American politicians act like lemmings as fiscal cliff approaches

27/12/2012

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American politicians appear to be acting like lemmings heading to their death, racing to drop over the proverbial Fiscal Cliff. So many words have been written and spoken about the situation yet a compromise seems impossible to achieve. Compromises take at least two sides to give a little, in order to get a little, and no doubt both the Republicans and the Democrats in the US will blame each other for the impasse. The politicians that is may do so, as the ordinary man, woman and child will now be powerless. Their last input was the 2012 elections.  Whilst they returned a democratic President, that is Barack Obama, they let the Republicans keep the lead in Government.

You may say that is a good thing. After all it should stop any party flexing its political muscles too much. The problem is that in a country such as the USA it can make the President politically impotent.

Next Monday the USA will reach its deadline for either a resolution or disaster. Some people will have to lose out financially whichever way it goes, the seemingly never ending debate is about who loses and by how much.

In general it seems that the Democrats want tax breaks for those less well off to remain and Republicans do not see why those who are wealthy should stump up more. Republican House Speaker John Boehner claims to be ready to meet the Democrats halfway but in truth both sides want their own agenda fulfilled.

Much has been made of the fact that the President lowered his tax revenue aims a while ago and Boehner offered to allow an increase in the taxes of Millionaires. However as the President resisted further compromise so did Bohener. If neither are careful, just like sulking children, neither will achieve anything.

The Fiscal Cliff is not a unique term relating to current issues but something Americans will have heard in the past when tough economic choices have been on the cards. Talk of taking measures to prevent more US debt increasing though is in reality a nonsense. The current economic climate the World is facing right now will mean that nothing will be easily resolved, if at all.

Whilst both sides procrastinate, and refuse to give in, the deadline is almost upon them. Many Americans will experience a dip in income and more if the issue is not resolved. Whatever happens many will lose out, probably mostly those who can ill afford to.

Today US Senate leader Harry Reid has weighed in. The BBC reported that:
Senators and President Barack Obama have returned to Washington, while the House of Representatives is in recess.

Analysts say heading over the "cliff" could tip the US into recession.

President Obama is reported to have spoken to congressional leaders by phone on Wednesday for an update on the progress of talks.

Bickering over the cliff has divided Washington in recent weeks, with President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner unable to reach a deal before Christmas.

The president wants to ensure that taxes do not rise for Americans earning under $400,000 (£250,000), and insists on raising new tax revenue in any deal.

But many Republicans oppose new taxes, and an alternative plan proposed by Mr Boehner - which would have seen taxes rise only on those earning over $1m - failed in the House late last week.

Republicans left Washington for Christmas and said responsibility for avoiding the cliff rested with the Democratic-led Senate.

But in the Senate chamber on Thursday Mr Reid said the requirement to get at least 60 of 100 votes to move to a vote on any legislation almost certainly doomed any new plan unless Republicans gave it strong backing.
Opinion
Peeved that they did not win the Presidential race, as most Republicans thought was a done deal, these politicians will not care about the ordinary folk in the USA. Why should they? The Republican presidential campaign was a multi billion dollar campaign supported by those with vast wealth. Debts will need to be paid even if they are only debts by way of promises. Back scratches. You scratch mine and I will scratch yours.

In common with most political parties who do not win the majority vote the GOPs vested interest will still be in pulling down the Democrats and ultimately President Obama.

Boehner has played many games including playing to the Press claiming that "they" are ready for Obama to lead them. Today the Huff Post has "US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid accusing the House of Representatives Thursday of being a "dictatorship" -- albeit an extremely poor one."

Whilst they all posture and fail to reach an agreement who will suffer? Not they we guess.

Read a plain and simple explanation of the Fiscal Cliff here
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 US Veteran pensions

30/03/2012

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Jokes, weird and wacky stories plus a whole lot more drop into our email inboxes almost by the minute each day. Every so often an email arrives that deserves a little more attention and exposure. Here is one well worth sharing:

" No one has been able to explain to me why young men and women serve in the U.S. Military for 20 years, risking their lives protecting freedom, and only get 50% of their pay. While Politicians hold their political positions in the safe confines of the capital, protected by these same men and women, and receive full pay retirement after serving one term. It just does not make any sense.

If each person that receives this will forward it on to 20 people, in three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message.. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.

Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution: "Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ."

Sounds good sense. It is about time governments in the West stopped governing by the rule of "Do as I say not as I do" We hear much of fairness these days and this is a prime example. There is nothing wrong with becoming prosperous but it does depend just how you reach that privileged position.
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