What a Massive Mess!

So, here goes it - my 2c worth on fixing the government. Okay, okay. Anyone who knows me knows that I have enough 2c ideas to fix the federal deficit. I didn't say they were all feasible, I don't know. You decide.

#1. Abolish the current IRS. Do away with the tax code.

Studies have shown that the same financial information, given to 10 different professional tax preparers, yields 10 different tax amounts. The current code is too complicated even for the EXPERTS. The average American citizen doesn't stand a chance; and the better tax preparer you can hire (read that the most daring and willing to push the envelope), the less tax you will owe to the IRS, e.g. the government.

It is high time we abolished the current tax code, scrapped the whole thing, and institute in its place a fair and equitable tax on all citizens equally. I like the idea of a flat tax. Total Income x Flat Tax Rate = Tax You Owe. Period. No deductions for anything. You earn it, you pay tax on it. The government would achieve the same if not greater income levels. The citizens would be rewarded with a fair and reasonable flat rate tax on whatever income they make. And without all the deductions and loopholes, everybody pays their fair share.

#2. Employ displaced former IRS employees as Government Auditors.

Instead of chasing down Joe Taxpayer for taking a deduction he shouldn't have taken (because there won't be any tax deductions), the Government Audit department will audit government spending and government payments. If they do the job right, the money saved by eliminating fraud and erroneous payments should result in significant expense savings. No department is exempt. Audit the HELL out of the GOVERNMENT! They are accountable to US, the TAXPAYERS who pay their salaries!

#3. Upgrade our government to state-of-the-art technology!

The government is a HUGE entity, with antiquated technology systems, limited connectivity and sharing of data, and enormous duplication of effort as concerns its citizens. Why can I  go to Target or Staples or any of the big mass merchandisers these days and get a refund without a receipt based on my phone number? How does FaceBook know that I just searched for gardening bulbs online? Simple: Their technology is superior. If Target or WalMart can have state-of-the-art technology at their fingertips, within this country, why can't the federal government have superior computer systems as well? I  propose a think-tank, comprised of the smartest minds in technology - Gates, Jobs (Apple),  Zuckerberg (Facebook), Ruben (Google) and others - to upgrade our governmental computer systems. Shouldn't the government of the greatest country on earth be AS technologically advanced as our discount store chains and social media networks?

My point is this. America is still a great country - full of innovation, creativity, opportunity, all things that make us the nation that we are. THAT SAID, we are in a financial crisis of epic proportions, and change is long overdue. It's time to REALLY DO SOMETHING to fix the mess we're in, instead of constantly arguing about whose fault it is.

And the time to fix things is now.