The 2017 tax overhaul vastly expanded the number of people who could file simplified tax returns, a boon to millions of Americans.
But the new law directly threatened the lucrative business of Intuit, the maker of TurboTax.
Although the company draws in customers with the promise of a "free" product, its fortunes depend on getting as many customers as possible to pay. It had been regularly charging $100 or more for returns that included itemized deductions for mortgage interest and charitable donations. Under the new law, many wealthier taxpayers would no longer be filing that form, qualifying them to use the company's free software.
Intuit executives came up with a way to preserve the company's hefty profit margins: It began charging more low-income people. Which ones? Individuals with disabilities, the unemployed and people who owe money on student loans, all of whom use tax forms that TurboTax previously included for free.
(Score: 3, Informative) by c0lo on Wednesday July 17 2019, @11:56PM (9 children)
Not in regards with taxes, no, it wasn't.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday July 18 2019, @11:17AM (1 child)
Does it really matter which aspect of the laws were bought and sold to favor one business or individual over another?
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday July 18 2019, @10:32PM
Yes, when it comes to corruption and/or dictatorship, it matters
E.g. if the laws impacting free-speech are "sold", you'll be able to live (if you keep the offending speech not know to authorities).
If the laws regarding the private property are "sold", you may very quickly expropriated "by the eminent authority", a destitute and dead in 30 days of hunger.
The communist regimes started with the second; they used the first only as a pretext to apply the second, but you could be subject to the second even if you kept your mouth shut.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday July 18 2019, @11:44AM (6 children)
When they own you, they don't need to play games to get what they want.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday July 18 2019, @03:03PM (5 children)
The silver lining - yes there is one - only *they* own you, not the whole corporation and zillions of *their* agencies which each fucks you in a different way.
But yeah, I can see the disadvantage: you don't have the liberty to choose who fucks you and in which hole, after a while you get bored to be fucked in a single way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 1) by khallow on Friday July 19 2019, @12:48AM (4 children)
A hundred masters does sound worse than one. Except that how do the hundred masters "fuck" you? Selling a few bits of information about your buying interests or playing little games that cost you a little money is a far cry from the police state.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Friday July 19 2019, @12:57AM (3 children)
Some fuck you over the cable/fibre. Others fuck you over the phone. Some others fuck you in physical presence
Some fuck you for taxes. Others for credit rating. Again, some others fuck you in a medical setup that pretend to care about you.
Examples are innumerable.
Should I continue or can you take the words of others [soylentnews.org]?.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 1) by khallow on Friday July 19 2019, @11:42PM (2 children)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 21 2019, @11:15PM (1 child)
Would you like it to be?
I can offer some perspective if you can afford the rent.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Monday July 22 2019, @12:17AM
Rent is free here. But keep what I said in mind. You're not going anywhere with the argument that 100 minor paper cuts are more dangerous than a bullet to the head.