You feel that death and taxes are on par with patriotism? Death is a part of life, just like everything else. And, well, taxes, while they aren't the greatest thing in the world, without them the government would just gain access to your money in other ways. I'm not sure what country you are from, but here in the States they call the other way "Shoving bonds down your throat." I think things like ignoring an entire continent going hungry as a black spot on humanity, not taxes. Even then, I'm not sure that patriotism matches that. Patriotism used in the wrong context is a bad thing, which means in most cases it's a bad thing. Either way you look at ignoring Africa, it's always bad.