Fiscal Cliff and Election Cliff
FISCAL CLIFF and ELECTION CLIFF – Reviewing the various realities of this morning, I started to focus on 2 "cliffs" at hand, but NOW focus on the FISCAL CLIFF and plan to do the ELECTION CLIFF tomorrow.
TODAY the media is FILLED with various reports and some AUDACITY of HOPE that our elected representatives will NOT take WE THE PEOPLE of the US over the FISCAL CLIFF. Today President Obama is convening a meeting with the 4-key leaders of our US Congress with the courageous hope for a negotiated compromise. What do YOU expect?
FISCAL CLIFF is a national political crisis. The ELECTION CRISIS is local with deadline for candidates for SPRING 2013 elections coming next Wed., Jan. 2. I see an ELECTION CRISIS with particular attention to our SCHOOL DISTRICT OF MILTON since both incumbents - who participated in creating the "mess" in our school district - are seeking RE-election - believe it or not - they want WE THE PEOPLE of our MILTON SCHOOL DISTRICT to re-elect them. I respond, "NO!" There is one and only one person who picked up the packet and that person is NOT yet decided. I plan to deal with the ELECTION CLIFF tomorrow.
Back to the FISCAL CLIFF – the media is FILLED with various reports and some AUDACITY of HOPE that our elected representatives will NOT take WE THE PEOPLE of the US over the FISCAL CLIFF. Today President Obama is convening a meeting with the 4-key leaders of our US Congress with the courageous hope for a negotiated compromise.
IF you want to see one of the updates, I suggest you use this link to Alexander Bolton’s report posted at 6 am ET today on THE HILL, “’Fiscal cliff’ focus shifts to Senate; estate tax emerges as key in talks.”
Alternatively, I read with interest the feature article by Lori Montgomery and Rosalind S. Helderman with contributions by David A. Fahrenthold and Paul Kane published by the Washington Post, “Obama summons congressional leaders for ‘fiscal cliff’ talks.”
Underscoring the CRISIS MENTALITY of the congressional leaders, the article reports, “Thursday was the kind of day that generations of lawmakers had sought to avoid. Since the 1930s — when an amendment to the Constitution decreed that congressional sessions would end just after New Year’s Day — it has been a bipartisan goal to leave before Christmas and not come back. There have been only four previous post-Christmas work sessions. Two were caused by World War II, another was related to the government shutdown of 1995, and another was triggered by a budget fight in 1963.” REALITY strikes… FINALLY!
I am among citizens who wonder WHY the elected leaders did NOT negotiate earlier. I understand that the GOP leaders were hoping – in fact, earnestly praying, that WE THE PEOPLE of the US would elect a GOP PRESIDENT. I am concerned that apparently the GOP leaders have NOT YET realized and accepted THE FACT that WE THE PEOPLE of the US truly re-elected BARACK OBAMA as US President with a VERY SIGNIFICANT VOTE! IF the GOP leadership does NOT accept the choice of WE THE PEOPLE of the US, they need to EXPECT that we are going to SPEAK LOUDER as we vote in November 2014 to be sure that the GOP people do HEAR US!
I mayself have the AUDACITY of HOPE that PRESIDENT OBAMA will demonstrate a PROFILE OF COURAGE to protect WE THE PEOPLE of the US and FULFILL his campaign promise to focus tax increase on incomes over $250,000.
At the same time, I am totally baffled by the AMNESIA of WE THE PEOPLE of the US that when the GOP screams about the SPENDING SPREE of our US government they do NOT keep in perspective the TSUNAMI-WAVE of spending under President George W. Bush with 2 wars – Afghanistan and Iraq – paid for OFF BUDGET and borrowing along with MAJOR TAX CUTS – these are the cuts which are NOW in focus to expire. Major spending did take place at the end of the George W. Bush administration and as Barack Obama became US President to deal with the ECONOMIC DEPRESSION which the George W. Bush policies caused.
While PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON left a BUDGET SURPLUS after his presidential tenure, George W. Bush instigated a spending spree for 8 years which led to the ECONOMIC COLLAPSE and DEPRESSION.
I realize that for political purposes politicians prefer to call it a “recession,” but it was a REAL DEPRESSION. IF ONLY we had accepted that it was a depression, we would have dealt with it MORE DIRECTLY so that the recovery would NOT have been so tedious and LONG as we muddled along NOT taking the economic situation seriously as a DEPRESSION!
I am HOPEFUL, but NOT optimistic and I am NOT holding my breath. Are YOU?
Here we go…
Mr. E.
John Eyster lives in the Edgerton area. He is an adjunct professor of political science at UW-Waukesha and an advocate for democracy/civics education in Wisconsin high schools. John is a community blogger and is not a part of The Gazette staff. His opinion is not necessarily that of the The Gazette staff or management.
Feb 18, 2013 at 12:59 p.m.
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As I see others write in, they do not seem to know who got us into the biggest mess in the history of the USA. BUSH. Google it. The least amount was done by Clinton and Obama. Obama got stuck with it. Where are the jobs? Ask the republicans that sent our jobs overseas. Stop blaming the dems. As I read and listen, the republicans are still for the 1%. Not the real people. Now they want to try and be for us. A very large game for them.
Dec 30, 2012 at 12:28 p.m.
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We are in BIG trouble with the GOP AFRAID TO VOTE...to PREVENT the Fiscal Cliff... WHY??? Don’t you wonder just who is this Grover Norquist who has such a maniacal hold on the Republican Party??........ In an interview in "60 minutes" it exposes the rank hypocrisy in the world in which Norquist inhabits. He terrifies Republican politicians into signing his tax pledge and then promises a swift death for their political career if they renounce it or vote for any type of measure that includes revenue increases of any measure by the federal government even if they have nothing to do with taxes.........Now Grover is the proxy for the powerful interest groups that finance him. So, not only does the Norquist Pledge symbolize a "political system short on legitimacy....... it isn’t even about principle or ideology. Conservatism my foot, it’s all about the money.
Dec 29, 2012 at 9:53 a.m.
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Harry Reid rejected taking a vote on Obama's plan 3 weeks ago...guess some want to ignore who is really holding up getting a deal ironed out.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/se...
Dec 29, 2012 at 2:31 a.m.
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MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS yesterday on the "FISCAL CLIFF"! Happy to hear President Obama's statement to WE THE PEOPLE of the US with his ASSIGNMENT to CONGRESS to take a vote. Yes, JUST PLAIN TAKE A REAL UP or DOWN VOTE ON HIS PLAN if Congress is not able to put together a plan of its own and pass it. KEEP THE FAITH, BARACK OBAMA! FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!
And, VERY happy to read the report that WARREN BUFFET asserted, "We'll get it solved" in an interview with BBC Radio 4 yesterday morning (Friday). Source URL: http://gazettextra.com/weblogs/we-people....
I have AUDACITY of HOPE that our CONGRESS will VOTE for the BEST INTEREST of WE THE PEOPLE of the US. Do YOU? Here we go... John W. Eyster
Dec 28, 2012 at 11:48 p.m.
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Let us not forget who bankrolls the GOP. They pledge their loyalty to the Upper 2% and Corporate Elite. The GOP appears to be choosing to ignore the other 98% in hopes they will go away in time......... Much has been made of the need for a “balanced deal” and usually that refers to the balance of cuts to revenue. Here’s the balance I want to see: for once the rich being asked to sacrifice as much as the poor and the middle class. Truly more should be asked since they have benefited from loopholes and Bush tax cuts.......... Also maybe the politicians could provide a little help by cutting the waste as identified by the internal audits of every government department, agency and program while giving us a new tax code that we can all read and understand.
The goal is to increase economic activity to raise revenue and cut moderately in order to not prohibit economic activity. We know better than that. Tsk tsk
Dec 28, 2012 at 1:51 p.m.
