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Why we need direct democracy March 27, 2022
Here’s an idea: The IRS could provide a place on its website for you to do your taxes. It would provide boxes to enter information now collected on Form 1040: names, SSNs, address, filing status. It would provide spaces to enter your income from various sources. If you think your deductions exceed the standard deduction, you would itemize them. It would check the information you provide against information known to the federal government, such as wages reported by your employer and social security benefits paid. When you’ve finished, it would calculate your tax. If you agree with the calculation, you’d click a button and submit your return online. If you owe taxes, it would either guide you through the process of paying online or tell you where to send your check. If you are due a refund, it would immediately deposit it to your bank account or - if you prefer - send you a check.
The IRS would keep all your information on file so when you do your taxes next year, you’d only have to update the information. All this would be at no cost to you. And since the process would mostly automated, it would reduce costs for the IRS. Making it simple and free for everyone would increase compliance and revenue.
I’m sure I’m not the first to think of this. So why hasn’t it happened? According to a 3/19/2022 NPR story, “20 years ago during the George W. Bush administration, the IRS was actually considering offering its own official tax prep service. And the private tax prep industry didn't want that to happen.” Actually, the IRS does offer a limited online service, but few know about it, thanks to lobbying by the tax preparation industry.
Taxpayers Waste Billions on Filing Federal Returns - nerdwallet, March 15, 2022
I offer this as an example of the U.S. government failing to do the right thing because of the influence private industry and special interests have on Congress. If we had direct democracy, tax preparation would be easy and free, because that is what the people would want. And there wouldn’t be all this struggle over social issues like abortion, LBGTQ rights and gun control. (About six-in-ten Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.) The issues would be put before the people and the majority would decide. The matter would be settled.
With modern technology, direct democracy is feasible. It could all be done online. Each voter would have an online account and they would be able to vote on any bill that comes up. Each bill would have a voting deadline; it would pass or fail on that date depending on the number of “yes” or “no” votes. Or it could happen earlier if the number of “yes” or “no” votes exceeds 50% of registered voters before the deadline.
Proposed legislation could be submitted online by individuals or groups. A proposal would be put before the public and when it gets the support of (for example) 20% of voters, it would become a bill with a deadline for passage.
People could change their vote on a bill right up until the time it gets passed or rejected. They’d be able to see a history of their votes online, but none of it would be available to the government or the public.
This online legislative system would be fairly simple - not difficult to design. The problem would be amending the U.S. Constitution to put it in place. The amendment process is Article V of the Constitution:
It is not likely that Congress could be persuaded to eliminate itself. Nor is it likely that the state legislatures, which are modeled after Congress, would call for a convention to do so. And a simple majority in these bodies is not enough. It takes two-thirds of both houses to pass an amendment and it must be ratified by ¾ of the states. Then there is that last statement that “no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.” Unless the Supreme Court decides is that zero suffrage is equal suffrage, it could decide that the Senate cannot be eliminated.
While replacing the U.S. Congress with an online system that allows direct democracy does not seem possibe, we the people should not let that stop us from designing that system. Once it is designed, people become familiar with it and it gains popular support, a way will be found to put it in place. We will have direct democracy and with that, we will get the government we want.
Send comments, questions, and tips to stevenrharry@gmail.com or call or text me at 517-730-2638. If you'd like to be notified by email when I post a new story, let me know.
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