This seems like it could just as easily be of the same issue like the "$17 muffin" outcry for guests at a government event (which turned out to be $17 for a ful

This seems like it could just as easily be of the same issue like the "$17 muffin" outcry for guests at a government event (which turned out to be $17 for a full breakfast). Consider: 1) the amount a normal business spends on its employees happiness (especially tech) and the fact that the IRS likely doesn't have most of those things to begin with 2) Government pay has been mostly frozen for what, 3 years now? Would you stay in an environment where you can't advance? From a business perspective, how do you keep talent in this situation without giving anyone a raise? 3) the IRS is one of the most (unnecessarily) reviled institutions of government, even before its recent troubles. Historically it has caused people psychological stress based on this factor alone (read about it previously; I'll try to dig up some links to substantiate.) I think the interesting discussion here is to compare what the IRS did to what a tech company would do and then dig into why we cheer one and boo the other. Unless we think of the IRS as mindless trolls and not smart people who really do want to serve the public, we have to recognize that people don't deserve to toil in stagnant unhappiness just because they chose public service instead of private.