According to multiple news sources, President Barack Obama has embarked on a tour to make a public case for his administration's plan for addressing the impending "fiscal cliff."
So what is the fiscal cliff? It's the changes expected to go into effect when the 2011 Budget Control Act expires at the end of the year. Among the changes are:
- The end of last year’s payroll tax cuts (which means a 2 percent tax increase for workers);
- The end of the 2001-2003 tax cuts;
- The beginning of heath care-related taxes set in motion by the president’s Affordable Care Act.
At the same time, spending cuts agreed on in last year's debt ceiling agreement will go into effect, meaning steep cuts to things like the defense budget and Medicare.
According to the Associated Press, both sides warn that going over the cliff could harm the fragile economic recovery, but the White House and congressional Republicans still differ on whether the answer is to raise taxes or close tax loopholes and deductions.
On Friday, the President will visit the Rodon Group, a Hatfield-based manufacturer that makes K'NEX, Tinkertoy and Angry Birds building sets, to highlight the company as an example of a business that thrives when middle-class consumers have more money in their pockets.
Pennsylvania GOP Spokesperson Valerie Caras issued an email statement suggesting that the president's time could be better spent working with Republicans in Washington.
"Considering the financial challenges our nation faces, we urge President Obama to get to work with Congressional Republicans to find a solution that prevents our economy from falling over the fiscal cliff." wrote Caras.
So what do you think? With only a few weeks left, is the time for talking over? Is it now time for Washington to stop all the posturing and figure out a way to fix the problem?
There would be a lot of hungry lazy people.........but heck, lazy people should be hungry. One last thing people, being poor is SUPPOSED TO SUCK. THAT is what gives incentive to do BETTER. When poor no longer SUCKS, people become CONTENT to be poor, then never make the effort for better. We are a nation of enablers.
Let's see. I'd start with the Department of Education, the Department of Energy, the Department of Housing & Urban Development, The Department of Health & Human Services, the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, The Department of Labor, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Transportation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Bureau of Land Management, the Arctic Research Commission, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, FDIC, Federal Reserve System....I could go on and on but I think you get the idea. There are literally thousands of agencies, bureaus, commissions and departments, none of which were EVER contemplated by the Constitution! Bill Evelyn is correct. Government employees create ZERO wealth, they only take money out of the pockets of the taxpayer that they would other wise spend in PRIVATE enterprise, which DOES create wealth.....lots of wealth!
There's only so much available before it cuts into "Eye Candy" time
If President Carter could of had our current Fed Chair during HIS term, there would have been a second term.
WWE has "He!! in a Cell" while we get "Azzes crossing the Aisle". The cinema brings us the "The Never-ending Story" while DC brings us "The Continuing Resolutions". Even in the song entitled "All I want for Christmas is my 2 Front Teeth" there is NOT a call for the Federal Government (aka Federal Giverment) to PROVIDE the teeth!
"Providing for the welfare of the general public is a basic goal of government. The preamble to the U.S. Constitution cites promotion of the general welfare as a primary reason for the creation of the Constitution." "general public" = people Don't you guys believe in the U.S. Constitution? What's that? Only if you can pick out what serves your convoluted views?
And what would I give up personally? I have listed what I would give up. And that's MY money. Remember me? The People!! Can't get much more personal than that.
These are the last people who will ask for help and the first people who deserve it. First, however, these people will turn to their families, their churches and their own sense of responsibility, turning to the government as a last resort. The problem I have is with the people who turn to the government first without even so much as a look in the mirror for their answers and believe the government is responsible for them, their mistakes and their misfortunes. I really do love your message of love and caring for others. I bet you are a wonderful person. I genuinely wish I could be as nice as you but my faith cannot be put in the government. My faith is in the community and people like you.
Please tell us WHERE you got that definition, because it is NOT from the Constitution. Personally, I would forego Social Security and Medicare above and beyond what I have contributed during my lifetime plus interest! There is no other sacrifice that I can make since I receive NO government payments of any kind!
I didn't think you would give up anything personal - no civil conveniences and protections, no tax deductions or loopholes.
I don't have any deductions to speak of other than the standard deduction. No mortgage deduction, which I'm sure is what you're driving at. If you want to talk about overhauling the tax code that's an entirely different discussion and one that is sorely needed. I support the flat tax, not the national sales tax (or so called Fair Tax). I have no idea what you mean by civil conveniences and protection. One of the primary functions of government is to provide public protection, so no I would not give that up! If by civil conveniences you're talking about parks and such, then absolutely...the government has no business buying private lands to provide recreational activities to the few!
Have you ever wondered withholding down interest rates so artificially low and what would happen to debt interest expense if rates rise?