The time bomb in the tax code that's fueling mass tech layoffs

Re:The time bomb in the tax code that's fueling mass tech la... by demosthanos on Saturday June 07, 2025 @07:39PM (#44213428)

> O wait obviously that’s not what code is a liability means. Code is a liability in the same way roads or buildings are a liability, they incur an ongoing cost, but removing the US highway system would be just as idiotic as a startup deleting their source repository from a misunderstood idea.

I love this example! It perfectly illustrates a case where the government intentionally subsidizes a liability that no sane company would take on without government funding. Well said.

So we're agreed that the government should incentivize R&D with a favorable tax code that makes it not completely insane to take on the risk of doing something new.

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Re:The time bomb in the tax code that's fueling mass tech la... by Retric on Saturday June 07, 2025 @07:50PM (#44213469)

> It perfectly illustrates a case where the government intentionally subsidizes a liability that no sane company would take on without government funding. Well said.

LOL, try again liabilities like buildings don’t need incentives. Software that is only barely worth maintaining isn’t worth subsidizing, highly valuable software needs no incentives.

If anything you’re making a solid argument government should discourage the creation of software so only the most valuable software is created and maintained. Except the optimum economic efficiency as so often happens occurs without government incentives.

[ Parent | on HN ]