G Guttman: IRS v Taxpayers
on Monday, April 4, 2011G. Guttman Money Quotation saying We’re pretty gullible with our taxes when the IRS makes claims and we treat them as though there is only one answer and no options. G. Guttman said:
“If the IRS took 100 taxpayers at random and sent each an incorrect notice that they owed an extra $92.35 in taxes and interest, more than two-thirds would probably just send in a check without investigating further” — G. Guttman
G. Guttman appears to be commenting on human psychology and the power of authority. The quote suggests that if the IRS (a government body associated with taxes) sent out random notices to taxpayers claiming they owed a small additional amount, over two-thirds of recipients would likely pay without questioning the notice.
This implies that people have a tendency to assume authorities like the IRS are correct and to comply without verification, even for seemingly minor amounts. Guttman seems to be observing how the perception of legitimacy and lack of motivation to challenge authority figures can cause individuals to accept claims and demands uncritically.
In essence, the quote is pointing to the psychological influence of government institutions and how easily people can be induced into certain behaviors through implied legitimacy alone.