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Prosecuted for breaking the law? You mean like David Gregory..
Dec 28, 2012 at 1:42 p.m.
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RetiredAirForce said, "yeah okay, just because you think so."
No, the reason has nothing to do with me. It is because the law says so. If providers don't follow the law, I'm sure you'd join me in wanting to see them prosecuted.
Dec 28, 2012 at 1:31 p.m.
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" end users price (those children on "crunches" and elderly people with walkers) can not be raised to recoup the fee."
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yeah okay, just because you think so companies will willing take a cut to their bottom line without passing off the costs.
Dec 28, 2012 at 1:26 p.m.
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RetiredAirForce said, "...every child that breaks a leg (needing crunches) or every elderly person needing help walking (needing a walker) will be paying a "fee" (tax) under obamacare starting next year."
RetiredAirForce, you seriously need to do more research prior to making such incorrect comments. Children needing "crunches" and elderly people needing walkers will not be paying a "fee" (tax) under ObamaCare starting next year. The medical device manufacturers will be paying the fee and due to fixed fee schedules of the Affordable Care Act, the end users price (those children on "crunches" and elderly people with walkers) can not be raised to recoup the fee.
"Regarding the medical device tax, due to fee schedules, the end user’s price is already set and can not be raised. Therefore, who will be impacted from this tax?
“Who this tax should really make nervous are the individual providers who are going to be purchasing those devices,” Gustin said. “Ultimately, the tax gets passed down to the consumer, but in this case, the provider is the consumer, not necessarily the patient.”" [ http://www.healio.com/orthotics-prosthet... ]
Dec 28, 2012 at 1:14 p.m.
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Guess the leftest poo thinks only rich people get hip replacements.
"On January 1, 2013, a 2.3-percent excise tax on the total revenues of medical-device companies — regardless of whether they turn a profit or suffer a loss — will take effect. The tax will hit everything they sell, from x-ray machines and pacemakers to surgical tools and artificial hips. The levy could extract as much as $29 billion over the next 10 years."
http://www.forbes.com/sites/sallypipes/2...
Dec 28, 2012 at 1:09 p.m.
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"The tax that’s drawn the most heat in Congress is the one on medical devices — a 2.3 percent levy on most medical products"
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/ne...
Dec 28, 2012 at 12:35 p.m.
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RetiredAirForce, there is nothing in the article you cited that mentions "crunches" or walkers.
Dec 28, 2012 at 12:22 p.m.
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poor poo guess you missed how every child that breaks a leg (needing crunches) or every elderly person needing help walking (needing a walker) will be paying a "fee" (tax) under obamacare starting next year...what was that silly remark about rich people?
Dec 28, 2012 at 11:24 a.m.
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kiowamohican, outstanding post, you nailed it. We get what we deserve, keep growing government and electing these clowns to run it and then question why things are screwed up, that is a sign of insanity for sure.
Dec 28, 2012 at 10:50 a.m.
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I hope all goes good, and the congress-president acts as they normally do, in that NOTHING GETS DONE, and we go over the cliff. With so many slime balls, however, it's most likely some meaningless compromise will be made that continues to kick the can down the road, and once again pushes the problem over to King Ben, who will gladly print some more $$$'s to solve all our problems short term...AGAIN.
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I really don't get why people are so upset?? WE THE PEOPLE elected back all these clowns. The incumbent president won, easy, and 98% of congress retained their seats. You get what you vote for, and the people voted for the SAME AS ALWAYS. So why is this whole thing evoking so much talk, and frustration?? Everything that is happening now, was the same thing that happened in the last budget talks, with the SAME figures involved. What was Einsteins definition of insanity?
Dec 28, 2012 at 10:48 a.m.
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It might help the United States if we actually had a BUDGET (as required by law).
Dec 28, 2012 at 10:38 a.m.
