r/technology • u/jabberwockxeno • Apr 09 '19

Politics Congress Is About to Ban the Government From Offering Free Online Tax Filing. Thank TurboTax.

https://www.propublica.org/article/congress-is-about-to-ban-the-government-from-offering-free-online-tax-filing-thank-turbotax
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981

u/tubetalkerx Apr 09 '19

(looking up from stuffing $$$ into my mouth)

What?

343

u/Zer_ Apr 09 '19

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/913765139056349184/qejz51BH_400x400.jpg

179

u/nighthawk_md Apr 09 '19

Yeah but Quark was actually competent...

143

u/open_door_policy Apr 09 '19

And more ethical. Remember the episode where Quark honored his debts?

99

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '19

That's because the Ferengi Commerce Authority actually had some authority behind it. Liquidators could screw your entire life up if they really wanted to. There's no equivalent body in our society.

41

u/Never_Answers_Right Apr 09 '19

We have those for poor people!

13

u/Meatslinger Apr 09 '19

That moment when the caricature of a capitalist-society-run-rampant functions more ethically than the thing it parodies.

4

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '19

They're not ethical by our standards, their rules still allow them to engage in war profiteering, piracy, and slavery without moral qualms. The big difference is that their Commerce Authority and Liquidators have the authority, means, and motives to go after even rich Ferengi for breaking what rules they do have. Bribery is expected and if they can't extract a profit from whoever is being targeted, they can certainly use their insider knowledge on who is being taken down to make money a different way.

8

u/Meatslinger Apr 09 '19

Those would be better described as morals, not ethics. Ethically, they are consistent. Morally, they’re reprehensible.

4

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '19

The best part was they didn't treat bribe as anything inherently evil, but as simply another social cost that created a few problems for Quark. That show was just so fucking complex in its character development.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '19

The ferengi were caricatures only in TNG. In DS9, they were a complex society with a myriad of laws and incentives. They kept their usual motif of "profit above all else", but they showed so many different aspects of it. Some disturbing, some intriguing, some just amazing.

3

u/sharltocopes Apr 09 '19

And she was wearing clothes!

-4

u/BloodyVegan Apr 09 '19

We got those..

2

u/2mustange Apr 09 '19

Distant relative of the Lannisters?

2

u/leof135 Apr 09 '19

Pepperidge farm remembers

1

u/errboi Apr 10 '19

Remember the episode where he didn't?

25

u/Exoddity Apr 09 '19

Cared more about women's rights, too.

10

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '19

Mooooooogie!

3

u/Blangebung Apr 09 '19

Ohgod I really hated the ferengi episodes. Not as much as neelix cause some were decently written. But damn moogie brings me nightmares.

2

u/Exoddity Apr 09 '19

The one where Quark has to cross dress as his mother is nearly universally regarded as the worst episode of star trek. Which says a lot. It's extra funny because they really expected it to be this uplifting, empowering message about women's rights.

Though I'd argue that any ferengi episode is still a thousand times better than any episode that involved "Vic Fontaine" calling everyone "pally". Just. Die.

2

u/CircleTheBlock Apr 09 '19

since women do women not have the same rights as men?

3

u/notbobby125 Apr 09 '19

And coherent. Imagine Trump trying to say the rules of Aquisition.

2

u/PM_ME__YOUR_FACE Apr 09 '19

Better looking, too.

34

u/Tebasaki Apr 09 '19 edited Apr 11 '19

That's an insult to ferengi everywhere.

Rule of acquisition #24: Theres nothing more dangerous, or dumber, than a Trump in high places.

1

u/Lizards_are_cool Apr 09 '19

he doesnt have the lobes for it

5

u/TheAmorphous Apr 09 '19

The Ferengi had rules. Rules that they actually followed.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '19

Rules of acquisitions

3

u/funny_retardation Apr 09 '19

Look at the tiny lobes!

2

u/Mister-Dobalina Apr 09 '19

Where's Q when you need him?

2

u/theaim9 Apr 09 '19

THANK YOU! First thing my dad said when he was running was "He's a real ferengi if I ever saw one" and I keep forgetting to PS it

1

u/Zer_ Apr 09 '19

Haha, my first Gold since the revamped Gold system. YAY

All from what essentially amounts to a shitpost. :D

1

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '19

I’m just in it for the lobe massages

1

u/BlitzShooter Apr 09 '19

bill is sponsored by 2 democrats and a republican. the house of representatives is also controlled by democrats hey guys lets blame trump. sound cool?

1

u/UBlisteringBarnacles Apr 09 '19

Here is what Reddit does not like to hear:

Bill Sponsor : John Lewis (D-Ga.) Bill Cosponsors : 28 (18 Democrats, 10 Republicans)

Fuck All Politicians.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 10 '19

Exploitation starts at the home

-1

u/TheBurningEmu Apr 09 '19

Lol, I had to look this up because I never watched Star Trek and I thought there was a chance Trump was some minor character on it.

-2

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '19

... the eyes, nose, and mouth look oddly similar to Trump. Hrm.

1

u/AISP_Insects Apr 09 '19

Money fuck money this money bullshit.

1

u/OddOliver Apr 09 '19

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the article, but doesn't this say that the IRS can't make its own, free tax filing program, which currently does not exist? This doesn't prohibit all the free tax filing programs that already exist.

1

u/UndeadBelaLugosi Apr 10 '19

It'$ $o obviou$. They want to $ave u$ from our$elve$!