Just an Observation
>"Now, you tell me what kind of attitude is going to begin to develop on the part of the taxpayers toward the needy. Benevolence? Empathy? A sense of being linked together? Or resentment?"
Okay, I can see your point.
So build a moat around your house, and don't go out of it.
You resent having to give away any of your money to those less fortunate than you.
Many less fortunate than you resent having to give their lifeblood and hours missed from their families to folks like you who have plenty.
You see, it's not all so cut and dried.