User frustration with Govt services, a chance to fix Biden negative ratings

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Wednesday June 28, 2023 · 6:10 PM PDT

2023/06/28 · 18:10

Its 7:30pm. I have been connected by telephone with the IRS since 4pm today, and now have been disconnected twice. Today, I’ve given up trying to resolve a $300 discrepancy between what I paid and what the IRS says I owe. It’s maddening, almost enough to make me vote for Trump. Well, not that bad, actually. But really, can’t we do better than this?

The IRS has my phone number. They could call me back, but they don’t. Why? I’ve sent two IRS employees on a hunt for the discrepancy, only to have them come back to a dead line. Were they able to call me back, they could resolve my issue and thus reduce the backlog of people on hold. I’ve spent over three hours on hold. They have my name, my SSN, my phone number, my dispute, and it’s all wasted because they can’t—or won’t—call me back. What’s up with that? We have to start over tomorrow.

My dispute is still unresolved. I’ll spend more hours on the phone tomorrow, rehashing the same issue with agents new to the matter, wasting more time and money because this agency can’t figure out how to improve its operation. You can see its point of view from its telephone answering sequence: they’re right, it’s only how much you owe and when you’ll pay or get your refund. The chance that they’ve made an error is only a sliver of the dialog.

IMHO, President Biden could make a sizeable dent in the MAGA resentment by changing the attitude of the IRS and other public-facing orgs, in addressing our complaints and issues as legitimate and worthy of prompt treatment. Prompt, not an hour in queue, and not a dropped line.

Scott Walker fundraiser

davelf2

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Monday April 13, 2015 · 12:55 PM PDT

2015/04/13 · 12:55

I received an email fund-raiser today from Scott Walker. Its right-wing talking points:

•    Cheap political attacks (whimper). Uh, what would be an expensive political attack?
•    Ever cheaper personal attacks (big whimper). Can you give me an example, please?
•    I'm doing something right because Obama is my opponent? Really? That's how you define your righteousness?
•    Our conservative ideology is under attack. Well, yes, it is. It's corrupt to its core.
•    We believe in limited government… No, you don't, the record is clear on that.
•    We believe in fiscal discipline… No, you definitely don't. Look at Ryan's budget.
•    A world-leading foreign pollcy… attacked by Big Government proponents and liberal Washington special interests. Uh, 'scuse me? We have lost contact with our source…

The really serene quote of this e-mail (part one) is:

Our big, bold reforms have turned Wisconsin around

Walker's "big, bold reforms" have most certainly turned Wisconsin around:

•    Total nonfarm employment continues to decline.
•    Contrary to predictions from October’s Wisconsin Economic Outlook, private nonfarm employment continues to decline.
•    Local government employment is down by 4700 relative to January 2011, and continues to plummet.
•    With the exception of Indiana, no other state in the Fed’s 7th district besides Wisconsin has experienced a sustained decline in its coincident index.
•    Looking forward, Wisconsin’s leading indicator continues to signal contraction.

The second half of that quotation:

our big, bold ideas are putting Washington on notice.

Agreed, completely, all of the country should be put on notice, that the implementation of Scott Walker's plan would result in the entire country contracting as Wisconsin has done in the last five years.

How can we get on this list?

davelf2

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday February 24, 2015 · 9:51 AM PST

2015/02/24 · 09:51

The ever-lovable American Family Association has just alerted its hate-loving membership to cesspools of bigotry across the Nation. Someone has gone to a lot of trouble putting together an interactive map of atheist and humanist societies, GLSEN and HRC chapters, and other "anti-Christian" sites. My own church-affiliated LGBT advocacy organization is not there, which gives me a sad.

They are clearly under-reporting all the places where tolerance, diversity and free thought are being welcomed and championed. So, I had a thought, I did: why don't organizational leaders of progressive thought volunteer to be on AFA's map? We ought to be able to make their fancy map chock-full of places they're scared to death of.

So, let's see what we can do to help these folks out. Contact AFA and tell them you feel left out.

The sequester is getting personal

davelf2

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday March 04, 2013 · 9:19 AM PST

2013/03/04 · 09:19

I am an inveterate skulker. I haunt these hallowed, pumpkin-colored halls, dropping recommends, tips and occasional comments, but never real diaries. The sequester has changed that, at least for awhile.

I sent this online letter to Senator Coats, cc: Sens. Donnelly and Rand Paul:

"Your colleague, Senator Rand Paul, was quoted in Investors.com as stating, "I believe the sequester is a pittance".

"Senator, my daughter is being furloughed one day a week, a twenty percent cut in her income. My son, with Asperger's Syndrome, will lose some or all of his job-seeking help. The New York Times detailed today the effect of the sequester on the Americans at the bottom end of the economic ladder. Do you share Senator Paul's viewpoint? Do you have any regard whatsoever for your constituents who will be harmed by this travesty?

"I propose that, to maintain your integrity on this issue, you join in the pain this ridiculous excuse for legislation is causing us:

    Return 20% of your salary to the U.S. Treasury: write a check.
    Return 20% of the campaign contributions you receive to those who sent them. Do not even hint they increase their contribution by 25% before you return 20% of it. Should a contributor elect to do so, return 36% to him/her.
    Cut your government-paid travel: sit in the main cabin. Go through TSA security the way the rest of us do, sans shoes, laptop, coat and everything in the pockets. Live among us. Feel like you deserve better? That's the signal you need to extend to the rest of us.
    Furlough 20% of your staff, tell them it's just a pittance.

"Senator Paul has convinced me (as if I needed more evidence) that your caucus has slipped its leash and is now wholly dependent on the wealthiest few in this country. On its current trajectory, your caucus will slip into obscurity, as the Whigs did before you. Know that I, not blessed to be so endowed as the corporations that support you, will work to accelerate your caucus' movement into oblivion in the coming months.

"I am copying those whom I have referenced. Because the sequester is harming my family, I am posting my letter publicly, as your caucus' actions have made this personal. In conclusion, Senator, permit me a final question: will the Republican Party wither and die, or will it purge itself of its extremist elements and survive?

"Yours very truly,"

davelf2

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday June 12, 2006 · 8:09 PM PDT

2006/06/12 · 20:09

The Episcopal Church in the USA (ECUSA) opened its triennial General Convention in Columbus OH on Saturday.

In a well-balanced review of the opening of the GC, Steve Levin summarized the runup to this year's meeting. They include the election of V. Gene Robinson to be Bishop of New Hampshire, the reaction to his election, and the subsequent creation of a panel of clerics in the Church of England to prepare what is now know as the Windsor Report that attempted to forge a via media between the arch-conservatives in the conservative provinces and the ECUSA.
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User frustration with Govt services, a chance to fix Biden negative ratings

Scott Walker fundraiser

How can we get on this list?

The sequester is getting personal

Well, is it about sex or isn't it?