might be inclined to just fund the police to protect their property.
Seems like it would shut down entire swaths of "I don't wanna pay for your <x>" bitterness and resentment.