Yeah, I'm sure my libertarian leanings influence this, but I see a huge difference between legally keeping as much of your earned income as possible (through deductions/credits/etc.) because in that scenario you are keeping what's yours....money you spent time and effort to make. It was never the tax payers money. It was yours, and the government requires you to fork it over under penalty of law.
But to not work, 'cause you don't wanna, and then use money that others were forced (by threat of force) to give? I don't know. I see a difference. I doubt I'll convince you, or you I, so I'll leave it at that.
I paid social security and Medicare taxes, I have no problems using those. But Medicaid, politically, has always been assumed to be used by the poor. If we can cut Medicaid to only be used by people who actually need it, I'd do it. But most people have zero clue that wealthy early retirees are using it to retire even earlier. I can see why they'd be furious to find that out, based on how Medicaid is used politically.
I'm not saying I for sure won't use it. Just that I'm torn.