[A. Pole]

In the U.S., the main focus has been to reduce centralism and the size of government. In the 1980s, U.S. federal spending was 24 percent of GDP. Today, it is 19 percent. That is only half or two-thirds the level in most EU states, where levels have been rising not falling.

This is a nonsense - how many European countries have federal government? For example the high tax in Sweden corresponds to the COMBINED federal tax, social security tax, state tax, etc, etc ...

[pierrem15]

You're right

Add it up: state income tax, sales tax, excise taxes (gas, tobacco, liquor), property taxes, not to mention the pestilential hidden taxes imposed on phone & utility bills, "franchise fees" (the kickback the cable company pays to local politicians), use fees, permit fees, turning the motor vehicle code into an extortion racket, etc., etc.

I bet that bumps us up to 35% of GDP, easy.