Why liberals need "balanced budgets"?

[kentuck]

Governor Howard Dean recently made the point that the best deal we could get would be to go off the so-called "fiscal cliff". He admitted that it would be tough medicine to take but also said that we would not have the same opportunity to cut defense spending and raise taxes again anytime in the near future.

Also, he said that without these revenues coming in, more and more programs will need to be cut and the people that need them will be the ones most hurt when they are cut.

He was on one of the morning MSNBC shows yesterday morning and made the comments. I cannot find the link.

However, I tend to agree with the good Governor.

[1StrongBlackMan]

1. The only "good" in see ...

In going over the cliff is that the legislature will have to affirmatively act to restore things like military spending and tax cuts for the rich ... that I hope would be more difficult to do than to restore spending in programs that benefit the working class.

But in order to see that, I have to shut the eye that looks at the long-term unemployed, the working poor with children and the homeless and near homeless, that will be hurt immediately.

[kentuck]

2. We have to have a Party that fights for these people.

But we cannot surrender to extortion, we must do it at the ballot box. Kick the SOB's out.

[1StrongBlackMan]

3. Agreed; but ...

Failing to kick the SOBs out, deal making (not surrender) is US being the Party that fights for these people.

Agree?

[kentuck]

4. No.

Because when the deal making will only cause more severe cuts in the future, these are the people it hurts the most for the longest.

[1StrongBlackMan]

5. I disagree. n/t

[Honeycombe8]

6. I don't know. I can't see the future. But it makes painful sense. nt