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by blueelephanttea 501 days ago
How does removing an easy tax filing solution improve government efficiency? It seems like a handout to private tax preparers.

I've scanned some of the DOGE stuff and the fact that I have seen pretty much no mention or discussion of the big budget items: social security, military, medicare, and medicaid does not make me optimistic that this is going to do anything about government spending...
7 comments
bananapub 501 days ago
> How does removing an easy tax filing solution improve government efficiency? It seems like a handout to private tax preparers.

it doesn't, the purpose of DOGE isn't to "improve government efficiency", it's a random company being allowed to take over portions of the actual government.

also, killing Direct File is an explicit ask from the H&R Block etc and their lobbyists, since they'll lose business if filing taxes becomes easier. they also oppose any genuine attempt to make the tax system itself more sensible for the same reason.

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toomuchtodo 501 days ago
Similar ideology to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grover_Norquist#Americans_for_... | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_for_Tax_Reform

"Taxes are bad. Anything that makes collecting taxes easier or better is bad."

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DevX101 501 days ago
> How does removing an easy tax filing solution improve government efficiency?

It doesn't. This is a corporate takeover of key government functions. This is just one small part of the plan.

Phase 1, which we're in now is to blame everything on bad governance.

Phase 2 is to say: 'business' can fix it and auction off the US government. Schools, the Post Office, Social Security, elements of law enforcement, and much more.

Phase 3: Read Balaji's "The Network State". TLDR: It will be to give corporations state power, including but not limited to owning and passing laws on their land, and having their own enforcement police/military.

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LargoLasskhyfv 500 days ago
So what? Cyberpunk iz da PHUNQ!
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midnitewarrior 500 days ago
It's not about efficiency, or saving money for taxpayers. It's simply to make government cost less.

IRS Direct File saves a lot of people money, just not rich people.

If it costs rich people money, they don't want it, regardless of how much money it saves individuals.

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red-iron-pine 501 days ago
> It seems like a handout to private tax preparers

the entire premise of the Trump administration is to hand out the fed'gov to large companies and the hyper-wealthy. is this really that much of a surprise?

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hnburnsy 500 days ago
>How does removing an easy tax filing solution improve government efficiency?

It was not removed.

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rsynnott 500 days ago
> How does removing an easy tax filing solution improve government efficiency?

What makes you think any of this is anything to do with government efficiency.

> It seems like a handout to private tax preparers.

Yes.

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