I live in a high-tax city in a high-tax state and don't do anything aggressive to reduce my tax burden. But if my landlord screws me, I can move. Universities charge an arm and a leg, but there are alternatives, from community colleges to state and foreign schools. Taxes are unavoidable.

It's not that you magically can find some other landlord that's doesn't offer something with 3x rent compared to western-Europe.

You're asking to understand a different perspective. I'm trying to offer that perspective.

> most people can't "just move" and just "pick another uni"

No, but they can weigh the cost of living in e.g. Manhattan versus Queens versus upstate. And they can weigh the cost ex ante of a private university versus community college.

Housing and education have high lock-in. But there is a degree of competition and choice with respect to incurring their costs. That doesn't exist with taxes, which makes some people more cautious about them.