Fiscal cliff ‘deal’ represents everything wrong with Washington
Only in Washington, D.C., do people raise taxes and fail to cut spending from what they were just a day earlier and call it the “American Taxpayer Relief Act.”
That more or less summarizes what I think about the itsy bitsy deal struck in the Senate earlier this week to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff.
I’m not going to rehash all the details of the deal. Nor do I plan to argue about whether we should consider the deal a) a tax cut for most people, because income tax rates were scheduled to go up this year and now will not, possibly resulting in a lower tax bill than many Americans were set to face in 2013 even after payroll taxes rise by 2 percentage points; or b) a tax increase, because the deal does not mean anyone will actually pay less in taxes in 2013 than they did in 2012, and many people will pay more.
It’s a rather stupid debate to have — not least because some of the same people who argue it’s a tax cut because taxes would have gone up anyway are also trying somehow to claim it’s a spending cut, even though the far-larger automatic sequester cuts have been put on hold for at least two months. Either what was going to happen by law on Jan. 1 counts when we evaluate this deal, or it doesn’t.
We have the spectacle of Republicans’ voting to raise taxes for some people and calling it a “tax cut,” as well as President Obama’s spending weeks insisting on keeping taxes the same on the middle class and striking a “balance” between tax hikes and spending cuts, and then accepting the deal even though neither goal was actually accomplished.
In fact, this “deal” is emblematic of everything that’s wrong with Washington:
1. Congress and the president created the fiscal cliff in the first place. First, they passed laws (especially pertaining to taxes) that are temporary. Second, their other “solutions,” in this case the sequester, don’t kick in for months — before which time everyone will be re-elected and then scramble to undo what they previously did. All of this sets up arbitrary future “deadlines” to resolve “crises.” Washington is forever spending the present trying to turn future actions into history before they ever even happen.
2. Congress and the president spend more time worrying about the political fallout of their policies than anything else, crafting their policies with arbitrary inflection points designed to sound good rather than to accomplish good. After all, does Obama now think someone has “made enough money” or doesn’t need a tax break at $400,000 of income rather than $200,000 (for individuals)? Is anyone in America naive enough to believe that the $400,000 threshold was chosen because there’s some evidence-based reason to believe it maximizes revenue or minimizes economic damage? (Does anyone in America even care about such things anymore?)
3. After weeks or even months of haggling, the final legislation was passed in one chamber mere hours after the deal was reached in principle and in the other only a day later — meaning, as with such hasty monstrosities as Dodd-Frank and Obamacare, congressional aides and industry lobbyists probably know more about what’s in the legislation than do the elected officials who voted for (or against) it. All, of course, because of the arbitrary deadlines mentioned above.
4. After all the focus on individual taxes, which by definition affect the most people personally, the final legislation preserved numerous carve-outs for industry (banks, Hollywood, even NASCAR) that never made the headlines during the weeks and months of haggling. Meanwhile, big elements that were discussed at length — particularly regarding entitlements — remain untouched.
5. Worst of all, the “solution” is so far removed from actually solving the original problem at hand — in this case, reducing the deficit — and pushes so much of the action into the future that we will be treated to this whole charade again within months, if not weeks or even days. Until then, however, we will hear about “bipartisanship” and “compromise” in tones suggesting that incorporating the worst ideas and hypocrisies of each side is somehow a good thing for the country.
And, due to the results of last year’s election, the very same cast of characters will be “leading” us through the next series of crises they create in the name of putting out the fire in front of them. Wonderful.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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224 comments Add your comment
MarkV
January 2nd, 2013
7:28 pm
“By far and away not the best choices the Republican party had to offer.”
It did.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 2nd, 2013
7:34 pm
Well, if anything, I got jam defending a Repug.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 2nd, 2013
7:34 pm
It’s kinda awe inspiring in a way.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
January 2nd, 2013
7:36 pm
The majority of welfare recipients live in blue states.
Don’t fear facts.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 2nd, 2013
7:38 pm
What about Tub-O-Lard Christie blowing a gasket about not getting a wad of obozobucks?
