The USA would not be the USA if not for France's help in the Rev war for 1776+... http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb/revolut/francoam_1
Tax rates around the world... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_rates_around_the_world As you can see, Switzerland for example has a top tax rate of 13.2% only, Monaco is 0%, where in the U.S. it is 35%, plus state income taxes, which vary from state to state with the top rate being 10.3%, plus S.S. taxes of 7.65%., plus we have to pay for health insurance, college, $1,000/ month for daycare per kid. Unemployment rate in Switzerland is 3.8%, U.S. is 5.1% which I think is higher, UK is 2.9%, France is 8.7%. As you can see, the numbers are not out of control as you suggest.
I'm no fan of the 'war' in Iraq post-the capture of Saddam, but I would have to agree with this statement. France has the #1 healthcare system in the world? I didn't know that. Got a link?
Try and compare US taxes to that of France. If you read the entire article I have attached you will discover how ridiculous even marginally successful people are taxed. This is on top of a 20% Value Added Tax. (National Sales Tax) But ya all those things socialism gives you are free and no one pays for them. You want to compare GDP's? http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/France-TAXATION.html
We may not have been able to pull it off at that point without French help, but we surely would have kicked out the Brittish as some point. There is about a zero percent chance that the French would have ever been able to defend themselves from Germany or Russia last century. I'd like to see an estimate of how many Frenchmen gave their lives to help us in the Revolutionary war and compare that with the number of Americans that have died in the 20th century helping defend Europe.
If france has a great standard living it is probably due to its geography. Water mountains vineyards and a great city. It reminds me a lot of California. Lots of choices to do almost anything you wish to do. France was great because they seemed to let their neighbors do whatever they wanted to do. You want to jump off a cliff - go for it. You want to be president and cheat on your wife cool. California seemed to be that way too. Unfortunately the left has been ruining the state in order to gain votes. Giving away shit in order to gain votes just forces you into bankruptcy. Soon Californians will begin to wonder if we should be spending so much on programs. Perhaps Cal will get back to is libertarian roots.