This rings true to me, people complain they pay too much taxes, but then go on to rely widely on what the state provides and of course will cry in horror if anything is to be taken away. For instance (and I don't necessarily approve these policies, just stating recent examples) the 5 euro/month decrease in APL subsidy for students, or the cancellation of the CSG exemption for retirees.

Fair enough, in that sense yes I agree that a lot of people don't have a good understanding of the inner workings of their government.