FALLING OFF THE CLIFF

To me, falling off the fiscal cliff does not sound like a smart thing to do. Falling off anything hurts but the fiscal cliff sounds worse. Besides, we know it's a cliff. Why are we so close to the edge? Why haven't we done anything about it until now?

The reason is that we put things like falling off the fiscal cliff on the last page of the agenda. No one wants to deal with it. If we ignore it long enough maybe an asteroid will strike the earth and end all life and we'll never have the chance to fall off.

From why I glean, falling off the fiscal cliff will screw all of us. I don't want to be screwed. Do you?

The sad part is that the only ones who can keep us all from falling off the fiscal cliff are the inept mooncalves we elected to Congress. They've talked more about falling off the cliff than they've done trying to prevent it. Important, urgent meetings are delayed for weeks. There's more in the news about what politicians want to do than what they're actually doing which is nothing. So far it's all talk. Everybody's optimistic but nobody wants to jump in first.

The solution to our money problems is elementary. Stop starting wars we can't afford. Stop handing out corporate welfare perks. Increase taxes on those who can most afford it. Stop screwing the American people around. Tax cuts for the rich haven't jump started the economy.

The sensible thing to do is come up with an incomprehensible plan that sounds like it makes sense but doesn't. Promise cuts in services and entitlement programs but delay those cuts until we're all dead. Government is infamous for putting things off. Many recently approved government programs don't kick in for years. Congress passes regulations that take effect when today’s newborns turn twenty five.

Putting things off onto the shoulders of the next generation is the American Way. And while austerity measures and higher taxes may benefit us in the long haul, in the short term they're non starters. I don't want to make sacrifices and I'll bet you don't either.

Let the next generation of creative brats devise ways to avoid falling off the fiscal cliff just like we'll do. Postponing doom is the reasonable thing especially now in this fragile economy when a sneeze means the plague and not just another bothersome virus.