You likely know this, but there are so many job opening right now you should sail into a new job should you wish it. I've been in IT for over 20 years and I'm seriously thinking of leaving it for something in the trades. I don't know what you do for a living, but you should be able to pivot easily with about any degree. Employers are dying for people right now. Truck drivers, even local routes, are making so much money. Look at nurses. Nurses can now make $6800/week if they are willing to travel. Even CNAs are making $3000/week. It's insane. Meanwhile, IT wages are stagnant and getting worse because of H1-B visas and the desire to not hire Americans at fair wages. I saw a company I worked for (very well known) go from a handful of foreign workers to majority in 18 months. I bailed. Jobs galore if you want them.

The IRS's new rules about $600 or more in every account being looked at is no joke, either. They didn't hire 18,000 new agents for nothing. The US government has always been scummy. It's really gotten bad since the early 80s. I'm in my 50s, so I can remember when things were a bit more "normal". What we need is something akin to what Finland has, whereby everything the government does is completely transparent. In Finland, their government operations are open to private citizens, people can sit in on meetings, goings on, everything. The government there actually works for the people. Spain is seeing something similar start to take shape. In the US, it's all about profit. And before I come across as some "socialist nutter", I'm actually very conservative (but not a Republican). I just lament the fact there are no real conservatives in the US government at the moment. They're all RINOS, neo-cons, or worse. The Democrats are even in worse shape. This country is utterly rudderless at the moment, and things like this are not helping. They will be utterly shocked at the red tidal wave coming in the mid-term elections, but I have no hope in this since the aforementioned people are no better.

The government has no need to do this. They really don't. It's just another way of them knowing who you are. The system has worked well for years, no sense in changing it now. I do my level best to keep my interactions with government to a bare minimum. Government has always been bad, but really bad in the last 20 years. I'm toying with the idea of getting rid of my smartphone. Everything is just so connected now it's ridiculous. Good luck buying a fridge, freezer, TV, or anything else remotely complicated that isn't geared to be online. This insane push for everyone to be known, their data collected, and identifiable has gotten old. I've been in IT now for over 20 years. I'm thinking about bowing out and doing something more simple like metalwork or woodwork. I want a simpler life. Looking into buying land to get away from the rat race and the insane people the last two years have wrought.