would be even better off under a low-tax/private funding model

this would leave one at the mercy of the charity and goodwill of people who generally have neither

listen, the declaration of independence says this:

that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men

the founding fathers recognized that government is a useful tool for a nation to use to work together to secure a better life, so i would hesitate before deprecating its usefulness