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If I saw a proposal to make tax codes simpler, have people file taxes with a good app provided by the IRS etc and then I saw a politician vote against it, while being funded by companies benefiting from the status quo...

I'd just not vote for that person again.



Such a proposal can be killed at various steps before it gets to a floor vote.

It’s part of why Mitch McConnell was majority leader; he isn’t necessarily well liked, but he is willing to take the heat for not taking up a bill and letting his colleagues avoid awkward votes.


While many people are "single issue voters" [1] it's not too often that someone would vote for an otherwise worse candidate over $50-100/yr tax prep bill.

[1] I hate this term but it's the one that caught on. Almost no one votes positively based on a single issue but many people have disqualifying issues which people treat as the same thing. "Sure they're pro baby eating but their stance on taxes is really quite progressive."


This is 99.9% of politicians.


Voters get the politicians they deserve. In some systems it's easier to be corrupt. IIif there are only 2 major parties so you don't need to good just better than the other guy, or if politicians are funding their own campaigns so you are indebted to sponsors and companies before you are even elected.

But voters are also responsible for those systems being in place.




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