[ale] Rant[ish]: government and states requiring proprietary software

[Jay Lozier]

On 09/17/2012 01:15 PM, mike at trausch.us wrote:
> On 09/14/2012 01:23 PM, Jim Kinney wrote:
>> puzzled.
>>
>> All of my tax forms are done using downloaded fill-in PDF docs and 
>> Linux native pdf reader. For a few years I had to use Adobe reader 
>> until the Linux native one has better support for fill-in forms.
>>
>> None of the forms I've used have required javascript from the pdf. 
>> Please provide example form number for the curious.
> The 2011 GA 500 __REQUIRES__ JavaScript.  If you do not have it enabled,
> or are using a secure PDF reader program that doesn't include JavaScript
> support at all, then the following message appears:
>
>> WARNING: THIS APPLICATION IS NOT VALID FOR THIS FORM...
>>
>> If you are seeing this message it is because the application you
>> have selected to open this form is not the appropriate one.
>>
>> Today, besides Adobe® Reader, there are a number of applications 
>> (Chrome®, MAC® PDF viewer plugin, Foxit® Reader, etc) that allow you 
>> to view PDF documents and also, to fill PDF fillable forms.
>>
>> Unfortunately these applications are not prepared to run the
>> advanced features contained in this form.
>>
>> To solve this problem, use Adobe® Reader.  Please follow the 
>> instructions below this line:
> I'd give you more examples, but I figure this one, right here at home,
> is the best.
>
> Also, the GA corporate return suffers the same fate.
>
> (They did this, by the way, because they now use JavaScript to perform
> "validation" of the form, and then modify the form before printing --
> even on Adobe Reader, you're not allowed to Ctrl+P to print the form,
> because you have to hit a button in the form to print it so that it will
> create a scannable barcode.)
>
> How can this be fixed?
>
> States should include a cryptoprocessor on your driver's license, and
> you should be able to use it to securely login to the state's web site
> to perform things like filing your taxes and, hell, even voting.  Yes,
> voting.  That's exactly what strong crypto is for!
>
> For that matter, the states could then have a relationship with the
> federal government, vouching for your identity when you use your
> cryptochip to do things on the State web site, so that they can let you
> have a channel to the federal government to securely file your taxes for
> free, electronically.
>
> Why don't we do that?
Probably because they have not learned to use the latest in office
technology - the typewriter or is that too advanced over the quill pen.
>
> Probably 'cuz it'd make a%)(*&@#%($7 sense.
>
> 	--- Mike
>
>
>
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-- 
Jay Lozier
jslozier at gmail.com

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