Thu Dec 20, 2012, 10:49 AM
MadHound (34,179 posts)
Let me throw some facts at you about this contrived crisis, the fiscal cliff.
There are some folks who are spreading disinformation about going over the fiscal cliff, claiming that going over the fiscal cliff will hurt the poor, take away food stamps and Medicare and such, that we would be sacrificing the poor if we don't do a deal now.
That is simply a lie, a complete and utterly stinking pile of cow manure. Here are the facts: Food stamps and Medicaid are shielded from sequestration, they will not be touched if we go over the fiscal cliff. Medicare cuts will be cuts to providers, not patients. The extension of the federal emergency extension of unemployment insurance is not part of the sequestration, but rather part of what is being put on, taken off, scrambled around the table of this grand bargain that is being foisted upon us. At this point we have no clue as to what is going to happen to it, but we do know that if it isn't part of the grand bargain, or if we do the smart thing and go off the cliff, Congress can take it in the new year, with a new Congress. These cuts take place over a span of ten years, not all at once. The various federal agencies are already considering putting off the sequestration cuts in order to allow the time and space for a new Congress to deal with these issues, so again, none of the sequestration cuts will take place right on January 2. The only real issue that absolutely, positively has to be dealt with before the end of the year is the Alternative Minimum Tax patch. If that isn't dealt with, then the middle and upper middle class will be feeling some pain, not the poor and downtrodden. Once again, we are seeing Third Way/DLC/neoliberal propaganda being spewed, trying to sacrifice all of our long term good for some short term, possible, maybe, gain for a few. They are trying to split liberals and the Democratic party, pitting the poor against the elderly. Don't fall for this propaganda bullshit. Our best bet, for the poor, the elderly, all of us is, at this point, to go right off that cliff. Don't let anybody try to convince you otherwise. Links: http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/29/news/economy/fiscal-cliff-spending-cuts/index.html http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-12-10/news/ct-met-food-stamps-20121210_1_food-stamps-supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-food-pantries http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_fiscal_cliff
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43 replies, 8476 views
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Author | Time | Post |
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MadHound | Dec 2012 | OP |
MotherPetrie | Dec 2012 | #1 | |
coalition_unwilling | Dec 2012 | #2 | |
whatchamacallit | Dec 2012 | #3 | |
Autumn | Dec 2012 | #4 | |
Harmony Blue | Dec 2012 | #9 | |
1StrongBlackMan | Dec 2012 | #31 | |
leftstreet | Dec 2012 | #5 | |
99Forever | Dec 2012 | #6 | |
Lasher | Dec 2012 | #7 | |
Harmony Blue | Dec 2012 | #8 | |
WillyT | Dec 2012 | #10 | |
Owl | Dec 2012 | #11 | |
WilliamPitt | Dec 2012 | #12 | |
raouldukelives | Dec 2012 | #13 | |
Sadiedog | Dec 2012 | #14 | |
ProudProgressiveNow | Dec 2012 | #15 | |
WhaTHellsgoingonhere | Dec 2012 | #16 | |
FiveGoodMen | Dec 2012 | #17 | |
forestpath | Dec 2012 | #18 | |
abelenkpe | Dec 2012 | #19 | |
octoberlib | Dec 2012 | #20 | |
me b zola | Dec 2012 | #21 | |
Myrina | Dec 2012 | #22 | |
John2 | Dec 2012 | #23 | |
grahamhgreen | Dec 2012 | #25 | |
grahamhgreen | Dec 2012 | #24 | |
harun | Dec 2012 | #27 | |
mac56 | Dec 2012 | #26 | |
Wellstone ruled | Dec 2012 | #28 | |
1StrongBlackMan | Dec 2012 | #29 | |
progressoid | Dec 2012 | #40 | |
1StrongBlackMan | Dec 2012 | #41 | |
The Magistrate | Dec 2012 | #30 | |
bluerum | Dec 2012 | #32 | |
dchill | Dec 2012 | #33 | |
PoliticalBiker | Dec 2012 | #34 | |
octoberlib | Dec 2012 | #35 | |
ReRe | Dec 2012 | #36 | |
bullwinkle428 | Dec 2012 | #37 | |
bananas | Dec 2012 | #38 | |
gollygee | Dec 2012 | #39 | |
WHEN CRABS ROAR | Dec 2012 | #42 | |
lumberjack_jeff | Dec 2012 | #43 |
Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 11:12 AM
coalition_unwilling (14,180 posts)
2. Emphatic K&R! Thanks for the links (very informative) - n/t
Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 11:15 AM
whatchamacallit (15,558 posts)
3. K&R n/t
Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 11:15 AM
Autumn (42,326 posts)
4. K/R. My neighbor ran out of unemployment benefits 2 weeks ago
she received her food stamps and TANIF yesterday and will qualify for LEAP. People who run out of unemployment qualify for aid. People touting this part of the cliff are just spreading fear and disinformation.
