I thought I'd share this informative daily newsletter. I don't think I have seen a better synopsis of the disruption that is occurring. The writer is a author and respected historian. She also does the daily in a podcast. I'm not sure how it will show up but if you get a Page that says to enter your email, you can just click on "no thank you" until you're ready to commit.

February 17, 2025

 

Actually, it's all about history today. This is her unfortunately, normal newsletter:

February 16, 2025

The sixty-first Munich Security Conference, the world’s leading forum for talking about international security policy, took place from February 14 to February 16 this year.

heathercoxrichardson.substack.com

 

Kind of related Q: are the US folks in this thread comfortable with filing taxes at this time? My main concern is that while the existing IRS s data is composed of a large mass/millions of records, looking basically the same from the outside (i.e. not standing out for any reason - especially if encrypted at rest - so maybe no easy reason to "pick and choose"), filing assumes network traffic of transactions with PI inside. Those with some access to the IRS infrastructure could easily install an MITM solution, thus decrypt data in flight, and make actively filing a lower hanging fruit, from the stand point of interesting to look at what's "inside", especially as certified "fresh" data.

 

Kind of related Q: are the US folks in this thread comfortable with filing taxes at this time?

Are you talking about online filing? Because for those filing from overseas, the online options are not nearly as available as for those back in the US of A.

 

WRT tax filing for the US, I've long been of the opinion that the time has come for some serious "civil disobedience" for US taxpayers living overseas. And given the notion that the IRS is going to be laying off "several thousand" employees in the near future, it is looking more and more like this could be the chance to "challenge" the notion of "citizenship based taxation." The IRS has been seriously underfunded and understaffed for decades now - and the Republicans seem intent on shutting down the IRS altogether (which is an interesting thought - like where will the government get all the money they need to pay Musk and the other government contractors?).

Mind you, I'm out of that loop these days. Yes, I'm concerned over my US SS benefits, but not much I can do in the face of the current muskrat invasion of the government and its services.

 

... (which is an interesting thought - like where will the government get all the money they need to pay Musk and the other government contractors?).

Right into MMT 😉 The longer answer to your (...) question (and I am not saying I am in [full] agreement with MMT, but it makes some interesting points) is in Stephanie Kelton's book, but a more direct answer (with my ability to find one, in short notice) is also in parts of what Randall Wray says here.

 

I've read a lot of concern about what Musk and his team might be (on purpose or accidentally) going to do with tax information, including that people should move all their money from the bank that they have their refund going to or had it sent to in past years. But I'm not convinced that the 15-20K I hold in that bank is going to provide much temptation to anyone, in the grand scheme of things.

And unlike billionaires, I am not taking any unusual deductions and everything I am reporting on my taxes is easily proved true.

And besides, what can I do about it? I have to file taxes. So once I got the chance (I'm in the midst of dealing with elderly parent issues lately) I filed with Turbo Tax as I have for years. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for my refund to be processed, especially with apparently thousands of layoffs now hitting the IRS.

Every day is a new torrent of awful from this government. Makes me just want to curl up in a ball in a corner somewhere.

 

And here we are. The consequences of this are left as an exercise for the reader.

 

That reads like something straight out of "Animal Farm"

- but a bit more verbose.

 

So what does 'existential' mean again ?

 

Whatever Trump, or whoever he has appointed to think for him today, says it means, of course.

 

Apparently the IRS is going to be firing "several thousand" employees later this week - just before tax season starts to ramp up. Great timing.

IRS may lay off thousands of workers in the middle of tax season

The IRS will lay off thousands of probationary workers in the middle of tax season, according to two sources familiar with the agency’s plans, and cuts could come as soon as this week.

www.livenowfox.com

(Do note the source of the article. For those who have complained in the past about news sources...)

 

Apparently the IRS is going to be firing "several thousand" employees later this week - just before tax season starts to ramp up. Great timing.

IRS may lay off thousands of workers in the middle of tax season

The IRS will lay off thousands of probationary workers in the middle of tax season, according to two sources familiar with the agency’s plans, and cuts could come as soon as this week.

www.livenowfox.com

(Do note the source of the article. For those who have complained in the past about news sources...)

So far,for all the outrage, it hasn't been matched by putting millions of bodies on the streets. Are Americans just too lazy and spoiled? It sure would be a lot easier for 50 million of us just to forget to file our taxes and this criminal istration. I don't think they have the resources to hunt us all down. Unforunately, I already sent my money....may as well file.

 

And all being said (but not yet done), I think there is hope (this makes me proud, as Chicagoan!)

 

Lech Walesa (& 38 ex political prisoners) sent a letter to Trump in which he wrote:

"...the atmosphere in the Oval Office at the time of this conversation reminded us of [the kind of discussions] that the SB [Soviet-era Polish secret police] held in interrogation rooms and Communist courts. Prosecutors and judges, on the orders of the Communist political police also explained to us, that they held all the cards and we held none. They demanded for us to stop our activities, arguing that thousands of innocent people are suffering due to us [the activities of the Solidarity opposition in the 70ies and 80ies]. They took away our freedom and citizens' rights, since we didn't agree to work with the authorities and we didn't show them gratitude. We are shocked that [Trump] treated Mr. President Vladimir Zelensky similarly."

 

Someone wrote in the ing sub (of all places) a fairly detailed response to a concern expressed by someone else, fearful about what's going on. It's been saved as a permanent archive link, which may require to a simple captcha - worth the effort, in my opinion.

 

Read it. That is an excellent synopsis of what's happening and why it can't just be turned around if the Dems got back into power.

 

At this point in time I am mentally hiding under my bed, curled in a ball with my arms wrapped over my head.

It's a pretty high bed; I could fit under there to do this physically too. Seriously considering it. It's so hard to believe this is really happening, but here we are.

 

This is currently doing the rounds.......

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www.politico.com

 

Courtesy of the Lincoln Project. (May have an ad first)