Replacing Old Federal Computers

Re the series on “antiquated” federal computers, Dec. 8-10: As a computer consultant, I use the word “antiquated” sparingly with regard to these machines. It’s primarily a clever marketing ploy by computer manufacturers, and applies to any machine two months old or more. However, there are many people still doing productive work with old 386-based computers and DOS-based applications. Who cares if it’s “antiquated,” as long as it gets the job done?

If Uncle Sam’s present computers do the job, don’t waste taxpayer money to line the pockets of Compaq, Microsoft, etc. If they don’t do the job, replace them.

THOMAS E. BRAUN

Littlerock

* It seems to this taxpayer that the very last thing this country needs is a more efficient IRS. Indeed, the news that IRS computers can only process 44% of data on tax forms is comforting to me. The IRS is already an unaccountable, enormously powerful and fearsome juggernaut, which gives short shrift to the rights of its “clients.” The right thing to do to these legalized thieves is to slowly starve them to death, which Congress appears (finally!) to understand. The image of hundreds of clerks manually stamping forms is just about right. Such methods ought to be mandated by law, if only to give the common citizen a fighting chance.

The idea of an efficient, computerized, all-powerful IRS belongs in an Orwellian novel, not in the U.S. Better yet, the entire evil empire ought to be abolished and replaced with a flat tax. How’s that for “efficiency”?

JAMES F. GLASS

Chatsworth