Soar over the cliff. |
Response to Autumn (Reply #4)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 11:32 AM
Harmony Blue (3,978 posts)
9. Most people don't know their options
so they assume the worst without having the information on hand.
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Response to Autumn (Reply #4)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 01:02 PM
1StrongBlackMan (31,849 posts)
31. That's because we haven't gone over the cliff yet.
report back on your neighbor on January 15th ... assuming there isn't a deal that reverses the Big S.
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Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 11:19 AM
leftstreet (34,854 posts)
5. The ThirdWayers are starting to sound downright silly here
DURec
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Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 11:21 AM
99Forever (14,524 posts)
6. Bingo, we have a winner. n/t
Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 11:22 AM
Lasher (25,654 posts)
7. And the AMT patch could be extended in February.
In that case taxpayers would have to file amended returns if the patch is extended after they file their 2012 taxes. I can think of no other downside to this scenario.
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Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 11:25 AM
Harmony Blue (3,978 posts)
8. Once we are over this fiscal cliff talk
then people will see how sequestration works.
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Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 11:34 AM
WillyT (72,631 posts)
10. HUGE K & R !!!
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Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 11:36 AM
WilliamPitt (58,179 posts)
12. Posted to BuzzFlash
K&R.
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Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 11:43 AM
raouldukelives (5,178 posts)
13. K&R! nt
Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 11:48 AM
Sadiedog (353 posts)
14. Except,
I heard from my work that we will lose 3 classrooms with sequestration. I work for Head Start!
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Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 11:57 AM
ProudProgressiveNow (6,047 posts)
15. K&R nt
Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 12:04 PM
WhaTHellsgoingonhere (5,252 posts)
16. this is great info, Madhound. thank you!!
Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 12:09 PM
FiveGoodMen (20,018 posts)
17. K&R
And Thanks.
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Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 12:10 PM
forestpath (3,102 posts)
18. K&R Thank you.
Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 12:14 PM
abelenkpe (9,933 posts)
19. K&R
Pretty sure democrats that are arguing third way talking points are older and well off and will not be effected by third way policies.
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Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 12:25 PM
Myrina (12,296 posts)
22. K, R & Thank you!
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Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 12:27 PM
John2 (2,730 posts)
23. You forgot
about the military cuts in the sequestrian. They are worried about cutting defense contractors and laying off defense workers. Along with the increased taxes, the sequestrian is worst for the GOP. President Obama promised the GOP would cave to defense people and he is more worried about them losing their jobs and becoming unemployed. The unemployement rate will rise due to the lost of defense jobs. Wall Street and the Defense Industry are very worried. That is why Romney said in the Debates, it was a bad deal for the GOP.
The Defense cuts gives the President a lot of leaverage on the GOP, but the problem is Obama doesn't seem to want to really cut back on the military. Seems like to me he wants to continue the neocon warmongering. You cut ther purser, then it will force the Democrats and Republicans to cut back on obligations to other countries. I think that is the wasteful spending and the sequestrian is a good thing. I'm waiting to see if the Republicans would really throw the Military Industrial Complex under the Bus? |
Response to John2 (Reply #23)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 12:35 PM
grahamhgreen (15,741 posts)
25. This is our best best to trim military fat that I've seen in a decade! Let's do it!
The defense jobs would be better replaced by jobs in green energy - jobs that contribute to and do not drain the economy like war does.
In other words, when you build a windmill, it continually returns money into the economy in the form of electricity, when you build a bomb, it blows up and is gone. |
Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 12:31 PM
grahamhgreen (15,741 posts)
24. Charts to bolster this argument
Remember how they screamed the economy would collapse if we didn't do these deals? Fact is it was the deals that cratered the stock market! ![]() ![]() ![]() The cliff is the best deal Americans have on the table. |
Response to grahamhgreen (Reply #24)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 12:58 PM
harun (11,303 posts)
27. "The cliff is the best deal Americans have on the table."
Which is why it won't happen.
The American people are not in charge. The Corporations are and they want cuts to SS and Medicare, whcih is what they will get. If it doesn't improve Corporate profits, this Congress isn't going to waste their time discussing it. |
Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 12:59 PM
Wellstone ruled (34,661 posts)
28. Thank you Hound for reminding the Board
about the Wall Street induced hype. People are being pounded by the so called media about all of the false narratives,not a single piece of the real truth. Notice how all the amp up in the last week,who met with the Rethugs 10 days ago,answer,Loyd Blankfine. End of story.
