Fiscal Cliff

[The Dude]

[Professor]

Oh, trust me - I know what payment cuts to physicians means. I was a hospital lobbyist for 6+ years. Heard about it every year.

It's $11 billion that the government won't be spending.

It's also a 2% cut to some of the wealthiest members of society. Those same members who are looking down the barrel of a much larger tax increase if Dems get their way. So a 2% reduction in pay versus a much larger percent increase in taxes. I think they won't be as upset about the 2% reduction.

[The Dude]

the tax increase is inevitable. It's happening regardless.

My point is that the spending decrease in medicare is minimal and doesn't affect benefits. And considering how big medicare is, it will take a long time til the cut matters in the spending. By the time it would, a deal will have been made.

This is why the GOP has so little leverage. The cuts are all good for Obama and bad for them. As are the tax increases.

[Professor]

[spacemonkey]

Lets see here, we just spent trillions to save all the TBTF's and all the other assorted bullshit, and now we are facing the financial grim reaper so soon? So I must ask, WTF? Could be we need to go over the edge just to get the morons out of la- la land.

[Spider]

Thats the trouble with a temporary tax cut. It takes about 15 minutes for the tax cut expiring and rolling back to where it was to become an unthinkable disaster.

[Aaron]

There is no fiscal cliff. It's wallstreet screaming ermegerd and everyone else jumping on board.

Most of the significant actions don't even happen till later in the year... or after

[The Dude]

[Dylan]

Apparently boehner has offered increased rates for those above $1 M. Which makes lot more sense than increased rates for those above 250K.

[The Dharma Bum]

These tax increases are necessary to fund the impending invasion of Syria and Iran.

Get used to them.