But is Texas2UK comparing apples with apples anyway? I don't know how the US system works (or even if it varies by state), but in the UK there is also welfare state provision for people who cannot afford food or housing etc etc.
I'm not suggesting that this is perfect in any way, and of course there are people who fall through the cracks, but the intention is that part of the monies paid to the government through taxes is also applied to help people in such dire straits as well as to healthcare. The idea, and again, I'm not saying it always works, is that a person should never be without basic essentials, so there is no need to make a choice between, say, food and healthcare - both should be provided for, either via welfare benefits or the NHS.
Does that also apply in the US?