Technology can be wonderful and make life easier. For examples: last.fm, internet banking, and Hot Pockets and news about nailing jelly to a wall.

It also gives us tax return software.

But don’t get me wrong. It’s not the tax return software that’s the problem. In fact, the software I used was useful and helpful, and it employed a decent interface. It allowed me to gracefully render unto Caesar, and for Caesar to give back that which he kept interest-free over the past 12 months.

Here’s the problem: With the proliferation of tax return software, and E-File, and all that, there is little hope that we will ever have any kind of serious tax reform. The best argument we used to have against the current tax system is that “taxes are too complicated.” Now the best argument we have against it is, “I have too many software providers to choose from.”

What would be better? No income tax. Failing that, a flat tax. But for now, we’re stuck. Land of the AGI, Home of the Schedule A.

Crank up the burner, folks. That frog won’t jump.