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GSA Eliminates 18F

nextgov.com

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Re: GSA Eliminates 18F

#171

Post by janeerie »

Freak_NL wrote: post #19

Isn't this the agency that gradually allowed Americans to file their taxes without paying some commercial third party for the privilege? Like the rest of the world? We Europeans used to be able to gleefully report that we could file our taxes in minutes (which, in fact, it being 1 March, I did today), but you almost had it fixed. Look, I know we Dutch aren't perfect. After all, that twat Rutte (our teflon coated form…

They were part of the effort, but not the main component. Direct File is still alive and functioning, for this tax season at least.

Re: GSA Eliminates 18F

#172

Post by labster »

fellowniusmonk wrote: post #151
micromacrofoot wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it's because DOGE is full of sycophants and 18F wasn't, that's the whole thing

You have to get rid of the technically literate internal competition if you want an oversight free monopoly.

Extinguish, extend, embrace

Re: GSA Eliminates 18F

#173

Post by j_san »

Reason077 wrote: post #41

Amazing how the idea of being able to file tax returns online, without paying for a commercial service to do it, is considered far-left extremism in the US. You’d think that simplifying tax returns and reducing costs in the taxation system would be something the right could get behind?

I don't think that far-left was primarily only written because of the tax returns. I followed some links in the article and came to this twitter thread which might explain where that notion comes from: https://x.com/lukerosiak/status/1885523747425399247

(Disclaimer: I don't live in the US and don't want to take any political stance with this)

Re: GSA Eliminates 18F

#174

Post by janeerie »

timewizard wrote: post #71
purple_ferret wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's the tweet that prompted Elon's 'deleted' tweet: >18F, the far left government wide computer office that was recently taken over by allies of @elonmusk, is also the same agency that built Elizabeth Warren's "Direct File" tax program. >Direct File puts the government in charge of preparing peoples tax returns for them. https://nitter.poast.org/alx/status/1886415751528972515 ? Clearly, they think there is somethi…

First of all, it's the US Governments, and thus the citizens, Direct File tax program. Unless Elizabeth Warren personally wrote the code I don't think her brand deserves to be on it. Second, are we pretending it was a good system? "Direct File is now open and available in 25 participating states." Wow. Half the country! That's _almost_ useful. "You can't use Direct File if you had other types of income, such as gig e…

Direct File is following a phased roll-out approach to avoid the "big launch" problem that tends to plague government tech projects. The goal is to serve all citizens, but taxes are very complex, and it will take time to address all scenarios.

Also, as the below commenter mentioned, states need to agree to be part of Direct File.

Re: GSA Eliminates 18F

#175

Post by labster »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #154
skepticATX wrote: post #114

Sad that 18F is gone and that USDS is effectively gone. I’d long had in the back of my mind that I’d take take a short sabbatical at some point and work for one of these organizations - looks like that’s not happening.

Worry not, if we get to vote again, I expect a hard swing back to the other side after these events. Lots of rebuilding to do from the ashes. Steady as she goes as we sail through the storm.

We’re not going to get to vote again. There is no future, America’s dreaming.

Re: GSA Eliminates 18F

#176

Post by [deleted] »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #154
skepticATX wrote: post #114

Sad that 18F is gone and that USDS is effectively gone. I’d long had in the back of my mind that I’d take take a short sabbatical at some point and work for one of these organizations - looks like that’s not happening.

Worry not, if we get to vote again, I expect a hard swing back to the other side after these events. Lots of rebuilding to do from the ashes. Steady as she goes as we sail through the storm.

[deleted]

Re: GSA Eliminates 18F

#177

Post by janeerie »

j_san wrote: post #173
Reason077 wrote: post #41

Amazing how the idea of being able to file tax returns online, without paying for a commercial service to do it, is considered far-left extremism in the US. You’d think that simplifying tax returns and reducing costs in the taxation system would be something the right could get behind?

I don't think that far-left was primarily only written because of the tax returns. I followed some links in the article and came to this twitter thread which might explain where that notion comes from: https://x.com/lukerosiak/status/1885523747425399247 (Disclaimer: I don't live in the US and don't want to take any political stance with this)

This is exactly right. Direct File got thrown into the discussion, but it was not the reason that 18F was getting labelled as far-left.

Re: GSA Eliminates 18F

#178

Post by abeyer »

lesuorac wrote: post #152
superb_dev wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is non-payment cheaper than donations?

No. Taxes are in hindsight so you've already made whatever donations you did by the time you paid taxes. Donations either lower your tax bill or have no effect on it. So, by not filling taxes (_and getting caught_) you're just increasing your tax bill.

Unless of course you're owed a refund, in which case they'll hold your money and pay you interest on it (at least for a few years.)

...but then tax you on the interest they paid you if you claim it.

Re: GSA Eliminates 18F

#179

Post by BrenBarn »

vkou wrote: post #149
dingnuts wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

who, exactly, is in control of independent agencies if Congress never corrects their power and the Executive isn't in charge? For example: the perennial fight over "net neutrality" was because Congress absconded their duty to write regulation and handed it off to the Executive to figure out in a vague way that allowed for flip flopping policies with the force of law every time the administration changed. You know wha…

The purple fringes of the congressional GOP would be crucified by their constituents if they were doing this shit, which is why it is sitting back and letting the executive do everything that the party always wanted, but couldn't, while they keep their hands free. The legislature could stop this, yes. But it won't, because he is carrying out the program the GOP always wished it could have done, but couldn't. Once thi…

> And given just how fucking fast a dedicated executive can destroy anything it doesn't like, there's literally nothing the Dems could have done to prevent this. It doesn't matter what laws they passed when they had control of government, when the current executive simply doesn't follow the law.

Oh yes there is. It's just more radical than they were prepared to admit was necessary. It's things like ramming through thousands of new federal judgeships, packing the Supreme Court, passing anti-gerrymandering laws with jail-time penalities for state officials that violate them, and ultimately packing the union (https://harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-133/pack-the-union-a-...). The things that needed to be done were not "make things so no president can do this when he gets elected", it's "fix the system so these kinds of people cannot ever be elected".

Re: GSA Eliminates 18F

#180

Post by [deleted] »

j_san wrote: post #173
Reason077 wrote: post #41

Amazing how the idea of being able to file tax returns online, without paying for a commercial service to do it, is considered far-left extremism in the US. You’d think that simplifying tax returns and reducing costs in the taxation system would be something the right could get behind?

I don't think that far-left was primarily only written because of the tax returns. I followed some links in the article and came to this twitter thread which might explain where that notion comes from: https://x.com/lukerosiak/status/1885523747425399247 (Disclaimer: I don't live in the US and don't want to take any political stance with this)

[deleted]
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