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You are right gary, in this case the ideals are just losing the entire nation, definitely a difference.
Dec 28, 2012 at 10:25 a.m.
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The only difference being that
Baghdad Bob
was losing the war.
Dec 28, 2012 at 10:16 a.m.
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ALERT - I encourage readers to take read Steve Knox's blog today, "So you want to be a community blogger?" Excellent commentary on "community blog" experience!
I posted a comment of appreciation with comments re. "community blog" experience added.
I regularly read not only the other "community blogs," but other blogs on gazettextra.com.
Yes, Steve is correct - Greg Peck is a PAID EDITORIAL WRITER & BLOGGER, so the frequently of his postings is expected. On the other hand, Steve and I along with our "community blogger" colleagues are PURE VOLUNTEERS!
THANKS for your continuing meaningful blogging, Steve!
Here we go... John W. Eyster
Dec 28, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.
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RetiredAirForce said, "Happy New Year — here are your new health law taxes."
"Your?" Addressing your rich buddies again, RetiredAirForce? I doubt that a significant percentage of reader's incomes exceed $200,000 per year or $400,000 per year in the following examples taken from the link [ http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/ne... ] provided by you:
"But the bigger story is in the Medicare tax hikes that high-income earners will see both on wages and investment income. That would be a heavy tax hit, but only for the wealthiest couples — about $2,500 for some couples making as much as $400,000 a year."
"The Affordable Care Act funds a substantial share of its cost through high-income Medicare taxes that will affect individuals making more than $200,000 and joint filers making above $250,000. The tax will go up by 0.9 percentage points on wages above those levels, and there will be a 3.8 percent tax on unearned income."
"Here’s how the new taxes would hit a family of four making $400,000. Assuming the two parents made $360,000 in total wages and $40,000 through investments, they will pay more than $2,500 next year in new health law taxes, according to Nick Kasprak of The Tax Foundation."
Dec 28, 2012 at 9:31 a.m.
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Happy New Year — here are your new health law taxes
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/ne...
Dec 28, 2012 at 8:09 a.m.
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I love this paragraph:
"At the same time, I am totally baffled by the AMNESIA of WE THE PEOPLE of the US that when the GOP screams about the SPENDING SPREE of our US government they do NOT keep in perspective the TSUNAMI-WAVE of spending under President George W. Bush with 2 wars – Afghanistan and Iraq – paid for OFF BUDGET and borrowing along with MAJOR TAX CUTS – these are the cuts which are NOW in focus to expire. Major spending did take place at the end of the George W. Bush administration and as Barack Obama became US President to deal with the ECONOMIC DEPRESSION which the George W. Bush policies caused. "
However I have to ask Obama supporters and Democrats in general, why is it ok for Obama to spend like a drunken sailor but not the GOP? I am against it no matter which party, consistency is just a little important to establish credibility. I am sure most will say that Bush spent it on Wars and tax breaks for the rich, even though we all got tax cuts in 2002, plus how do you pay for a tax cut, that really makes no sense. Anyway then Obama is paying on infrastructure and social programs which help people. The Bailouts really didn't help anyone except the unions that supported him look at how much the stock buy is going to cost the taxpayers, the stimulus was a total bust for sustained success and will cost many times more than the initial trillion that was spent. As far as social programs such as Medicare and SS, neither is sustainable at their current levels, that is undeniably factual, yet nobody steps up to fix it at the risk of looking heartless. Like it or not SS is a ponzi scheme, as defined by the governments own definition of Ponzi scheme, which I found out yesterday. Medicare has contributed to skyrocketing costs of healthcare as much as the 'greedy' doctors and pharmaceutical companies, inefficiency and regulations not to mention ridiculous payment for things at any cost has contributed. The faster we decrease the role of government in all our lives the better off EVERYONE will be. That is a fact.
Dec 28, 2012 at 8:07 a.m.
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The delusions from the fringe left are much like the ramblings of Baghdad bob.
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