throwawaybae420

Most software development doesn't fulfill any of those criteria, and merely contributes to the engine of capitalism. After graduating myself, sticking to my conception of what purposeful work meant, meant I sacrificed too much of myself for no good reason. Therefore, I'd just do something for the sake of it, and maybe it works out or maybe it doesn't, but you'll eventually find that what you spend most of your time doing has a negligible effect on improving the world in remotely as meaningful a way as you'd hope to.

This is hacker news, where people either work on esoteric projects for the sake of intellectual curiosity alone, or they make a shit ton of money and reason backwards from that into how much they contribute to society so they don't feel bad walking past the person shitting on the street outside their $5k/month apartment. Or you're in the third or fourth camp, where you're a fresh grad with hopes, or someone who makes a modest amount of money that they doesn't really change their class in much of a meaningful way

Why do people pay taxes that put them in real risk? Isn't the point of taxes to contribute financially to the continuance of the place that is doing something for you? I currently owe like 5 years worth of taxes, but paying it would compromise my well-being, so they can wait. Seems perfectly rational. If you have 50000 to pay in taxes, but only 10000 in savings and $3k a month in expenses, or even $50k in savings, only a small amount should be legally required from you. Maybe the U.S is different.

Not to say I'm not working on it though, but if paying taxes would put me on the street, guess what, I'm not paying them until whatever they pay for lets me live a life. Just like any other debt, if I'm put in a vulnerable position, debts don't get paid unless they someone else owns the thing I'm living in or depend on, or they can break my legs, like the bank. One could argue you shouldn't have made that particular risky financial move, or you shouldn't be taxed on reception of illiquid assets, which would also both be valid.