What does the rich "buy" for their taxes? Under our system of government, they certainly can't buy influence, can they? What do the rich get for all this treasure?
Rules and regulations. That's what they buy. Oh, and a workforce that understands why the rich are bad, why minorities (except fiscal minorities) are oppressed, and why sexual freedom is the most important freedom of all. Of course they may not be able to read, write, or do arithmetic; but priorities are priorities.