By contrast, when I pay taxes to literally have my money taken from me and handed directly to somebody "less fortunate" (by somebody's estimation), I receive no direct benefit back to myself in the form of the very tangible goods/services I am supposedly paying for.

The direct benefit is that those "less fortunate", who may have a mental illness, are less likely to be driven to violent crime against you.

A more egalitarian society is a more stable society.

Ancient Rome had a huge wealth disparity right before it crumbled. Pre-revolutionary France had an elite upper-crust that was oblivious to the plight of the poor masses, who then took up arms against their oppressors.

When you say that government handouts are for losers

you must first put yourself into the position of the people in the Midwest, where entire industries are disappearing. Human privations sometimes don't have any sort of alternative relief.

I have my money taken from me and handed directly to somebody "less fortunate" (by somebody's estimation), I receive no direct benefit back to myself in the form of the very tangible goods/service

Does anybody actually read Madbolter's walls of text?

Mb, I'm not sure who said any success you enjoy is primarily a result of luck.

Craig Fry, you make my points for me.

Does anybody actually read Madbolter's walls of text?

It is disqualifying for a modern-day presidential nominee to refuse to release tax returns to the voters, especially one who has not been subject to public scrutiny in either military or public service. Tax returns provide the public with its sole confirmation of the veracity of a candidate's representations regarding charities, priorities, wealth, tax conformance, and conflicts of interest. Further, while not a likely circumstance, the potential for hidden inappropriate associations with foreign entities, criminal organizations, or other unsavory groups is simply too great a risk to ignore for someone who is seeking to become commander-in-chief.

Mr. Trump says he is being audited. So? There is nothing that prevents releasing tax returns that are being audited. Further, he could release returns for the years immediately prior to the years under audit. There is only one logical explanation for Mr. Trump's refusal to release his returns: there is a bombshell in them. Given Mr. Trump's equanimity with other flaws in his history, we can only assume it's a bombshell of unusual size.

(Anticipating inquiries regarding my own tax release history, I released my 2010 tax returns in January of 2012 and I released my 2011 tax returns as soon as they were completed, in September of 2012.)