Who cares if people "scoff"? The point of a tax is not to affect someone's emotions. The point of a tax is to affect their behavior and collect their money. If

Who cares if people "scoff"? The point of a tax is not to affect someone's emotions. The point of a tax is to affect their behavior and collect their money. If that tax affects their planning and finances (aka they recognize it as a cost of doing business), then you achieved your goal.