Socialism - But I don't want to play?

I've never been happy by the amount of money that is extracted from the fruits of my labour, I earned it why is somebody allowed to take a big chunk off me to pay for "essential services"? We're always bombarded by "NHS is the envy of the world", "our wonderful NHS", "keep your hands off our NHS". I never quite understood these statements; to me it was more a case of why are there so many sick people? Why does it need so much money? Is tattoo removal essential? Is gastric by-pass surgery essential? If somebody pays to have a tattoo and later regrets it why do I have to contribute to the cost of removing it? If somebody has a lifestyle that makes them obese and they can't control their calorie intake and energy consumption why do I have to contribute to the cost of expensive surgery?

I've always thought that I should be self reliant, earn my keep and pay for what I use and I generally have done (with what's left after HMRC has had their sizable chunk). I paid for myself to go to college and university after being made redundant several times in the early 90s, I worked all the holidays to support myself, I owed nobody. I got a job after leaving university and every month I'd get my payslip with over £1000 every month deducted for tax and NI. I was starting to think that if you work hard then you're going to be financially raped for the rest of your days, pay off your mortgage (but still never own your own home, more on that to come), retire and get a tiny fraction of what you'd paid into the system out in the form of a pension but even 15 years ago there were rumblings that I needed my own pension as there wouldn't be a state pension by then and if there was it'd buy you a loaf and 3 tins of beans! No wonder so many people don't want to work or say "I can't afford to take a job". It was increasingly evident that the government wanted more and more to fund its growing activities, but hold on a minute - when did I agree to all this?

I didn't so I'm extracting myself from this system now - it'll be a long haul but I'm determined to do it. The UK is heading for financial collapse and I want to make sure I'm watching from my dinghy and not the deck. I appreciate that their are a lot of staunch socialists out there who may find what I've said unbelievable but this is what I think and feel and as yet we still have some freedoms in this country (for now) and I don't want to be part of this socialism so I'm getting off.