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I was a big fan of the USDSO at the origin, definitely it's previous iterations, but man was it so bad at getting their improvements any publicity. Then and now

I was a big fan of the USDSO at the origin, definitely it's previous iterations, but man was it so bad at getting their improvements any publicity. Then and now they (and Democrats) made the fatal mistake that the slow march of government would be enough for public support. This website too is from that same strategy: "If we simply show Americans the machine they'll understand what they've thrown away!" It's very Aaron Sorkin's West Wing. The reality is that the average american doesn't give a shit about the machines. They want better lives and they haven't gotten that for a long time. Talk to some old guy at a diner about why they were a Democratic voter and you won't hear "The Social Security Administation got my checks on time." You'll hear about the New Deal, wage increases, and how they can retire.

calgarymicro 1y ago
DirectFile was a material product that had a 94% satisfaction rate.[0] Within the remit of this organization, if making filing taxes free and easy doesn't count as making people's lives better, then I'm not sure what does. [0]https://www.nextgov.com/digital-government/2025/06/direct-file-beloved-its-users-internal-irs-report-says/405883/ https://www.nextgov.com/digital-government/2025/06/direct-fi...
- krainboltgreene 1y ago
  > Overall, traffic for Direct File was only up by 16% compared to last year, something the report attributed to a “lack of awareness and public confusion.” > https://www.nextgov.com/digital-government/2025/06/direct-file-beloved-its-users-internal-irs-report-says/405883/ https://www.nextgov.com/digital-government/2025/06/direct-fi...
  - calgarymicro 1y ago
    I'm not sure how much control the USDS that developed DirectFile (or whatever was left of it) had over that given the reasons that article cites for the confusion > The IRS deemphasized the program on its website, the report said, and the media coverage this filing season focused on the question of if the tool existed or would continue to in the future. > Billionaire Elon Musk caused confusion in early February when he posted on X that the team powering Direct File was “deleted,” leading to headlines like “Elon Musk says he 'deleted' IRS Direct File. Can taxpayers still use the free service?” Direct File saw a drop in use after that. To be honest, I'm impressed there was even a 16% traffic increase this year at all.
    - krainboltgreene 1y ago
      Ask yourself: Could this website have been written anytime in the last 8 years? If so, why wasn't it? Given where we are now, the stat I gave, and that only a small number of people are mourning something important speak to my point?
      - calgarymicro 1y ago
        > Ask yourself: Could this website have been written anytime in the last 8 years? No? It was authorized by the IRA, which was only passed in 2022. > Given where we are now, the stat I gave, and that only a small number of people are mourning something important speak to my point? I mean, I wouldn't expect regular users to mourn anything until tax season rolls around next year and people find the tool is missing; even still, I actually have seen a lot of people mad about this, not that it matters. And I still think 16% growth after months of reporting about it getting shut down isn't bad.
        krainboltgreene 1y ago
        Obviously I’m talking about the USDO, Jesus.
        calgarymicro 1y ago
        That wasn't obvious to me, because in that case the answer to why this website wasn't created in previous years seems obvious - because USDS wasn't being demolished in previous years.
- what 1y ago
  Filing taxes is already free. Well I guess you have to pay postage.
  - calgarymicro 1y ago
    > The average taxpayer spends $150 and 9 hours a year on their taxes Not in a meaningful way for most people
afavour 1y ago
> It's very Aaron Sorkin's West Wing. My completely unfounded theory is that the West Wing broke the brains of an entire generation of center left leaning Americans. Led them to believe that being noble and earnest brings you electoral rewards, that you should break bread with your opposition, who are fundamentally reasonable people capable of compromise. I think Trump 2.0 might have finally finished that mindset off but good lord did it take a long time.
- xp84 1y ago
  > that you should break bread with your opposition I was agreeing with you completely until I hit this phrase. What Democrats have you seen "breaking bread with" their opposition? Most Democratic politicians and pundits (not saying voters) spend most of their effort on demonizing those they disagree with, on intentionally imputing the worst motives for their every opinion. If you don't support the most maximal definitions of every ideal they have, you're a bigot. If you didn't vote for Harris, you're a monster who must love Trump. etc. The West Wing Dems could actually bring themselves to hold their noses and cut a deal with their Republicans that gave each side something important to them. To be fair, both parties now consider that practice to be basically treason. It's the parties that are killing us.
  - saagarjha 1y ago
    Democratic politicians. Their voters mostly hate them for it
  - afavour 1y ago
    > “ The thing that will fundamentally change things is with Donald Trump out of the White House. Not a joke,” Biden told reporters at a diner in Concord, New Hampshire. “You will see an epiphany occur among many of my Republican friends.” https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/14/politics/joe-biden-republicans-trump-epiphany https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/14/politics/joe-biden-republican... And Schumer: > When it happens, I am hopeful that our Republican colleagues will resume working with us. And I talk to them. One of the places is in the gym. When you’re on that bike in your shorts, panting away next to a Republican, a lot of the inhibitions come off. https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/schumer-resign-bipartisan-imaginary-friends/ https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/schumer-resign-bi... You seem to be making the common mistake of conflating online discourse with the reality in DC. Senior Democratic politicians have openly stated time and time again that they believe their Republican friends are going to come around, that they’re going to be sane and that this is all a fever that’s going to break. > The West Wing Dems could actually bring themselves to hold their noses and cut a deal with their Republicans They keep doing this? Look at the Senate approvals for Trump’s appointees. Democrats voted in favor of a ton of them thinking it was the bipartisan thing to do and got absolutely nothing in return for it. It’s only a recent phenomenon that Democratic voters are actually punishing them for it.