JamVet
January 2nd, 2013
7:39 pm
No, fool, I defend honorable and valorous Americans, while you spit on them.
YOU are the slime who defines them as Republicans and Democrats.
@@
January 2nd, 2013
7:43 pm
You will NEVER denounce his words.
Why should I? You NEVER denounced those of your leftist friends?
Try to remember, I’m a staunch advocate for free speech. You, on the other hand….
Because you wear that swiftboating stench well.
If you’re talking about Kerry, this is my only problem with him. He’s been at the trough far too long and will continue unabated when no one is looking. McCain’s been there too long, as well.
Sen. John Kerry, who has repeatedly voted to raise taxes while in Congress, dodged a whopping six-figure state tax bill on his new multimillion-dollar yacht by mooring her in Newport, R.I.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 2nd, 2013
7:45 pm
Oh, okay.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 2nd, 2013
7:47 pm
I’m I the only one who witnessed jammies foam about the flip flopper for 18 months?
Just curious.
JamVet
January 2nd, 2013
7:57 pm
Why should I?
Why, indeed.
You cheerleaders for the swiftboaters who spit on war heroes like Asslop just did, stink on ice.
And the only good thing is that it is on a public forum where readers can see for themselves.
Support the Troops…
mike
January 2nd, 2013
8:13 pm
Just thought I’d poke my head in here in the Right-Wing Fantasy Chamber. Just as I expected — nothing changed, still living in a fantasy-world. Carry on.
Look on the bright side — you still have 2014 to look forward to. Or do you? Will the American Public throw all the Republican obstructionists and far right nutcases in Congress? Hmmmm…. tune in next week for the answer.
td
January 2nd, 2013
8:16 pm
amVet
January 2nd, 2013
7:57 pm
Why should I?
Why, indeed.
You cheerleaders for the swiftboaters who spit on war heroes like Asslop just did, stink on ice.
And the only good thing is that it is on a public forum where readers can see for themselves.
Support the Troops…
What a farce because if you really supported the troops then there is no way in h3ll you could ever support the left in this country.
mike
January 2nd, 2013
8:20 pm
For once, I agree with Kyle about this Fiscal Cliff deal. It’s like putting a band-aid on a compound fracture broken leg. It’s doing something, but without any real effect.
Hillbilly D
January 2nd, 2013
8:20 pm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/01/oompa-loompa-attack-man-assaulted-by-willy-wonka-characters_n_2392997.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news
Dusty
January 2nd, 2013
8:34 pm
In honor of Rafe I write a little poem
While there are those who hit and holler,
They are not the ones I follow.
Honesty is still the best,
Integrity covers all the rest.
Some say fur. Some say faux.
Let’s hope it’s all within the law.
But let us not forget and fall
For this is true: Love conquers all!
Hootie Who
January 2nd, 2013
8:49 pm
td
Army 82 to 94
You?
Thought so. You wouldn’t even be accepted int he Salvation Army.
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
January 2nd, 2013
9:03 pm
Dusty, I can go to bed now, I’ve had my poetry fix. The best poem I ever read was the shortest. I do not know the author but here it is.
FLEAS
Adam
Had’m.
Hopeful
January 2nd, 2013
9:09 pm
Take some of that money and help families struggling with
their parents taking care of them some people want their parents to die
With Pride and at home with their love ones not ship them off in a old folks
home I want to hold my mother in my arms when she dies and I loved her so much
it breaks my heart but I want her not to die alone isn’t that ok !!
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
January 2nd, 2013
9:09 pm
Further poetic ramblings from Rafe:
DECEIT
Bait and Switch
is Obama’s niche.
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
January 2nd, 2013
9:13 pm
Hopeful
I’ve been there, hang in there, do your best, and above all else forgive yourself for what you can’t do.
Hopeful
January 2nd, 2013
9:19 pm
WWJD that my Question to all of you
Hopeful
January 2nd, 2013
9:21 pm
Thankyou Rafe
Dusty
January 2nd, 2013
9:21 pm
Rafe, pleasant dreams.
