We Americans pay less tax than the people of any other industrialized country, but we complain about them more. We demand services, then vote against the taxes to fund them. One party has made it a mantra to cry "No new taxes!" without regard to any of the realities of the economy that might make taxes necessary. Both parties are too intent on getting elected to care much about whether our schools, libraries, or health care are funded, or whether there are enough fire fighters or cops to provide basic protection. Our selfish refusal to pay taxes for the services we demand has steadily lowered our quality of life.
The WA sales tax exemption on EVs meant that I didn't have to pay about ten thousand dollars in sales tax, in a state whose major source of revenue is sales tax. If I now have to pay $100 a year EV tax, I'll still be so far ahead it's ridiculous. It would take a hundred years for the state to recover what they gave me.
It's true that it makes no sense to give something with one hand and take it away with the other. And it's true that a weight*miles tax makes more sense. But what makes the most sense is to eliminate all the loopholes and all the subsidies for all forms of energy and transportation. Take away the subsidies on gasoline (that would make EVs much more attractive). Pull out of the Middle East and let people pay the real cost of gas not subsidized by wars. That would end the flow of trillions from the nation's coffers, save thousands of lives, and really encourage people to drive EVs on American energy, while giving a boost to wind and solar as well.
But if the state legislature decides to tax me $100 a year on my Roadster, I'm not so petty or so selfish as to complain.
Taxes are the price we pay to live in a (semi) civilized country. Sure there is waste and corruption in government. There is waste and corruption in private business as well. Look at Enron. Look at the S&L takeover disaster. Look at the sub-prime debacle that caused the present economic mess. All those were private business. Anyone who thinks government is any worse than any other way of doing things has their head in the sand. Politicians and bureaucrats cheat and steal. Ordinary citizens cheat on their taxes. Businesses gouge their customers. It's just human nature. If your solution is to stop paying taxes we'll end up just like a third-world country where the super-rich live behind fences guarded by private armies, kidnapping is an everyday business, and drug wars leave civilians dead in the streets.
I proudly vote in favor of taxes for the services I want the government to provide. My EV pays no gas tax, so I'll support a tax on EVs. I'll advocate the kind of tax that I think makes the most sense, but I'll lobby FOR the good taxes, not against a less-than-ideal one.
Flame away!