Elon Musk: IRS relies on old computers, ‘can’t pass basic audits’

As a seasoned crypto investor with a keen interest in technology and government efficiency, I find Elon Musk’s recent comments about the US government’s computer systems quite intriguing. Having witnessed the rapid evolution of tech in my lifetime, it’s hard to fathom that a nation as wealthy as the United States could be using equipment decades outdated – let alone the Internal Revenue Service!

Elon Musk, who is informally associated with Donald Trump’s future “Department of Government Efficiency,” has shared his desired role within the upcoming administration – a voluntary technology advisor.

On the platform X.com, owned by the tech tycoon billionaire, Musk, a critical assessment was made about the current condition of the U.S. government’s computing systems.

As per Musk’s statement, the condition of the federal government’s computer systems and software is so poor that it frequently struggles to confirm that transactions aren’t instances of fraud, waste, or misuse.

“That’s why the government can’t pass basic audits. They often LITERALLY don’t know where your tax dollars went. It’s insane.”

Government efficiency

Musk discussed the problems in replies to questions and comments on his original post.

He pointed out that the U.S. government is inadvertently spending a huge amount on software that doesn’t function properly. While some of this issue may be deliberate, much of the outdated equipment and software has lingered due to a large bureaucracy lacking responsibility for outcomes. He noted that if it were primarily intentional, it would be simpler to rectify the situation.

It’s worth noting that Elon Musk claimed that the IRS is allegedly employing machinery that is said to be several decades old.

In reply to a user who humorously suggested those vintage ’90s computers with the Windows 98 startup screen were the ones used by the IRS, Musk lamented, “I wish it were so. Sadly, things are far more complex than that.

Although it’s debatable if Musk was being serious or joking, his comment suggests a general sentiment that America, a wealthy nation, has neglected to maintain and modernize its essential infrastructures effectively.

From Musk’s remarks, it seems clear that he isn’t suggesting a political motivation for his assessment. Instead, his comments imply that the problem may stem from deep-seated bureaucracy rather than deliberate mismanagement.

It appears that Elon Musk might look for a non-political approach to speed up government transparency and promote technological progress, and blockchain technology could be ideally suited for this task.

The upcoming Trump administration has expressed its aim to establish the U.S. as the world’s leading force in both cryptocurrencies and blockchain tech. It’s also important to note that the primary function of blockchain technology is serving as a permanent record or ledger.

At the federal level, establishing a central IT infrastructure based on blockchain technology would create an unalterable ledger of all transactions made by the government. This would facilitate comprehensive audits and offer the possibility of complete transparency regarding tax distribution and expenditures.

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2024-12-10 00:13