Notice today's meeting at the White House of the big business honcho's was not attended by President Obama. Something tells me that our President has made up his mind and is calling out the fake cliff for what it is. Harry Reid in a remark earlier this morning has stated that Boners plan B stunt won't even be brought up in the Senate. Our President is monitoring his twitter and e-mails by the actions and reactions he has taken in the last 72 hours. The man has moved on to bigger issues,like spending quality time with his family. |
Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 12:59 PM
1StrongBlackMan (31,849 posts)
29. Well ...
The extension of the federal emergency extension of unemployment insurance is not part of the sequestration, but rather part of what is being put on, taken off, scrambled around the table of this grand bargain that is being foisted upon us.
That's not what Pew says about U/C. http://www.pewstates.org/research/reports/the-fiscal-cliff-and-unemployment-insurance-benefits-85899435199?p=4 Though they do say that the impact will vary among the states. When we go over the cliff we'll revert back to the fed/state sharing formula ... which will hurt the states with the highest unemployment rates. And, look what else Pew says: •Roughly 18 percent of federal grant dollars flowing to the states would be subject to the fiscal year 2013 across-the-board cuts under the sequester, according to the Federal Funds Information for States, including funding for education programs, nutrition for low-income women and children, public housing, and other programs.
http://www.pewstates.org/research/reports/the-impact-of-the-fiscal-cliff-on-the-states-85899430339 So, we can pretend that going over the cliff is a "Shock Dotrine" cannard if we wish ... but doing so would not be based in fact. The most vulnerable amongst us WILL, as always, suffer immediately and the most. |
Response to 1StrongBlackMan (Reply #29)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 07:27 PM
progressoid (47,701 posts)
40. Yep.
And states are already strapped for cash. Somebody is going to have to take a hit.
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Response to progressoid (Reply #40)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 08:54 PM
1StrongBlackMan (31,849 posts)
41. I'd far prefer any hit be ...
in the form of a chained CPI that would affect SS recipients over the course of 20 years ... if Conggress refuses to change the formula.
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Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 01:00 PM
The Magistrate (93,162 posts)
30. Hear Hear, Mr. Hound!
"I believe it's time for me to fly...."
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Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 01:43 PM
PoliticalBiker (328 posts)
34. DURec
Off the cliff is the only way.
Fuck making a deal before then Feed the r's their own bag of bullshit... see how they like it. Obama.... DON'T YOU DARE FUCKING CAVE ON THIS!!! |
Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 02:34 PM
ReRe (10,597 posts)
36. Honestly!
K&R
I am a PROGRESSIVELY LIBERAL DEMOCRAT. If I can go over the cliff with this much ease, I'm betting that others can too. Y'all need to take a break and get your breath. Have some spiked eggnog, or a draw yourself a glass of wine from the wine box, or brew a cup of pekoe, or a hot toddy. Something soothing, NOT black coffee. Grab a cold cloth, your drink, and ease into that easy chair, feet up, cold cloth on forehead. Take a big swig of your drink. Now RELAAAAAX. Let it all go. I'm not being condescending, I swear. I know PO did or didn't do allot of things during his first term, and Rahm opened his big mouth and ridiculed us, and many didn't come out and vote in the midterm, (I did vote in 2010.) It was a rough first term. The economy was in the basement after 8 years of GW's cabal! But,that's all in the past. We have to go on, and realize it is a new day. Have a little faith. We mustn't listen to the propaganda...all this "cliff" business. "All we have to fear, is fear itself!" (FDR) OK... everyone can come and beat me up now. Please don't kick too hard. I'll just guzzle this beer to numb myself before you start in on me. Cheers! ![]() |
Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 02:38 PM
bullwinkle428 (20,532 posts)
37. Exactly. This is pure "shock doctrine" bullshit on the part of the unholy alliance
of wing-nuts and Turd Wayers.
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Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 03:14 PM
bananas (27,509 posts)
38. Thanks, MadHound. nt
Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 03:15 PM
gollygee (22,336 posts)
39. I opened this thread so I could rec it
But I see I already have.
So I'll just kick it. |
Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 09:46 PM
WHEN CRABS ROAR (3,813 posts)
42. I'm 71, my wife is 64 and together we make under 30k, full speed ahead!
Response to MadHound (Original post)
Thu Dec 20, 2012, 09:47 PM
lumberjack_jeff (33,224 posts)
43. 100! n/t