I believe that FLEAS
Adam
Had’m
Was written by Ogden Nash. Here’s another one I think he wrote.
Madame
I’m Adam.
Now there’s a man who really had a way with words.
@@
January 2nd, 2013
9:30 pm
I wonder if AmVet’s forgotten that McCain supported “Bush’s” war…then turned around and blamed Colin Powell for taking us to war.
Towncrier
January 2nd, 2013
9:31 pm
“Only in Washington, D.C., do people raise taxes and fail to cut spending from what they were just a day earlier and call it the “American Taxpayer Relief Act.”
Ah…Kyle…you are obviously bereft of a nifty decoder ring with which to decipher such arcane names for legislation. If you had that, then you might be able to divine the wisdom behind the apparent madness. You must learn to trust government and be assimilated into the Matrix.
Towncrier
January 2nd, 2013
9:33 pm
“You cheerleaders for the swiftboaters who spit on war heroes like Asslop just did, stink on ice.”
Do you honestly think John Kerry was a war hero? Just curious.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 2nd, 2013
9:46 pm
I am again amazed at what I accomplished today and should get some sort of award for it. And perhaps a cash prize. Think about it, I single handedly got jammies to abandon his stock, off the shelf Republican foamy lunatic rant in favor of actually defending a Republican. I’m surprised that the world didn’t end at that exact moment. I know for sure that the Mayans quaked with fear.
Am I not worthy of something?
mike
January 2nd, 2013
9:47 pm
Reading a lot of these posts and you wonder why the repub party lost the national election. I think you guys should stay the course since it will likely guarantee the same results at the next election.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 2nd, 2013
9:58 pm
Yeah, if we stay the course in like nominating a north eastern flip flopping aisle reacher from Taxachusetts.
Rubio, anyone?
Banderson
January 2nd, 2013
10:08 pm
Why do cons care what the ratio of spending cuts to revenue raised is? First, you’re couting reinstating the payroll deduction as a tax increase and everybody knew that was just part of the stimulus program that you cons have criticized to high heaven. Plus, all you posted during the election was that raising taxes on those making over $250K was only going to raise $80 billion and that $80 billion wouldn’t make a dent in the deficit. Now you’re complaining about what you claim is $620 billion in increases to cut the deficit. You just like to complain.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 2nd, 2013
10:12 pm
There isn’t a Con on the planet that would claim revenues will be $620 Billion from this travesty. If you want to quote us try “revenues will drop.”
Uh Huh
January 2nd, 2013
10:17 pm
@Lil’ Barry Bailout – OBAMAPHONE!!!
January 2nd, 2013
7:36 pm
The majority of welfare recipients live in blue states.
Don’t fear facts.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The ONLY THING to FEAR is a CONNNNNNNNNNNNN!
BACKSTABBING CONS
(What they do)
(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
What can I do to get on the right track
I wish they’d take some of these knives off my back
(What they do)
(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers
(Back stabbers)
Low down, dirty
(What they do)
(They smile in your face)
Smiling faces
Smiling faces sometimes tell lies (back stabbers)
(They smile in your face)
I don’t need low down
Dirty (back stabbing CONS)
td
January 2nd, 2013
10:21 pm
Banderson
January 2nd, 2013
10:08 pm
Why do cons care what the ratio of spending cuts to revenue raised is? First, you’re couting reinstating the payroll deduction as a tax increase and everybody knew that was just part of the stimulus program that you cons have criticized to high heaven. Plus, all you posted during the election was that raising taxes on those making over $250K was only going to raise $80 billion and that $80 billion wouldn’t make a dent in the deficit. Now you’re complaining about what you claim is $620 billion in increases to cut the deficit. You just like to complain.
