8 ms·

Intuit lobbies to keep taxes complicated so they can continue to have a business model. https://www.propublica.org/article/filing-taxes-could-be-free-simple-hr

Intuit lobbies to keep taxes complicated so they can continue to have a business model. https://www.propublica.org/article/filing-taxes-could-be-free-simple-hr-block-intuit-lobbying-against-it https://www.propublica.org/article/filing-taxes-could-be-fre...

ahallock 7y ago
And this is surprising because? It would be surprising if they didn't do that, honestly. The government is at fault here for selling political power and not representing the interests of the people. We could boycott Intuit, I suppose, or use different products, but aside from that, the fault and source of the problem lies squarely with the government.
- justwalt 7y ago
  I think it’s reasonable to feel surprise at learning that this is allowed to happen. Why the surprise-at-surprise style reaction? It makes people feel a bit mocked.
- ppseafield 7y ago
  We weren't talking about surprise - we were talking about shame. Just because something is legal doesn't mean it doesn't deserve shame. You come off as being oddly defensive towards Intuit.
- jakelazaroff 7y ago
  I truly don't understand this logic. If I found some legal loophole by which I could indiscriminately murder people with no repercussions, no one would excuse it with "well, technically he was allowed to do this so why are we surprised?" And if I were working with the government to create that loophole… I mean, in this scenario, I'm still murdering people, right? Should my conscience be clean because the government wasn't representing the interests of the people? How is any of this ethically exculpatory?
  - jjoonathan 7y ago
    Haven't you heard? "Incentives made me do it" is an excuse that frees you from all responsibility!
  - ahallock 7y ago
    > If I found some legal loophole by which I could indiscriminately murder people with no repercussions That's a pretty absurd argument. And the government can actually kill people legally, by design. All I'm saying is that Intuit is a symptom of a larger problem with gov selling political power. Intuit is trash for what they're doing, I agree.
- rhizome 7y ago
  Why is there always someone who injects "surprise" into every controversy? Who's talking about surprise?
vonmoltke 7y ago
How easy it is to file has little relation with how complicated they are to prepare. That article is exclusively about filing. Intuit very little to do with making taxes complicated. There are plenty of more powerful interests responsible for that.

ahallock 7y ago

And this is surprising because? It would be surprising if they didn't do that, honestly. The government is at fault here for selling political power and not representing the interests of the people. We could boycott Intuit, I suppose, or use different products, but aside from that, the fault and source of the problem lies squarely with the government.

justwalt 7y ago
I think it’s reasonable to feel surprise at learning that this is allowed to happen. Why the surprise-at-surprise style reaction? It makes people feel a bit mocked.
ppseafield 7y ago
We weren't talking about surprise - we were talking about shame. Just because something is legal doesn't mean it doesn't deserve shame. You come off as being oddly defensive towards Intuit.
jakelazaroff 7y ago
I truly don't understand this logic. If I found some legal loophole by which I could indiscriminately murder people with no repercussions, no one would excuse it with "well, technically he was allowed to do this so why are we surprised?" And if I were working with the government to create that loophole… I mean, in this scenario, I'm still murdering people, right? Should my conscience be clean because the government wasn't representing the interests of the people? How is any of this ethically exculpatory?
- jjoonathan 7y ago
  Haven't you heard? "Incentives made me do it" is an excuse that frees you from all responsibility!
- ahallock 7y ago
  > If I found some legal loophole by which I could indiscriminately murder people with no repercussions That's a pretty absurd argument. And the government can actually kill people legally, by design. All I'm saying is that Intuit is a symptom of a larger problem with gov selling political power. Intuit is trash for what they're doing, I agree.
rhizome 7y ago
Why is there always someone who injects "surprise" into every controversy? Who's talking about surprise?

vonmoltke 7y ago

How easy it is to file has little relation with how complicated they are to prepare. That article is exclusively about filing. Intuit very little to do with making taxes complicated. There are plenty of more powerful interests responsible for that.