I don't think it's much evidence, if any, that civic responsibility is lacking. It's hilarious to think the contrapositive -- that not doing any inspection or effort or money-spending to validate and potentially legally 'avoid' what the authorities say is due and just paying the bill, evidences presence of civic responsibility. You can't just buy such things.

By fervor I was referring to spending $51k in fees just to avoid $50k in taxes, which is a net loss. If intentional (or intentionally risking such a net loss), that's just spiteful. I don't see how such an ethos could lead to anything but a self-fulfilling prophecy about government.

That's a very broad generalization without any evidence to back it up as being anything more than an assumption. Considering one of the top ways the vast majority of the population avoids taxes is by writing off charitable donations, I'd say the truth is opposite of what you purport.