The notion of a deep state is absurd and is just right-wing bullshit demonizing government employees so that conservatives could justify tearing it down like they’re doing now.
For years, the problem at many agencies has been getting enough good people into government, because who wants to work at a place they’ll be often underpaid and treated/discussed like shit? The IRS is a great example. Their collection efforts (e.g. Biden making an effort to go claim unpaid taxes from wealthier Americans) repay something like 10-to-1 what is spent on them, but year-after-year-after-year they’re underfunded, because it’s easy to say, “Fuck the IRS! BOOOO TAXES!” And nobody wants to hear, “Collecting taxes is literally one of THE essential aspects of government. The agency that collects them needs more resources to do it well–they’re literally still using 1980s computer equipment. Please give the IRS more money.”
The reality is so much less sexy than any conspiracy would have you believe. Less “secret underground bunkers with flashing lights” and more “dilapidated Soviet building that it turns out has been unoccupied for 25 years, but all the files are still in the cabinets, because they just left one day and nobody gave a fuck.”
That’s a great point about the IRS. Where I’m from we also make a lot of derogatory jokes about our equivalent of the IRS, but it really is a cornerstone of any civilized country. No one likes getting taxed, but everyone complains about how nothing’s getting fixed, and how the government should fund this and that. Without taxes we might as well pack it in, so it makes sense that the ‘local tax collection agency’ should be one of the better funded ones.
So I guess what I’m trying to say is thanks for changing my mind
Thanks. I was fortunate enough to go from working as a typical dumbass conservative to jaded and leaving the Hill to suddenly working at a place that focused on the civil service–things like the IRS, OPM, OMB. I suddenly found the talking points I brought with me from a GOP Capitol Hill office very flimsy–beyond insufficient in the face of the reality of these very complex agencies/issues and these people working in these agencies who were waaaay smarter than I was. And some of those people were kind enough to fairly gently go, “Here’s all the shit you’ve been wrong about until now, you fucking dumbass. OH, and just fyi, here’s some of the literal personal human fallout the bullshit you were personally working on caused on this side of things.” It was all sobering. I’m still not an expert, I just mostly try to shutup now unless I’m pretty sure I’m not accidentally still spewing some old propaganda dust bunny that I inadvertently missed.
Latest John Oliver Trump segment shows exactly that: 19-year-old Elon Musk follower known as “Big Balls” online who as of now is a senior adviser at the State Department. :) :) :) :) :)
The notion of a deep state is absurd and is just right-wing bullshit demonizing government employees so that conservatives could justify tearing it down like they’re doing now.
For years, the problem at many agencies has been getting enough good people into government, because who wants to work at a place they’ll be often underpaid and treated/discussed like shit? The IRS is a great example. Their collection efforts (e.g. Biden making an effort to go claim unpaid taxes from wealthier Americans) repay something like 10-to-1 what is spent on them, but year-after-year-after-year they’re underfunded, because it’s easy to say, “Fuck the IRS! BOOOO TAXES!” And nobody wants to hear, “Collecting taxes is literally one of THE essential aspects of government. The agency that collects them needs more resources to do it well–they’re literally still using 1980s computer equipment. Please give the IRS more money.”
The reality is so much less sexy than any conspiracy would have you believe. Less “secret underground bunkers with flashing lights” and more “dilapidated Soviet building that it turns out has been unoccupied for 25 years, but all the files are still in the cabinets, because they just left one day and nobody gave a fuck.”
That’s a great point about the IRS. Where I’m from we also make a lot of derogatory jokes about our equivalent of the IRS, but it really is a cornerstone of any civilized country. No one likes getting taxed, but everyone complains about how nothing’s getting fixed, and how the government should fund this and that. Without taxes we might as well pack it in, so it makes sense that the ‘local tax collection agency’ should be one of the better funded ones.
So I guess what I’m trying to say is thanks for changing my mind
Thanks. I was fortunate enough to go from working as a typical dumbass conservative to jaded and leaving the Hill to suddenly working at a place that focused on the civil service–things like the IRS, OPM, OMB. I suddenly found the talking points I brought with me from a GOP Capitol Hill office very flimsy–beyond insufficient in the face of the reality of these very complex agencies/issues and these people working in these agencies who were waaaay smarter than I was. And some of those people were kind enough to fairly gently go, “Here’s all the shit you’ve been wrong about until now, you fucking dumbass. OH, and just fyi, here’s some of the literal personal human fallout the bullshit you were personally working on caused on this side of things.” It was all sobering. I’m still not an expert, I just mostly try to shutup now unless I’m pretty sure I’m not accidentally still spewing some old propaganda dust bunny that I inadvertently missed.
Imagine all the trump sycophants who are being rewarded with government jobs. I’m so privileged! I get to work at the IRS!
Latest John Oliver Trump segment shows exactly that: 19-year-old Elon Musk follower known as “Big Balls” online who as of now is a senior adviser at the State Department. :) :) :) :) :)
Wowow big balls. So jelly rn.