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As much as I hate Meta, Google, etc... they shouldn't be in the crosshairs here. It's the tax-prep companies like Intuit that are effectively rent-seeking leec

As much as I hate Meta, Google, etc... they shouldn't be in the crosshairs here. It's the tax-prep companies like Intuit that are effectively rent-seeking leeches that serve little purpose outside of "lobbying" politicians to keep the tax code intentionally obfuscated and full of loopholes.

spywaregorilla 3y ago
They should both be in the crosshairs
- gunapologist99 3y ago
  Actually, it sounds like Intuit was the best of all of the named firms (see the original research here: https://themarkup.org/pixel-hunt/2022/11/22/tax-filing-websites-have-been-sending-users-financial-information-to-facebook https://themarkup.org/pixel-hunt/2022/11/22/tax-filing-websi... ) but still not perfect, since they at least shared the username of the active user.
godelski 3y ago
If you're going to move the target like that then why not to congress itself who even enable the ability to lobby in the first place? Several congressmen discuss regulatory capture but they themselves participate in it. Overturn Citizens United.
- NickC25 3y ago
  Absolutely. I'm all for companies being able to participate in political discourse, but there has to be a limit. Regulatory capture, while a natural outcome in a capitalist economy, should be actively fought against with the strongest of forces. My proposal: ~If you've received a federal contract in the last 2 years of over $500,000 , or are currently in the midst of a contract with a federal (or state) agency or military branch, you cannot lobby. ~If you have a EV of over 1 billion dollars, you cannot lobby. ~If over half your workforce are not US citizens, you cannot lobby. ~If any full-time worker in your organization makes within x% of minimum wage, you cannot lobby. I'm all for small and medium sized businesses getting their voices heard. I'm not in favor of massive corporations bullying their way to writing laws that hurt the American people.
esoterica 3y ago
This is a very silly and naive thing to believe. There are 10,000 loopholes and edge cases in the tax code because 10,000 different special interest groups lobbied for them to be in there, not because Intuit put them there. If you see a tax credit for air conditioners purchases by Florida panhandle-based polar bear breeders in the tax code, you should blame the Tallahassee Association of Polar Bear Breeders, not Intuit.
smsm42 3y ago
Why not both? Meta is evil for buying private info, TaxAct et al. are evil for selling it. Additionally, they are evil for profiteering on inefficient tax system and lobbying to keep it that way.

spywaregorilla 3y ago

They should both be in the crosshairs

gunapologist99 3y ago
Actually, it sounds like Intuit was the best of all of the named firms (see the original research here: https://themarkup.org/pixel-hunt/2022/11/22/tax-filing-websites-have-been-sending-users-financial-information-to-facebook https://themarkup.org/pixel-hunt/2022/11/22/tax-filing-websi... ) but still not perfect, since they at least shared the username of the active user.

godelski 3y ago

If you're going to move the target like that then why not to congress itself who even enable the ability to lobby in the first place? Several congressmen discuss regulatory capture but they themselves participate in it. Overturn Citizens United.

NickC25 3y ago
Absolutely. I'm all for companies being able to participate in political discourse, but there has to be a limit. Regulatory capture, while a natural outcome in a capitalist economy, should be actively fought against with the strongest of forces. My proposal: ~If you've received a federal contract in the last 2 years of over $500,000 , or are currently in the midst of a contract with a federal (or state) agency or military branch, you cannot lobby. ~If you have a EV of over 1 billion dollars, you cannot lobby. ~If over half your workforce are not US citizens, you cannot lobby. ~If any full-time worker in your organization makes within x% of minimum wage, you cannot lobby. I'm all for small and medium sized businesses getting their voices heard. I'm not in favor of massive corporations bullying their way to writing laws that hurt the American people.

esoterica 3y ago

This is a very silly and naive thing to believe. There are 10,000 loopholes and edge cases in the tax code because 10,000 different special interest groups lobbied for them to be in there, not because Intuit put them there. If you see a tax credit for air conditioners purchases by Florida panhandle-based polar bear breeders in the tax code, you should blame the Tallahassee Association of Polar Bear Breeders, not Intuit.

smsm42 3y ago

Why not both? Meta is evil for buying private info, TaxAct et al. are evil for selling it. Additionally, they are evil for profiteering on inefficient tax system and lobbying to keep it that way.