and what is coming with the so-called cliff is less bad than what the republicans will agree to.
Consider that A LOT of progressives dearly want to see large cuts in defense spending. Have you noticed what has been missing from everything being discussed in terms of a deal to avoid the "cliff"? Exactly. Now I'll admit I haven't paid attention to details of all the offers, but it seems that going over the "cliff" might be the ONLY way to see those military spending cuts.
Yes, cutting military spending will hurt some people, some people will lose their jobs. But there is no cut in defense spending that won't cause that, and progressives generally want lower defense spending. (The preference might be to do military cuts at a time when the unemployment rate is lower, but hey, what makes anyone think the opportunity will be available then?)
Since there is an insistence on "cutting spending" by the republicans; if military is mostly off the table; how in the world do we do any better than what happens with the fiscal "cliff"? It seems to me that any plan they will come up with will hurt social programs MORE than the "cliff".
Of course there is also the issue of the expiring tax cuts. I wish we could keep the tax relief for only the lowest incomes, the people who are really struggling. I'm sorry, but if you have a flat screen tv and the latest iPhone, you're probably not one of the folks I'm worried about. We need to stop running up deficits. People need to pay sufficient taxes to pay for the stuff their elected reps vote for. That means all of us. Preferably at a more progressive rate scale than we currently have, but in any case it has to happen.