Poll: Fiscal Cliff, jump or not?

towermonkey wrote:

and try to leave partisanship and self interest behind

However, since most Republicans have pledged allegiance to Grover Norquist rather than the American public

Try to follow your own rules.

The fiscal cliff needs to happen. The American public needs to understand just what is at stake and what it will cost. I don't think it will, I think Raees is right and they will kick the can down the road. Our military is bloated as is much of the "safety net". It really needs to be slashed and this fiscal cliff is just the ticket.

good point, my rationale was that the solution needed to be without partisanship, that I understood why the Republicans were resisting any tax increases and my "solution" was to provide them with a compromise to give them cover against their pledge. But you are correct, it would have been a better post without that comment.


The more I think about it, the fiscal cliff may be the best solution to get real reform on all sides. I don't buy that the military can not withstand a 9% cut (as long as the troops are taken care of). Our military is without equal, our weapon systems are generations ahead of any other country, our training is unparalleled. Do we need the next generation of weapon systems at a cost of trillions of dollars at this time? Yes, we need the best military, but at what point do you draw the line. Do we need to look at reforms in SS and Medicaid? Yes, but not at the cost of slashing the safety net unconsciable. Can we afford tax hikes? Currently taxes are at the lowest level in generations. At a time of economic crisis due to unpaid for wars, unpaid for tax hikes, increases in SS and Medicare due to the increasing number of retirees from the baby boom, it is probably time to dig a little deeper, particularly on these who have been rewarded from the record growth in income disparity. These are not drastic tax increases, just putting them back in line of 12 years ago, when those very same individuals did very well.

Now is not the time to take things off the table, but put more things on the table for discussion.

Agreed. I think at a time like this everything has to be on that table - no sacred cows. I've sent letters to my congressmen to that effect but I doubt that they do any good.

I am in favor of closing loop holes for the top end wage earners but nothing more in tax increases in the current economy. We need someone to start creating jobs so that people are paying in instead of the government paying out. The pace of spending in the federal government needs to slow WAY down.

There are core beliefs on both sides, and those core beliefs need to bend, while at the same time the opposing side must respect that even a little ground gained is a good sign.

But here's what's really going to happen. Republicans are going to dig in their heels and block any and all legislation to the best of their ability while both sides attempt to get pet projects and completely unrelated amendments tacked on to the "cure" for the fiscal cliff because they know there ain't a chance in hell for their pet project to pass on it's own. Democrats will push for a strong response from the federal government ($$$$$$) and republicans will counter that the federal government needs to stay out of the way and let the allow the economy to recover on it's own.

I don't care to read any responses about whether you think the democrats or the republicans are correct, like STDS, "and try to leave partisanship and self interest behind". I think I painted a fairly accurate picture of how the knotheads from both sides are going to act in Washington because while I can respect the call to be nonpartisan, I think we can all agree that nobody in Washington will heed that call.

I think the best solution is compromise. Loosen some restrictions on businesses, tighten the loopholes to raise revenue (I'll be a little self serving and hope they leave thee mortgage deduction alone), and cut spending - deep, and across the board. No sacred cows on spending cuts.

I'm of the opinion that the federal government can't 'fix' this. It's like a doctor. First do no harm. Make sure to clean up the mess, and then let nature take it's course to heal the wound.

It would be more fair and better for the budget if the Clinton tax hikes are restored, because a large part of the Clinton tax hikes was increased taxes on the middle class...but will all those increased taxes push America back into recession? Or the Republicans could agree to Obama's plan which raises taxes on a tiny minority and budget wise do very little. Especially if the Dem's proposed budget cuts are a lot f smoke and mirrors.