http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ntage_of_ GDP
UK is 16th in the world with taxes at 37% of GDP.
US is 36th with taxes at 27% of GDP.
I will say that 8% is a friggin deal for your National Insurance though. In the States we pay 7.65% (with our employers matching that) and that only covers social security and medicare. We get nothing in terms of health insurance now for that contribution.