calgarymicro 1y ago

DirectFile was a material product that had a 94% satisfaction rate.[0] Within the remit of this organization, if making filing taxes free and easy doesn't count as making people's lives better, then I'm not sure what does. [0]https://www.nextgov.com/digital-government/2025/06/direct-file-beloved-its-users-internal-irs-report-says/405883/ https://www.nextgov.com/digital-government/2025/06/direct-fi...

krainboltgreene 1y ago
> Overall, traffic for Direct File was only up by 16% compared to last year, something the report attributed to a “lack of awareness and public confusion.” > https://www.nextgov.com/digital-government/2025/06/direct-file-beloved-its-users-internal-irs-report-says/405883/ https://www.nextgov.com/digital-government/2025/06/direct-fi...
- calgarymicro 1y ago
  I'm not sure how much control the USDS that developed DirectFile (or whatever was left of it) had over that given the reasons that article cites for the confusion > The IRS deemphasized the program on its website, the report said, and the media coverage this filing season focused on the question of if the tool existed or would continue to in the future. > Billionaire Elon Musk caused confusion in early February when he posted on X that the team powering Direct File was “deleted,” leading to headlines like “Elon Musk says he 'deleted' IRS Direct File. Can taxpayers still use the free service?” Direct File saw a drop in use after that. To be honest, I'm impressed there was even a 16% traffic increase this year at all.
  - krainboltgreene 1y ago
    Ask yourself: Could this website have been written anytime in the last 8 years? If so, why wasn't it? Given where we are now, the stat I gave, and that only a small number of people are mourning something important speak to my point?
    - calgarymicro 1y ago
      > Ask yourself: Could this website have been written anytime in the last 8 years? No? It was authorized by the IRA, which was only passed in 2022. > Given where we are now, the stat I gave, and that only a small number of people are mourning something important speak to my point? I mean, I wouldn't expect regular users to mourn anything until tax season rolls around next year and people find the tool is missing; even still, I actually have seen a lot of people mad about this, not that it matters. And I still think 16% growth after months of reporting about it getting shut down isn't bad.
      - krainboltgreene 1y ago
        Obviously I’m talking about the USDO, Jesus.
        calgarymicro 1y ago
        That wasn't obvious to me, because in that case the answer to why this website wasn't created in previous years seems obvious - because USDS wasn't being demolished in previous years.
what 1y ago
Filing taxes is already free. Well I guess you have to pay postage.
- calgarymicro 1y ago
  > The average taxpayer spends $150 and 9 hours a year on their taxes Not in a meaningful way for most people

afavour 1y ago

> It's very Aaron Sorkin's West Wing. My completely unfounded theory is that the West Wing broke the brains of an entire generation of center left leaning Americans. Led them to believe that being noble and earnest brings you electoral rewards, that you should break bread with your opposition, who are fundamentally reasonable people capable of compromise. I think Trump 2.0 might have finally finished that mindset off but good lord did it take a long time.

xp84 1y ago
> that you should break bread with your opposition I was agreeing with you completely until I hit this phrase. What Democrats have you seen "breaking bread with" their opposition? Most Democratic politicians and pundits (not saying voters) spend most of their effort on demonizing those they disagree with, on intentionally imputing the worst motives for their every opinion. If you don't support the most maximal definitions of every ideal they have, you're a bigot. If you didn't vote for Harris, you're a monster who must love Trump. etc. The West Wing Dems could actually bring themselves to hold their noses and cut a deal with their Republicans that gave each side something important to them. To be fair, both parties now consider that practice to be basically treason. It's the parties that are killing us.
- saagarjha 1y ago
  Democratic politicians. Their voters mostly hate them for it
- afavour 1y ago
  > “ The thing that will fundamentally change things is with Donald Trump out of the White House. Not a joke,” Biden told reporters at a diner in Concord, New Hampshire. “You will see an epiphany occur among many of my Republican friends.” https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/14/politics/joe-biden-republicans-trump-epiphany https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/14/politics/joe-biden-republican... And Schumer: > When it happens, I am hopeful that our Republican colleagues will resume working with us. And I talk to them. One of the places is in the gym. When you’re on that bike in your shorts, panting away next to a Republican, a lot of the inhibitions come off. https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/schumer-resign-bipartisan-imaginary-friends/ https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/schumer-resign-bi... You seem to be making the common mistake of conflating online discourse with the reality in DC. Senior Democratic politicians have openly stated time and time again that they believe their Republican friends are going to come around, that they’re going to be sane and that this is all a fever that’s going to break. > The West Wing Dems could actually bring themselves to hold their noses and cut a deal with their Republicans They keep doing this? Look at the Senate approvals for Trump’s appointees. Democrats voted in favor of a ton of them thinking it was the bipartisan thing to do and got absolutely nothing in return for it. It’s only a recent phenomenon that Democratic voters are actually punishing them for it.