And this is the point that keeps getting lost in all the "free stuff" noise. I don't mind paying taxes, I'm mainly ticked off about how and where they are being applied...

That's the burden of a super power.
The difference between USA and the previous ones is that the previous ones did not hide under a moral cover. They openly interfere and control for the sake of their interests. France UK, Germany, Italy, they conquer land and governments because they need to be strong.
In practice USA do the same, if it do not align other countries by force, another power will do it. The problem is to try to pose as a good guy while doing it.
Of course, the big problem is that there are competing powers forcing countries to align by economical, political or military conquest instead of relying in their real economical or quality superiority (free market is a myth on this case).
Multilateralism is an answer for that, but even at world level, the veto power of the 5 countries make it difficult.

It is not a matter of good and evil, it is just forcing bad economical deals on periferic countries throats and avoiding other economical power to do the same.