That is $620 billion over 10 years verses $80 billion per year. The $620 billion does not cover the additional $4 trillion in spending in this bill. Do you see the difference now?
breckenridge
January 2nd, 2013
10:34 pm
Kyle you hit the nail on the head, members of Congress are much more concerned about doing what’s beneficial for extending their time in Congress than doing what’s right for the country.
A significant number of House republicans simply refuse to vote for any legislation containing tax increases because they fear a challenge from the hard right right next time around. And both House and Senate democrats refuse to even discuss adjustments to Social Security and Medicare as retirees pay more attention than the average bear to these issues and vote accordingly.
I’m convinced term limits are the answer, or more specifically just one term in the House. One and done as it were. Of course floating that balloon would result in overwhelming bi-partisan support – kill the bill!
Uh Huh
January 2nd, 2013
10:39 pm
Eric Cantor has the KNIFE in John Boehner’s back.
Cons are BACKSTABBING each other.
Obama got the CONS going CRAAAZZZZY!
OBAMA WINS AGAIN.
POI
January 2nd, 2013
10:41 pm
“Am I not worthy of something?”
Well if you had a $1.00 to add with your posts, you could buy a copy of the AJC.
If you don’t already have that $1.00, you are as usual are not worthy of anything.
Just saying
Lynnie Gal
January 3rd, 2013
12:01 am
In Republicanland, anyone who compromises with a Democrat is a traitor, so the bitterness is understandable. However, the vote in the Senate shows that not all of them are crazy. And Boehner, for all his faults, isn’t going down with the Tea Party. They’re so widely unpopular now, we will see a TP crash in 2014 and some Republicans don’t want to hitch their wagon to the TP star. Nobody likes Republicans anymore and they know it.
Old Timer
January 3rd, 2013
12:11 am
I give everyone that voted for Obama two years before they really see the light. He had not intention of making America proud. He has his own agenda inherited from his father. Watching the disruption in the Middle East has to be part of an agenda. Two round trips to Hawaii with Ari Force One is not chicken feed–that taxpayers will pay for. There are now eleven states that have more folks on welfare than employed. Sad.
Get Real
January 3rd, 2013
12:21 am
This “president” cares absolutely nothing about reducing the country’s massive debt. Nor do the low information citizens that continue to support him. Get ready for another credit rating reduction as we are on a path for continued trillion dollar deficit spending and a twenty trillion dollar debt.
Gotta love that Hope and Change
Old Timer
January 3rd, 2013
12:59 am
Remember that Obama campaign speech–Hope & Change. He was going to reduce the debt and get American back on track. His train got derailed somewhere and figures that most folks will forget his back & forth campaign speechs. Hey, flying aorund and being pampered in that big old 747 to Hawaii sure beats Chicago. You know the old neighborhood isn’t safe anymore. He wants to retire in Hawaii and get as far and safely away from the mess he is creating. What a guy.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
5:11 am
Sure hope no one was expecting anything different from President Incompetent, were they?
I guess the only way to keep Hope alive is to continue to fail at everything you try.
Me? I’m still hoping to see one ounce of leadership or competency from this President before his term ends.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
5:28 am
Here’s a little tidbit from off in left field:
http://tv.yahoo.com/news/pan-arab-al-jazeera-buys-current-tv-al-091145972–finance.html
“With its purchase of left-leaning Current TV, the Pan-Arab news channel Al-Jazeera has fulfilled a long-held quest to reach tens of millions of U.S. homes. But its new audience immediately got a little smaller.
The nation’s second-largest TV operator, Time Warner Cable Inc., dropped Current after the deal was confirmed Wednesday, a sign that the channel will have an uphill climb to expand its reach.
“Our agreement with Current has been terminated and we will no longer be carrying the service. We are removing the service as quickly as possible,” the company said in a statement.
Still, the acquisition of Current, the news network that cofounded by former Vice President Al Gore, boosts Al-Jazeera’s reach in the U.S. beyond a few large U.S. metropolitan areas including New York and Washington nearly ninefold to about 40 million homes.
