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It appears to be a fairly fundamental cultural dichotomy between the US and Western Europe about what we think the role of government should be.
Here in Europe, most people believe that it is one of the fundamental duties of government to provide a good educational (to university level) and healthcare system for its citizens, and to have a decent social "safety net" in the form of a reasonable state pension, livable benefits for those who are out of work, disabled or whatever. We are willing to pay for such things with a reasonably high level of taxation.
In the US the attitude seems to be more that taxation should be lower, and that people who want university education or good healthcare should fund such things themselves through their own efforts.
We probably each believe that "our" way of doing this is better, since that's what we've been brought up to accept is the "right" way to do it.
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