Compromise is the fashionable gift
It occurred to me this morning, when I saw a graphic counting down the days to the fiscal cliff (21), that I much prefer the traditional advent countdown calendar.
Counting the days until Claus arrives is rather pedestrian in comparison to hurling into the abyss of uncertainty. So in keeping in the spirit of the cliff-hanger, I thought I’d share this from Clarus Research Group’s daily email distributing the latest numbers from a Gallup Dec. 8-9 poll:
Asked of adults nationwide:
“What would you like to see government leaders in Washington do in the fiscal cliff negotiations — stick to their principles and beliefs on tax increases and spending cuts, even if no agreement is reached by the Jan. 1 deadline, or compromise on their principles and beliefs on tax increases and spending cuts in order to reach an agreement by the Jan. 1 deadline?”
Stick to principles 18%
Compromise to reach agreement 70%
How many nationwide adults expect that will happen?
“Just your best guess, how likely is it that President Obama and the leaders in Congress will reach a solution that avoids the Fiscal Cliff measures before Jan. 1–?”
Very likely 18%
Somewhat likely 41%
Not too likely 21%
Not likely at all 17%
Let’s play along with the compromise theory. If one is reached, what would it include that you like and what would it have that you dislike, but could live with?
December 11, 2012 - 12:14 PM
No such compromise is remotely possible, to the cliff !! It’s time for everyone to take their cod liver oil !
Compromise means both sides get something. What entitlement programs are the Democrats willing to cut?
A young man finds a lamp on the beach. Rubbing it, a Genie appears and grants him a wish.
“I’d like to live forever”, the young man says.
“Sorry”, replies the Genie. “I am not allowed to grant wishes of eternal life”.
“OK then”, said the young man. “In that case, I’d like to die the day after the members of both parties in Congress can agree with each other.”
Nodding his head, the Genie replied, “Smooth move…”
I believe Adam Smith said “…in the great chess-board of human society, every single piece has a principle of motion of its own, altogether different from that which the legislature might choose to impress upon it. If those two principles coincide and act in the same direction, the game of human society will go on easily and harmoniously, and is very likely to be happy and successful.
If they are opposite or different, the game will go on miserably, and the society must be at all times in the highest degree of disorder.”
I take that to mean that if the government is doing what we believe they should be doing, we are on the right track. The majority of this nation agrees with raising taxes on the highest 2-3% of earners and supports a fair, equitable tax structure and fair, equitable safety nets. Until the government comes in line with that thinking, we are not going to be “happy and successful”.
In my opinion, for a compromise to be successful it must include the tax rate increases with promises to further make the tax structure itself fair and equitable.
Remove the cap on SS/Medicare earnings taxed and it must include, though I do not especially “like”, means testing Social Security and Medicare just as they do Medicaid (only at more generous levels of course) and a strong incentive for folks to work longer (earn more after 67 earn less if 65 (more and less than now) and a cap on medical expenses tied to ability to pay such that it costs more to be treated to knee, hip, heart, liver replacements etc. Not death panels by any measure, but if you can pay more, you do. All phased in over the next 10 years.
Starting in 2013 an audit of redundant and duplicated services in the federal government and all such will be eliminated. All departments will freeze hiring until an efficacy audit is performed by private agencies. All processes will be streamlined to pass through fewer hands. Any new hires should give first attention to those unemployed.
All new aid applications will be subject to set term limits after which you must re-apply and strict volunteer efforts are to be required and coordinated locally unless there is an actual disability involved. All able bodied recipients will be part of the Civilian Work Corps in every town in charge of municipal grounds, parks, medians, rest areas etc.
States and localities should be required to fill any local work that is unskilled labor with those earning unemployment benefits first.
#4 – “States and localities should be required to fill any local work that is unskilled labor with those earning unemployment benefits first.”
Personally, I think the jobs should be filled with those earning welfare before those who are collecting unemployment. The person collecting unemployment has paid into the system and is collecting what he is owed.
Protect social security and medicare and make the rich pay their fair share of taxes. Stop the tax loopholes like putting money in foreign accounts.
The “fiscal bluff” is the Republican’s latest effort to dismantle the safety net. Barring congressional action and the president’s signature, the Bush tax cuts will expire on schedule. There is no need for compromise, the president received a mandate from the people to halt GOP obstructionism and protect both SS and Medicare. Get out your parachutes, we’re going over.
Flailing through…flailing through….using my machete in search of an original thought….ah!….there it is!
“Remove the cap on SS/Medicare earnings taxed and it must include, though I do not especially “like”, means testing Social Security and Medicare just as they do Medicaid….”
Medicaid is welfare. SSN & Medicare are earned benifits.
#7 Absolutely correct Mr. Hill.
Let’s increase taxes on everyone, pull real money from real people out of the economy.
Afterwards, let’s print fake money & call it stimulating the economy.
Whether you deem mine “original thought” is irrelevant, I answered the question instead of just poking holes in what other people have said, why can’t you?
Remember the good old days when it was just the top 1% that were the villians, now Obaman has upped it to the top 2 % and now Sandi uses Adam Smith no less (in characteristic brevity) to sneak the nose of the 3% under the tent. Pretty soon we are doing the progressive mambo ” one, two, three, four the economy is on the floor…five, six,seven eight the barbarians are at the gate”
As if it will make any difference at all, the deficit (just the damn deficit) this year (one year!) is as much, if not more than the size of the entire federal government budget during the last sunny year of the Clinton fairy tales. So fiddle with your cap lifting and auditing, maybe even have a commision or two, none of will matter one iota, the cliff plus a few percent on everybodies rates (everbody)will not be enough to balance teh budget on 100 years.
Carpe Diem, full speeed ahead to the cliff !
“Absolutely correct Mr. Hill.”
Glad you’re finally seeing the light! The president should also refuse to compromise on raising the debt ceiling. Make the Republicans own holding the faith and credit of the United States hostage for political gain. Polls show the public is fed up with their shenanigans. The drubbing they just received from the voters should make them think twice about their blind obstruction. Mitch McConnell is now the least-liked member of the Senate, with Boehner not far behind in the House. The circular firing squad that is today’s GOP risks becoming irrelevant if it cannot learn to bargain in good faith.
“Medicaid is welfare.”
Yes, the vermin deserve no health care! How dare they breathe our air!
Whining will surely help.
#13 Mr. Hill….your sniping is old.
Do you question whether medicaid is welfare? Or do you just wish to attribute to me things/ideas I have not said?
“Or do you just wish to attribute to me things/ideas I have not said?”
Not saying is one thing, not believing quite another. Your implications speak louder than words.
#16 – “Your implications speak louder than words.”
Ah, the old “I know what you meant to say” argument.
It’s OK when coming from the Left, but somehow results in a “How dare you twist my words!” moment if used by someone on the Right.
Mr. Lucas, do you suppose that “your sniping” is not old? That is rather funny coming from you, IMO.
I believe we can argue either way on what is and is not “welfare”. Unless someone has never worked, owned anything, bought anything or paid into the system of revenue in any way, they have made a contribution and even so, when they are poor, disabled, elderly or working very low wage yet still needed jobs, it is our duty as a civilized society to help them with services like Medicaid, which is no frills medicine to say the least.
This is the society we have chosen to build. Not everyone likes the idea until they or someone they care about needs that help, but it is our path (and our Christian duty) and I support it.
Not for nothing, but day in and day out for years now, yes, we do know what you are saying, what you mean, and why. Are we going to pretend now that you do not also twist people’s words, paint with a broad brush, generalize and misconstrue comments?
Let this go and stick to the topic.