The greater the numbers affected (forced into non-compliance) the better.
We are in complete agreement on this point.
Although if we design a system that can side-step the aspect of being forced into non-compliance that would be even better.
the IRS will be most interested in the top crypto earners, not those running Steemit accounts with pitiful rewards such as us
I agree but with caveats because many of us earning “pitiful rewards” now will end up becoming wealthy because we’re investing those rewards in crypto. Our sector has another 10 – 1000 times gain over the years ahead depending which projects one is invested in. Actually I think 10,000 times gain is possible for a few who are early in the right project(s). But even at an average of 100 times gain ahead (assuming invested in a small marketcap project with YUGE growth potential), many Steemians could become wealthy (although frankly I think STEEM may underperform because of the corruption1).
We may be the only ones left with capital in any coming economic collapse, so one presumes the IRS would go where the money is, because that is what bank robbers, politicians, and all other thieves do.
And in any case, I think most of us would prefer to have a system similar to best aspects of Steem (minus the broken aspects of the design and the corruption), but where the rewards are not taxable (because of differences in design of the system) so that we don’t have to worry about it. You probably do not conceive how it could possible to design a system where the rewards do not qualify as taxable income. I have a surprise up my sleeve.
I don’t think the tax aspect would be a sufficient reason alone to switch to such a system and move away from Steem. I think there would also need to be other compelling advantages.
1 I linked to some of the flaws and corruption in my blog. It’s also possible to do money laundering on Steem by funding numerous sockpuppets then having them upvote legitimate accounts so that the funds aren’t directly attributed to the dirty money because rewards are minted from new money supply. So that might cause increased demand and liquidity for STEEM. I have not written about this latter form of activity before and I do not think very many people are aware of it. This money laundering facet of Steem is another aspect that I think might end up putting Americans in danger for using the Steem platform. Bloggers could be getting themselves entangled in dirty money and have a difficult time proving they weren’t complicit.
RE: Taxes destroy all of us rich or poor