Fiscal Cliff according to WSW

[jesus]

www.wsws.org/en/articles/2012/12/31/pers-d31.html

Obama spearheads social counterrevolution
31 December 2012
As of this writing, talks are continuing between congressional Republicans and the White House on the eve of the so-called “fiscal cliff.” It is not clear whether an agreement will be reached over the next few days, or if the manufactured crisis atmosphere will continue into the New Year. What is clear, however, is the overall direction of US social policy and the fact that the real target of both sides in the Washington debate is the working class.
It is necessary to demystify the whole process, which is characterized by an extraordinary level of posturing and lies, behind which is concealed a conspiracy against the American people.
The “fiscal cliff” is an artificially erected deadline, laid down as part of previous negotiations and aimed at creating the conditions for implementing unpopular measures that previously would have been considered politically impossible.

[baldrick]

Seems pretty much spot-on, to me, though I'd like to see more backbone from the Democrats in real support of working people. Of course, until we wean the election process off of private funding, we'll never see it, since only the massive special interest dollars can truly support a campaign.

[kitkat]

Jan 2, 2013 18:21:45 GMT -5 baldrick said:

Of course, until we wean the election process off of private funding, we'll never see it, since only the massive special interest dollars can truly support a campaign.

That would help--- but there's always influence peddling...shared culture (the rich, wanna-be rich, wanna look rich culture that is) and of course...good old nepotism. Corruption has so many tasty flavors!!!

[keystonejenks]

Jan 2, 2013 22:45:17 GMT -5 kitkat said:

Jan 2, 2013 18:21:45 GMT -5 baldrick said:

Of course, until we wean the election process off of private funding, we'll never see it, since only the massive special interest dollars can truly support a campaign.

That would help--- but there's always influence peddling...shared culture (the rich, wanna-be rich, wanna look rich culture that is) and of course...good old nepotism. Corruption has so many tasty flavors!!!

Politics is no longer a public service, it is now a business. Of course there could be actions taken to change this but the very people that would need to enact this change are the ones who turned it into a business.

[will]

There's the problem in a nutshell. It will take a latter day Teddy Roosevelt to sort it out, but I don't see one on the horizon.

[baldrick]

Far too much money to be made in the biz, unfortunately. It was the Neocons that figured how to maximally monetize public service, and everyone else has had to do the same to keep from being buried. Check out "The Wrecking Crew" by Thomas Frank. These are the same folks that want to make the federal government small enough drown in a bathtub, yet keep the federal spending spigot wide open to themselves and their buddies.