Not to wear this too thin.

Taxes must be paid from "surpluses". Meaning something left over beyond the necessities of life, are available for taxation, less distribution costs of Government (huge proportion lost), to be put into the pockets of others by edict.

Somewhere between complete Government Dictat and unchecked Laissez-Faire is the middle ground of a working economy.

IMHO, France has too many Riders, not enough Horses.