Gore confirmed the sale Wednesday, saying in a statement that Al-Jazeera shares Current TV’s mission “to give voice to those who are not typically heard; to speak truth to power; to provide independent and diverse points of view; and to tell the stories that no one else is telling.”
Anybody else think it’s not surprising Gore would think this way?
middle of the road
January 3rd, 2013
7:53 am
“What lies will all involved tell us and each other in order to justify passing the NEXT debt limit increase?”
Debt limit increases should be automatic. Congress only uses the debt limit as a show to force a game of “chicken”. Why pass a budget that requires the debt limit to go up by $1 trillion dollars and then threaten to NOT up the debt limit? If you DON’T want to increase the debt limit, then pass a balanced budget (i.e. zero deficit). That may need significant cuts or significant tax increases. That should be dealt with in the BUDGET – the debt limit should move automatically with the budget.
middle of the road
January 3rd, 2013
7:59 am
The problem is we have two parties in Congress (and the White House): the party of Tax and Spend and the party of Borrow and Spend (hopefully you can figure out which is which). What we need is a party of Spend Only What We Tax Ourselves to Pay For. That party would have increased taxed to pay for the Iraq and Afganistan Wars. That party would have increased taxes to pay for the Department of Homeland Security. That party would have increased taxes to pay for Medicare Part D. That party would be taxing everyone more for Unemployment Insurance. Or else they would be making significant cuts to Defense, Medicare, Medicaid.
But both parties are all about giving their constituents what they want and not paying for it.
independent thinker
January 3rd, 2013
8:08 am
Paul Ryan says he voted for the Obama/Biden tax cuts because he wanted to protect the finances of working people (and to hell with the federal deficit for now). Sounds like he and Grover are now Democrats. Come join them Kyle. It won’t hurt.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
January 3rd, 2013
9:12 am
Raising taxes and borrowing $1trilluon a year are both Democrat ideas, middle of the road.
UIC
January 3rd, 2013
9:13 am
Kyle, you can trash the entire column except the last sentence. “And, due to the results of last year’s election, the very same cast of characters will be “leading” us….” Until that is fixed, nothing else will be. Hey, there’s a column….change the way districts are drawn. Here’s another column….. term limits.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
9:21 am
I’ll gain an ounce of respect for Republicans after a few of them stand up and tell the Tea Party and Grover to go blank themselves.
JDW
January 3rd, 2013
9:21 am
@Kyle…”this “deal” is emblematic of everything that’s wrong with Washington”
I agree and the blame lies 80% with the Republicans in the House. They could have had a deal that made sense but they chose to be the Party of No. As for Obama, he caves again. He should have let the taxes increase for all and let the next Congress sort it out. Perfect example of the dilemma the American People face…Obama is average and the Republicans are a non starter.
If this keeps up for two years we will be back to full Democratic majorities soon. Think not? This is what your “Friends” have to say….
Governor Christie on the subject of the House Republicans refusal to consider the Sandy Aid Bill….
“Americans are tired of the palace intrigue and political partisanship of this Congress, which places one-upsmanship ahead of the lives of the citizens who sent these people to Washington, D.C., in the first place,” Christie said. “New York deserves better than the selfishness we saw on display last night. New Jersey deserves better than the duplicity we saw on display last night. America deserves better than just another example of a government that has forgotten who they are there to serve and why.”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/dems-dream-of-2014-gains-after-fiscal-cliff-follies-85707.html#ixzz2GvBCtTnk
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
January 3rd, 2013
9:27 am
The country was gerry mandered in favor of the Dems much longer than l have lived, from at least 1929 (maybe 1870) to about 2000. I remember when they were so desperate to get rid of Georgia’s only GOP congressman Newt Gingrich they moved his district from West Georgia to North Georgia. They didn’t count on Newt being willing to move and they never got rid of him. To the powers in charge, Georgia was not allowed to even have 1 non lapdog congressman. Now that the GOP has control, it is “unfair”. After another 75 years maybe we can have that argument.
Maybe if the GOP had a fair shot all those years, the country wouldn’t be in this fiscal mess.