[yequalsx]

The GDP of the U.S. grows, generously, at 3% per year. Wealth is a zero sum game in that the 3% gain must be distributed amongst the 300 million people in the country.

When wealth is concentrated in too few people it does take away from others. Particularly since they get an inordinate share of the gain (in usual times). The distribution of resources, consumption of resources, and benefits of resources in the world is grossly unfair.

In your example of the Calligrapher the shareholders of Apple play the same role as taxpayers. It's just a matter of scale. It makes no sense to see a difference between the two situations. U.S. government is a corporation for purposes of the analogy. It has a revenue, shareholder, and expenses. It's not possible to say in one case it doesn't matter if such a position exists but it does in the case that it's government providing the paycheck.