How, pray tell, is it abuse to use services funded by the taxes that you pay?

How does your comment not also apply to checking out library materials?

I will go a step further, reading paywalled content for free at the public or university library is exactly the same, especially for content providers, as checking out materials for free.

If you don't love libraries with all your heart I don't think there is much more for me to say.

Its not abuse when the Times offers the service for free to all library patrons, nor when the library (commonly) has paid license to the historical content as well.

Edit: Also, off-campus access to electronic resources using a proxy is standard in the licenses for these sort of products.

Which part was the abusive part?